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| Suggested Itinerary for Long Term Visitors, While Staying at Centrally Located Flycatcher Inn |
Suggested Itinerary: Minimum 17 Days
The following is a more thorough idea of what there is to do in the area, specifically aimed at longer term stays.
Also see our suggested 7 day sightseeing itinerary.
With detailed information about the Yucatan so hard to come by from abroad, many of our guests have asked us to help take the guesswork
out of their sightseeing planning, and help them avoid the disappointment of later finding they missed something really interesting. With that
in mind we have worked out a suggested itinerary to help you make the most of your time in the area. Based on our personal sightseeing
favorites as well as feedback from our guests and travelers, we suggest the following 2 to 4 weeks of sightseeing-packed days. Of
course you can tailor the suggestions to do as much or as little as you prefer each day, adjusting your stay accordingly. Be sure to check
our Traveler Info page and our Cultural Calendar for details about many of these sights and activities. We hope you enjoy your stay,
this beautiful Yucatan, and the warm and friendly Mayan residents!
So what is there to do in a stay of a week or longer?
Day 1: Visit Uxmal, then head north to Oxkintok, a little visited ruin set in the hill ridge behind the village of Muna. Notice where they are
quarrying white limestone "marble" out of this hill ridge. The large cave system of Calcehtok (Xpukil) is in this same area, a more
rigorous adventure than the Loltun Caves. Stop and have lunch and a swim at the pool in the restaurant Cana nah, about 5 kilometers north
of Uxmal along Highway 261.
Day 2: Visit the hilltop crafts center of Pedro's, notice the view out over the peninsula, before dropping into the village of Muna for gas,
the morning market, shopping for fine ceramics with Patricia and Rodrigo at the north end of Muna, located by the regional restaurant
of Chunyaxche, or purchase typical regional clothing from one of the shops just at the northern edge of town.
Day 3: Continue up to Yaxcopoil and visit the old heneken museum/hacienda, furnished exactly as it was, open every day with a guide
available to explain in Spanish the workings of the plantation, and written guides and map in several languages. This is just off Highway 261,
exiting at the sign for Yaxcopoil, 35 minutes from here. Then continue south on the highway for barely 5 minutes and you will come to the exit for
Cacao, a small village formed from the remains of the old hacienda you see in ruins today. Note the old stone houses, many with pointed roofs.
These would have all been part of the hacienda, including the church, functioning still.
Continue on to 2 cenotes in the the tiny ejido village of San Antonio Mulix, 8 kilometers from Highway 261. In San Antonio Mulix you will
pay a 50 pesos per person fee at the palapa hut at the entrance, then continue on to the Y. If you go right, you will come to the first cenote
within 2 kilometers; the road is passable, go slowly. The second cenote is just beyond, about 400 meters. Both cenotes have entrances to
underwater cave chambers that can be explored. Scuba tanks are available, and the head man is a certified cave diver and biologist.
There are covered picnic tables at each, so you may wish to come prepared with things to eat while enjoying a swim. (Take your garbage out
with you, please). Supplies may be purchased at either Uman to the north, or in Muna, if coming from the south. Both areas have small
supermarkets located right around the center plaza, open all day. The restaurant is quite good too. Well worth a whole, very special day.
The first cenote is shallow at the edges, becoming deeper at the back, and there are under water caverns or caves reached by scuba diving from
this back area. NOTE: underwater exploration here should NOT be attempted except by expert, certified cave divers. This cenote is open to the
air. The second cenote is a partially covered cave-like structure, again with a shallower area, and extending once again under water into other
caverns or caves, all filled with water and various structures and formations. Expert cave divers only here also. Both of these cenotes are small,
and both would be good for younger children that know how to swim, as the edges are shallow. Hundreds of small fish will swim with you.
Back at the Y, if you go a short way down the road straight ahead, you will come to a good little restaurant with clean ample bathrooms,
and a reception hut where they RENT GOOD MOUNTAIN BIKES, SNORKELS, AND DIVING TANKS. I have prices if you are interested.
Guides can be arranged to take you through jungle trails to the nearby haciendas, or to the cenotes by bike, or to nearby aguadas (not
suitable for swimming). Bikes rent for 100 pesos, snorkels for the same. Food is from 60 to 150 pesos per person, with a fruit drink. Beer
and soft drinks are extra, but available. I have more information available on this area, if you are interested.
This is a good day trip, and could be combined with a visit to the ruins of Oxkintok, back behind Muna, or to the village of Muna itself,
for the market in the morning, or to visit the potters at the northern area of town, and for hand made regional clothing. There is also
a good small restaurant at the northern edge of Muna called Lol Pich, open every day until 5 p.m.
