The Janal Pixan gastronomic tour in Tekit, organized by the Yaax Tekit cooperative and Co’ox Mayab from October 31 to November 7, is a community-based tourism experience where visitors learn to make traditional pib or mukbilpollo alongside local families. In addition to the culinary workshop, the initiative offers a community tour through bakery workshops, the milpa, and meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping), promoting cultural immersion in Yucatán's Day of the Dead traditions.
A gastronomic experience lived with hands and heart
Some traditions are best understood by listening to a story, looking at a photograph, or tasting a dish. Others, however, can only truly be appreciated when you sit down at the table, get your hands dirty, and share a moment with people who have kept them alive for generations.
During Finados, the Yaax Tekit cooperative welcomes you into its members’ homes for one such experience: a Day of the Dead culinary tour. In Tekit, a town south of Mérida, Janal Pixan is deeply rooted in family, food, and the memory of loved ones who have passed away. The pib, one of the season’s signature dishes, is more than just a meal; it’s a tradition that brings people together to prepare it.
That’s exactly what Yaax Tekit’s Day of the Dead culinary tour is all about: taking part in the tradition right in the kitchen and sharing it alongside the people who call this community home.
So much more than a cooking workshop
The women who make up the Yaax Tekit cooperative will welcome you into their homes to begin preparing mukbilpollo, also known as pib. You’ll be part of the entire process: rather than simply watching how it’s done, you’ll make your own pib as your hosts guide you, teach you, and share the knowledge they’ve gathered throughout their lives.
This is where the experience takes on a special meaning. It’s not just about learning a recipe, although your hosts will certainly share little secrets you’d be hard-pressed to find in a cookbook. Above all, it’s about getting to know these women, sharing stories and experiences, and understanding why this dish holds such an important place at this time of year.
Every instruction comes with a story. Every step can spark a conversation. And amid the ingredients, tips, and anecdotes, the kitchen becomes a place to connect and share.
The star ingredient: the people
In the Maya tradition of Janal Pixan, food holds a special connection to memory and to the offerings dedicated to the souls of the departed. The name Janal Pixan itself means "food for the souls," reflecting the relationship between sustenance and this ritual welcoming back loved ones who have passed away.
One of the most special aspects of this experience is the closeness with the people who make it possible. Community members don't just pass down a recipe; they share their memories, their knowledge, and the way they personally experience this celebration. Their warmth makes the moment feel intimate and authentic—as if, for a few hours, you stop being a visitor and sit down to share in a family tradition.
Their stories are what make the tour truly remarkable. While preparing the pib, you’ll learn what this celebration means to them, how local families experience it, and why preparing these meals during this time of year goes far beyond simple cooking.
Even if cooking isn't your strength, that's no obstacle. Yaax Tekit also offers a community tour, where you can learn about various local trades in Tekit (such as baking, Melipona stingless beekeeping, and traditional milpa farming) alongside the people who practice them every day.
Discover Janal Pixan through an authentic, community-centered approach! From October 31 to November 7, the Yaax Tekit cooperative invites you to be part of this tradition through its two seasonal experiences: the Community Tour and the Gastronomic Tour.
Reserve your spot, connect with local families, and experience the traditions of the Mayab firsthand. ¡Vamos al Mayab!
Co’ox Mayab
Tel. 999 447 8395
IG: cooxmayab
FB: Co’ox Mayab
Authors:
Jonathan Basto. Auxiliar de Comunicación en Co'ox Maya y Mariana Ramos, coordinadora de Comunicación de Co’ox Mayab
Mariana Ramos. Gestora Intercultural de la ENES, UNAM. Apasionada de la música y la cultura pop. A favor de un turismo justo y responsable.
First published on the Yucatán Today website in October 2026.
