Explore Tekax: Mexico’s Newest Magical Town in Yucatán
Explore Tekax: Mexico’s Newest Magical Town in Yucatán
Nestled in the heart of Yucatan, Tekax has recently earned the prestigious title of Mexico’s newest Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) in 2023.
Dubbed “La Sultana de la Sierra,” Tekax is recognized for its privileged location just over an hour and a half from Merida.
Tekax boasts a fascinating history, mesmerizing landscapes, Mayan community culture, gastronomy, caves, and adventure.
This getaway is ideal if you are a traveler who likes nature, physical activity, and history.
Getting to Tekax, Yucatan
To get to Tekax, Yucatán, you have several options depending on your starting point.
Here are some general directions and tips for traveling to Tekax:
From Mérida, Yucatán
By Car: Take the highway Mérida-Chetumal (Highway 184). Continue for about 120 kilometers until you reach Tekax. The drive typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.
By Bus: Go to the ADO bus terminal in Mérida. Purchase a ticket to Tekax. There are multiple daily services.
The bus ride usually takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on the service and stops.
From Cancún, Quintana Roo
By Car: Take the highway Cancún-Mérida (Highway 180). When you reach Mérida, follow the directions above to Tekax.
The drive from Cancún to Mérida is about 3 to 4 hours, and then another 1.5 to 2 hours to Tekax.
By Bus: Take a bus from Cancún to Mérida. ADO provides frequent services between these two cities. Once in Mérida, transfer to a bus heading to Tekax.
From Tulum, Quintana Roo
By Car: Take the highway Tulum-Chetumal (Highway 307) to Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Continue on Highway 184 towards Mérida. Tekax will be on this route before you reach Mérida.
The drive typically takes around 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
By Bus: Take a bus from Tulum to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, then another bus to Tekax.
Tips
Driving: Renting a car can offer more flexibility and the opportunity to explore other nearby attractions (my top choice).
Buses: ADO is the main coach company in the region and offers reliable service (you will see these buses everywhere).
Check Schedules: Whether traveling by car or bus, check the schedules and road conditions in advance.
Local Transport: Once in Tekax, taxis and local buses are available for getting around.
Currency: Make sure to bring Mexican Pesos, as smaller towns might not accept credit cards or other currencies.
Language: While Spanish is the primary language, some knowledge of basic phrases can be helpful (learn the basics: mas cerveza por favor… donde esta el baño?)
Travel safely and enjoy your visit to Tekax, Yucatán!
5 Top Things to Do in Tekax, Yucatan
1. Visit the parish church of San Juan Bautista
Located in the heart of Tekax, this beautiful parish was founded in 1564 and was dedicated to San Juan Bautista.
The parish has beautiful mosaic floors, the interior walls are painted with lime in plain colors, and it has 3 aisles formed by 4 rows of columns, 2 at each end embedded in the wall.
This religious site is one of the first Franciscan buildings in the southern part of Yucatan.
The facade is finished on the outside and has the bell tower, rebuilt in the form of a belfry, on the main facade you can see the Franciscan coat of arms.
2. Admire Chacmultún
If you love long walks, climbing stairs, and watching beautiful sunsets, this is for you!
This mystical zone comprises four architectural groups: Chacmultún, Cabalpak, Xethpol, and Central.
These were purposely built on hills and artificial terraces to look more imposing.
Chacmultún is a Yucatecan Mayan word, which means “Red Stone Mounds,” referring to the pinkish tone of the quarry used in the facades of the buildings.
This beautiful place is approximately 600 meters from Tekax. And if you want to visit it, you can get there by public transportation.
3. Visit Kaalmankal Ecotourism Park
Kaalmankal Ecotourism Park is the ideal ecotouristic place to do many activities, you can rappel, zip line, and pendulum.
Their guides are friendly and highly trained, they will take you on tours inside caves, and you choose how challenging you want the activity to be.
They provide all the safety equipment.
I recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes, boots or sandals that best suit you, do not go with sneakers, because you will crawl inside the caves.
4. Experience the famous Grutas Chocantes of Tekax
Now, if you want something a bit more extreme and adventurous but at a different level, the Grutas Chocantes will be an experience you will never forget.
The Grutas Chocantes are characterized by their waterfalls, huge petrified curtains, stalactites, and stalagmites.
Inside the caves, you can go hiking, rappel down the Gruta del Toro, slide on a zip line (150 m), and visit the viewpoint at 170 meters high.
There are two options, make the journey of 600 m inside the cave, which still has an intermediate difficulty. The duration of this one is almost 2 hours.
The other, is an extreme level, since it has a distance of 7 kilometers round trip, where you will find parts where you have to make a land chest, to be able to continue, this has an approximate duration of 7 hours.
5. Admire the Alley of Murals
Next to the municipal palace of Tekax is the alley of murals, a narrow walkway where you will find ten murals with beautiful illustrations of the traditions and colors of Yucatán, such as the jarana, the trova, the exquisite Yucatecan gastronomy, its flora, fauna, the caves of the southern zone, legends, and the Maya cosmovision.
The murals contain pictorial representations of the festivities and customs of the city.
Among some curiosities, you can see the famous composer Ricardo Palmerín Pavía, the mysterious and interesting legend of the Waay Kot, the celebration of San Diego de Alcalá with its colorful and colorful festivities, as well as the flora and fauna of the region represented with jaguars, birds, and trees such as the ceiba.
These murals were created by young people from municipalities such as Oxkutzcab, Tekax, and other parts of Mexico.
Tekax, Yucatan: Final thoughts
Tekax, the newest Magical Town in Yucatán, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
With its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural landscapes, and welcoming community, it offers a unique and authentic experience for travelers seeking to explore the heart of Mexico.
From the awe-inspiring Grutas Chocantes caves to the charming colonial architecture and vibrant local traditions, Tekax has something for everyone.