I would NOT SUGGEST this trip for the weekend. While tourists may not know about this area, the locals do, and on weekends it can be very
busy. During the week, you could well have it mostly to yourselves.
Day 4: Take a morning bus to Merida for the day, and not worry about traffic or parking, returning on one of the later evening buses.
Some people say it is the only way to go.
Day 5: Head east to Ticul and the morning market. Drop off your laundry, get gas, do internet, and head on to the convent town of
Mani, lunch at the well known regional restaurant of Principe Tu Tul Xiu, and visit their fine crafts shop across the street. Here you will find
pottery from the central part of Mexico, as well as a fine selection of hand made clothing for men and women. Return via Ticul and pick up
groceries at the all new Super Che, Chedraui shopping mart.
Day 6: If you are here around May 3-5th, check out the corrida (local bull fights) in Chumayel, starting late in the afternoon. If you are
here around August 12-15th, it will be the same, in honor of Asuncion, in both Pustunich and Muna, both some of the biggest and best known
corridas around. Put on your dancing booties and stay to dance with the locals, from midnight to 4 a.m. Both regional dances and big bands
on varying nights. Our corrida is around the 3rd week in August.
Day 7: Head south to do the PUUC route ruins loop of Kabah, Sayil, and Labna, catch the cave tour at the Loltun Cave system and
return to the village for a swim and late lunch with Valerie at the Pickled Onion Restaurant.
Day 8: If you are looking for ruins very seldom visited, go into Chacmultun via Tekax and wander back to the village through the
hidden villages of Xohuayan and Emiliano Zapata, and back along the PUUC route.
Day 9: Or head for the south, through the heart of the corn growing area, through Bolonchen to the ruins of Santa Rosa Xtampak -
between Bolonchen and Hopelchen, now easier accessed thanks to a improved road after many years. Stop and see the impressive cave
made famous by the drawing by Frederick Catherwood, Xtacumbilxunaan, showing the wooden ladder down which the Mayans descended
for water, way down in the depths of the cave. This is just past the southern edge of Bolonchen.
Day 10: As you approach Hopelchen going further south on Highway 261, you will notice the growing Mennonite community , with their
neat and tidy, well laid out farms. They also have a community just off the cutoff road to Helcelchakan, at Nohalal. Along this road is yet
another small, hardly known ruin called Xcalumkin, well signposted and just 1 kilometer off the road.
Day 11: If you follow Highway 261 south past Hopelchen toward Campeche city, you will reach the intriguing ruin of Edzna, set deep
in the jungle, with its large pyramid and carved stone glyphs. If you go south from Hopelchen towards Dzibalch'en, you will pass
Hochob, with its' lovely jungle setting and carved monster mouth mask.
Day 12: Enough ruins? Head further east for a day trip to the cenotes in Chunkanan, Cuzama, and Homun. In Chunkanan, you are
taken into three different cenotes by small rail platform car, pulled by small horses, now with bathrooms and changing rooms at the first
and last cenotes. Ak tun ka is another intriguing cenote with a dramatic entry down an 11 meter metal ladder, among stalagmites and
stalactites to water that is crystal clear and shallower than the first three cenotes, located just past them. Go a little further and you will
see the cenotes of Cuzama. Continue on to Homun, with its' charming cenote and have lunch with Gabriel, at this little restaurant located
near the entry to this cenote in Homun.
Day 13: Birds? Flamingos? Leave early and head to Celestun for the day, stop in Uman to see the rounded domed church on the
way. During the flamingos tour by small launch on the river estuary, swim in one of the "ojos de agua", natural springs bubbling
up through the mangrove trees, then have lunch at one of the seaside fish restaurants and go for another swim in the ocean.
Day 14: You could always just sit on the terrace at Owl's House and relax with a nice cold beer and hope to see the small red foxes
playing nearby. Chill out for a day. Walk the nature trail running through the Inn property by 3 chultuns and the remains of a tiny ruin.
Day 15: Still want more? Hire Umberto to take you into nearby Xcoox (shkosh) with its' steep descent into caverns and tunnels
leading eventually to water, about 100 meters below. Breathing gets difficult down there, a few thrills, but you'll make it.
Day 16: Hire Santiago to take you into Nohpat and Mul chiic, both old ruins close to the village, out through the jungle.
Day 17: Or get he and Umberto to take you in the 8 kilometers to the bat cave, way behind the back property.
Will that be enough to do?
This will keep you more than busy for a couple of weeks. I hope it will give you a better idea of what there is to do in our area. Be sure to
check our Traveler Info page and Cultural Calendar for details about many of these sights and activities, as well as happenings in our village.
