Hunucmá, a colorful city on the way to Sisal, will welcome you with architectural and natural surprises that will provide a quiet, but memorable travel experience.
When you get into the center of town, the first thing that will catch your eye is a Neomaya style building that’s painted white and blue, which houses the municipality’s administrative offices. Its entry doors are decorated with a series of arches that will remind you of the Puuc Route buildings; beautiful too are its pasta tile floors with geometric shapes and compositions that are picture-worthy.
Hunucmá is a word of Maya origin that means “just answered.” Located only 40 minutes from Mérida, this is a town that is worth visiting if you want to get into the current Maya culture. It has access to one of the biggest and most beautiful ports on the Yucatecan shore, Sisal, as well as ecotourism and archaeoastronomy options.
Like the majority of communities in Yucatán, you can find on the main plaza a kiosk, green areas and “you and me” style chairs. On the side, impressive, the main church stands in a contrasting yellow, as well as the ex convent in honor of Saint Francis. Built in the 16th century, its atrium is a site for locals’ get-togethers. On the same street you can find the bus stops (bus and “combi”) that come from Mérida to Hunucmá ($18 pesos) and leave from Hunucmá to Sisal ($16 pesos).
Another architectural attraction is the hand-crafts market “Eulogio Rosado.” With its yellow façade and red interior, the floor with bi-colored mosaics stands out and transports you to the past. A few blocks further along, you’ll be able to peruse through the colorful municipal market “Nuestra Sra. De Guadalupe,” which has extended all the way to the street, with food, vegetables, and more.
Something very particular is the means of transportation in the community; the trici-taxi! Many have colorful roofs, comfortable seats, and even music blaring out from speakers. For only $7 pesos per trip they can take you, for example, to visit the cenote “El Pocito” or the artisanal shoe factories, for this city is also famous for its calling in the manufacture of men’s and women’s sandals made from leather and henequén fiber.
The cenote “El Pocito” or “de Sergio” (owner of the house where it’s located) is a closed type cenote, with access down some stairs for a few meters. Inside, the water is clear and transparent, you can even see fish that swim there! For $20 pesos you can freshen up and change clothes at Sergio’s, who will kindly offer you the facilities that you need.
As far as shoes is concerned, Moises Poot’s store and factory, “Nicté-Ha”, stands out; there, along with his wife (both in wheelchairs) and family, they create colorful bags and shoes for women and men with modern designs using henequén fiber.
10 minutes along the way to Ucú, the Hostería & Ecoturismo Sihunchén park is located, with accommodation, pool, food, and guided activities for groups with the certified professional José Alberto Mézquita, who specializes in bird watching. You can also visit the archaeological site where you can observe the movement of the sun throughout the year, tours to Sisal, and more.
FB:Hostería & Ecoturismo Sihunchén
Transportation: Combis going from the San Juan park in Mérida, $18 pesos Mérida- Hunucmá
Editorial by Violeta H. Cantarell
Photos by Yucatán Today and Violeta H. Cantarell for Yucatán Today’s use
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