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 Merida. 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, you can give him (on her) five or so pesos.
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.