For a shorter 1 week suggested itinerary click here
Kristine,
Flycatcher Inn, Santa Elena
10 minutes southeast of Uxmal in Yucatan, Mexico
The following is a more thorough idea of what there is to do in the area, specifically aimed at longer term stays.
Also see our suggested 7 day sightseeing itinerary.
With detailed information about the Yucatan so hard to come by from abroad, many of our guests have asked us to help take the guesswork
out of their sightseeing planning, and help them avoid the disappointment of later finding they missed something really interesting. With that
in mind we have worked out a suggested itinerary to help you make the most of your time in the area. Based on our personal sightseeing
favorites as well as feedback from our guests and travelers, we suggest the following 2 to 4 weeks of sightseeing-packed days. Of
course you can tailor the suggestions to do as much or as little as you prefer each day, adjusting your stay accordingly. Be sure to check
our Traveler Info page and our Cultural Calendar for details about many of these sights and activities. We hope you enjoy your stay,
this beautiful Yucatan, and the warm and friendly Mayan residents!
So what is there to do in a stay of a week or longer?
Day 1: Visit Uxmal, then head north to Oxkintok, a little visited ruin set in the hill ridge behind the village of Muna. Notice where they are
quarrying white limestone "marble" out of this hill ridge. The large cave system of Calcehtok (Xpukil) is in this same area, a more
rigorous adventure than the Loltun Caves. Stop and have lunch and a swim at the pool in the restaurant Cana nah, about 5 kilometers north
of Uxmal along Highway 261.
Day 2: Visit the hilltop crafts center of Pedro's, notice the view out over the peninsula, before dropping into the village of Muna for gas,
the morning market, shopping for fine ceramics with Patricia and Rodrigo at the north end of Muna, located by the regional restaurant
of Chunyaxche, or purchase typical regional clothing from one of the shops just at the northern edge of town.
Day 3: Continue up to Yaxcopoil and visit the old heneken museum/hacienda, furnished exactly as it was, open every day with a guide
available to explain in Spanish the workings of the plantation, and written guides and map in several languages. This is just off Highway 261,
exiting at the sign for Yaxcopoil, 35 minutes from here. Then continue south on the highway for barely 5 minutes and you will come to the exit for
Cacao, a small village formed from the remains of the old hacienda you see in ruins today. Note the old stone houses, many with pointed roofs.
These would have all been part of the hacienda, including the church, functioning still.
Continue on to 2 cenotes in the the tiny ejido village of San Antonio Mulix, 8 kilometers from Highway 261. In San Antonio Mulix you will
pay a 50 pesos per person fee at the palapa hut at the entrance, then continue on to the Y. If you go right, you will come to the first cenote
within 2 kilometers; the road is passable, go slowly. The second cenote is just beyond, about 400 meters. Both cenotes have entrances to
underwater cave chambers that can be explored. Scuba tanks are available, and the head man is a certified cave diver and biologist.
There are covered picnic tables at each, so you may wish to come prepared with things to eat while enjoying a swim. (Take your garbage out
with you, please). Supplies may be purchased at either Uman to the north, or in Muna, if coming from the south. Both areas have small
supermarkets located right around the center plaza, open all day. The restaurant is quite good too. Well worth a whole, very special day.
The first cenote is shallow at the edges, becoming deeper at the back, and there are under water caverns or caves reached by scuba diving from
this back area. NOTE: underwater exploration here should NOT be attempted except by expert, certified cave divers. This cenote is open to the
air. The second cenote is a partially covered cave-like structure, again with a shallower area, and extending once again under water into other
caverns or caves, all filled with water and various structures and formations. Expert cave divers only here also. Both of these cenotes are small,
and both would be good for younger children that know how to swim, as the edges are shallow. Hundreds of small fish will swim with you.
Back at the Y, if you go a short way down the road straight ahead, you will come to a good little restaurant with clean ample bathrooms,
and a reception hut where they RENT GOOD MOUNTAIN BIKES, SNORKELS, AND DIVING TANKS. I have prices if you are interested.
Guides can be arranged to take you through jungle trails to the nearby haciendas, or to the cenotes by bike, or to nearby aguadas (not
suitable for swimming). Bikes rent for 100 pesos, snorkels for the same. Food is from 60 to 150 pesos per person, with a fruit drink. Beer
and soft drinks are extra, but available. I have more information available on this area, if you are interested.
This is a good day trip, and could be combined with a visit to the ruins of Oxkintok, back behind Muna, or to the village of Muna itself,
for the market in the morning, or to visit the potters at the northern area of town, and for hand made regional clothing. There is also
a good small restaurant at the northern edge of Muna called Lol Pich, open every day until 5 p.m.
I would NOT SUGGEST this trip for the weekend. While tourists may not know about this area, the locals do, and on weekends it can be very
busy. During the week, you could well have it mostly to yourselves.
