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MAYAN RIVIERA
Tourist Guide TICUL
Referred
to as the Pearl of the South,
this bustling city town is located 60 miles 1000 kilometers south of
Merida in the Puuc region. It
is on both the Convent and Puuc
Route circuits. Ticul is the perfect place to stay when you do either
of these routes. You will find things a lot more laid back here than in Mérida. The 1, 2 and 3 star lodgings are inexpensive and clean. Check our
list of hotels for addresses and services offered.
Ticul is a producer of all the wonderful red clay planter pots that you see in the area. It is also known for the fine leather shoes that are designed and made here in town. Most of these businesses clay and shoes area home based workshops where you will find the entire family working.
Stop in and they will gladly allow you to
wander around. If you decide to buy something you can’t carry, they know
the packaging and mailing procedures to get your goods home to you.
You will also find a mixture of culture in Ticul. You will see the old the Cathedral, colonial buildings, thatched roof Mayan homes and some new the open air stage by the Cathedral.
Notice the many statues of Mayan gods and heroes that are located around town. Driving in Ticul can be confusing with all the narrow one way streets. But, it is small enough that you won’t get seriously lost.
For you information, Ticul's streets are numbered with even numbers going north and south and odd numbered ones going east and west.
You will find hotels, restaurants, a market, a telegraph office, banks, pharmacies, medical assistance, internet email services, and the unusual way of getting around town in tricycle taxis.
A group of enthusiastic business people has gotten together with the purpose of promoting tourism from Ticul. They have formed a group called " No-Jol " which is planning tours to haciendas, ruins and cenotes. We will have more info next month. Places to visit from Ticul: Dzan, Sta. Elena, Sacalum, Mani, Oxkutzcab, Mama, Chapab.
CONVENT
ROUTE Convent Route More enticing than ever, The Convent Route is a day trip that will take you somewhat off the beaten path and into the heart of the Yucatan. Meandering through the country side of the Central West part of the state you will visit Mayan villages and ruins.
Colonial churches, cathedrals and
convents, courtyards and cenotes dating back centuries. The best way to do
this route is by car (gas up before leaving do a full tank will more than do) and leaving early be on the road by 8:00 a.m. See our map on page five
to help you get started. Get on the “periferico”
to route 18. Signs will say Kanasin,
not “route 18”.
Then follow the signs to Acanceh and so forth amounts of time spent at each stop will vary from ten minutes to 45 minutes (Mayapan and Mani). 22 kilometers from Kanasin is Acanceh (“moan of the deer”), where you will see an interesting combination of the Grand pyramid (being restored at the moments), colonial church and modern day church all on the plaza. Several blocks away are more ruins with hieroglyphs.
Ask around for the. Temple of the
Stuccoes about four blocks away. Some gentle soul will point you in the
right way. If they actually take you, can give him (on her) five or so
pesos.
Paamul Caribbean Paradise, Riviera Maya Q. Roo México
Tecoh, eight kilometers down the road has a gas station, market and very ornate church and convent dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption. The carved stones and altar along with the statues and painting are impressive. Notice this complex is built on the base of a large Mayan Pyramid. Next on the route is Telchaquillo, a small village (don’t blink you may miss it) that has a small, austere chapel and a wonderful cenote in the plaza that you can visit.
Starirs have been carved for your convenience. Several kilometers out of Telchaquillo off the right you will find the fantastic Mayan ruins of Mayapan. This walled city has 4,000 mounds of which 6 are in different stages of advanced restoration.
The size of Chichen Itza, you will find the buildings are replicas of the ones in Chichen. Restoration works is being done right now. To visit this site is to observe many mounds in their original state (covered with trees, shrubs, etc..) And to see others in transformation with the archeologists actually working on them.
You will be viewing a “dig”. Continuing on to Tekit
(30 kilometers) a large prosperous looking village you will find the parish
of San Antonio De Padua, a large temple that houses many ornate statues of
saints in each of it’s niches. The altar is very simple.
The
next village, a small one named Mama
(seven kilometers), is famous for its large beautiful bell globed church
containing a large garden, well and closed atrium along with frescos on
the wall, statues of saints in the niches and a very ornate altar. It is
believed this is the oldest church on the route.
Following
the route, you will next come to Chumayel
(nine kilometers) where the famous Mayan document “Chilam Balam” was
found. Four kilometers ahead is Teabo,
famous for its embroidered dresses and its impressive 17th
century temple. Next on the route is Typical, an austere looking church in
a small village.
The
final and perhaps most important stop on the Convent Route is Mani (12 kilometers) where you will find a large church, convent and
well put together museum with explanations in English, Spanish, French and
Mayan. Mani is a good place to have lunch or you can head on to Ticul to
Los Almendros.
To
get back to Merida, head to Ticul,
then Muna, then to Uman, then onto Merida.
If
you want to stop here to do the Route Puuc the next day, you can stay in
Ticul where there are several small hotels. This is a good departure point
for the Loltun Caves an the Puuc Route.
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