Day 4: Take a morning bus to Merida for the day, and not worry about traffic or parking, returning on one of the later evening buses.
Some people say it is the only way to go.
Day 5: Head east to Ticul and the morning market. Drop off your laundry, get gas, do internet, and head on to the convent town of
Mani, lunch at the well known regional restaurant of Principe Tu Tul Xiu, and visit their fine crafts shop across the street. Here you will find
pottery from the central part of Mexico, as well as a fine selection of hand made clothing for men and women. Return via Ticul and pick up
groceries at the all new Super Che, Chedraui shopping mart.
Day 6: If you are here around May 3-5th, check out the corrida (local bull fights) in Chumayel, starting late in the afternoon. If you are
here around August 12-15th, it will be the same, in honor of Asuncion, in both Pustunich and Muna, both some of the biggest and best known
corridas around. Put on your dancing booties and stay to dance with the locals, from midnight to 4 a.m. Both regional dances and big bands
on varying nights. Our corrida is around the 3rd week in August.
Day 7: Head south to do the PUUC route ruins loop of Kabah, Sayil, and Labna, catch the cave tour at the Loltun Cave system and
return to the village for a swim and late lunch with Valerie at the Pickled Onion Restaurant.
Day 8: If you are looking for ruins very seldom visited, go into Chacmultun via Tekax and wander back to the village through the
hidden villages of Xohuayan and Emiliano Zapata, and back along the PUUC route.
Day 9: Or head for the south, through the heart of the corn growing area, through Bolonchen to the ruins of Santa Rosa Xtampak -
between Bolonchen and Hopelchen, now easier accessed thanks to a improved road after many years. Stop and see the impressive cave
made famous by the drawing by Frederick Catherwood, Xtacumbilxunaan, showing the wooden ladder down which the Mayans descended
for water, way down in the depths of the cave. This is just past the southern edge of Bolonchen.
Day 10: As you approach Hopelchen going further south on Highway 261, you will notice the growing Mennonite community , with their
neat and tidy, well laid out farms. They also have a community just off the cutoff road to Helcelchakan, at Nohalal. Along this road is yet
another small, hardly known ruin called Xcalumkin, well signposted and just 1 kilometer off the road.
Day 11: If you follow Highway 261 south past Hopelchen toward Campeche city, you will reach the intriguing ruin of Edzna, set deep
in the jungle, with its large pyramid and carved stone glyphs. If you go south from Hopelchen towards Dzibalch'en, you will pass
Hochob, with its' lovely jungle setting and carved monster mouth mask.
Day 12: Enough ruins? Head further east for a day trip to the cenotes in Chunkanan, Cuzama, and Homun. In Chunkanan, you are
taken into three different cenotes by small rail platform car, pulled by small horses, now with bathrooms and changing rooms at the first
and last cenotes. Ak tun ka is another intriguing cenote with a dramatic entry down an 11 meter metal ladder, among stalagmites and
stalactites to water that is crystal clear and shallower than the first three cenotes, located just past them. Go a little further and you will
see the cenotes of Cuzama. Continue on to Homun, with its' charming cenote and have lunch with Gabriel, at this little restaurant located
near the entry to this cenote in Homun.
Day 13: Birds? Flamingos? Leave early and head to Celestun for the day, stop in Uman to see the rounded domed church on the
way. During the flamingos tour by small launch on the river estuary, swim in one of the "ojos de agua", natural springs bubbling
up through the mangrove trees, then have lunch at one of the seaside fish restaurants and go for another swim in the ocean.
Day 14: You could always just sit on the terrace at Owl's House and relax with a nice cold beer and hope to see the small red foxes
playing nearby. Chill out for a day. Walk the nature trail running through the Inn property by 3 chultuns and the remains of a tiny ruin.
Day 15: Still want more? Hire Umberto to take you into nearby Xcoox (shkosh) with its' steep descent into caverns and tunnels
leading eventually to water, about 100 meters below. Breathing gets difficult down there, a few thrills, but you'll make it.
Day 16: Hire Santiago to take you into Nohpat and Mul chiic, both old ruins close to the village, out through the jungle.
Day 17: Or get he and Umberto to take you in the 8 kilometers to the bat cave, way behind the back property.
Will that be enough to do?
This will keep you more than busy for a couple of weeks. I hope it will give you a better idea of what there is to do in our area. Be sure to
check our Traveler Info page and Cultural Calendar for details about many of these sights and activities, as well as happenings in our village.
For a shorter 1 week suggested itinerary click here
Kristine,
Flycatcher Inn, Santa Elena
10 minutes southeast of Uxmal in Yucatan, Mexico
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