All about Hacienda Yaxcopoil in Yucatán (2025 Travel Guide)

Hacienda Yaxcopoil is a historic plantation from the 17th century, located about 23 kilometers south of Mérida.

It sits along Federal Highway 261, on the route to Uxmal, roughly halfway between Mérida and the famous Mayan ruins of Uxmal. Nearby, you’ll also find the X'Batun cenote, which is a popular spot for nature lovers.

The name Yaxcopoil comes from the Mayan language and means "place of green álamo trees," named after the nearby Mayan ruins. A large álamo tree still stands in front of the hacienda today.

The hacienda reflects the history of three major periods on the Yucatán Peninsula: the pre-Columbian era, the Spanish colonial period, and the henequen boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

At its peak, Hacienda Yaxcopoil was one of the most important estates in Yucatán, covering approximately 22,000 hectares. It was originally a cattle ranch before transitioning into a henequen plantation, contributing to the economic rise of the region.

Facilities

While some haciendas in Yucatán have been transformed into luxurious hotels, Hacienda Yaxcopoil has taken a different approach. It has been partially restored, but much of the property remains in its original state, giving it a authentic charm.

The hacienda and its grounds have often been used as a film set, thanks to its atmospheric mix of history and decay.

There's

• a guesthouse,

• a small gift shop,

• and a snack bar for visitors.

The main house of Hacienda Yaxcopoil functions as a museum, showcasing Maya artifacts and offering an insight into how Mérida's wealthy class once lived.

You can walk through the gardens and grounds and also visit the machine house, which still houses machines that were needed for sisal production. But unlike at Hacienda Sotuta de Peon, they are no longer operational. The old machinery (from 1913) was used until 1984.

The Guest House

You can stay in the guest house, which is furnished with antique furniture, giving it an authentic historical feel. Since there is only one room available, you’ll be the only guest, meaning you’ll have the hacienda all to yourself in the evening.

A night's stay costs around 110 US dollars, including breakfast. If you’d like, you can also book dinner for about 15 US dollars.

A Few Tips

Hacienda Yaxcopoil is a nice spot to visit, and the admission is quite affordable, but I wouldn’t recommend making the trip from Mérida just for the hacienda alone.

It’s a quiet place, and you might even find yourself as the only visitor. That said, it’s worth stopping by if you’re already heading to Uxmal or one of the nearby cenotes.

If you are visiting for example the Mayan archaeological site of Uxmal, Hacienda Yaxcopoil is perfect for a stopover, as it is located right next to Highway 261 on the way to Uxmal.

How to Get to Hacienda Yaxcopoil from Mérida?

Hacienda Yaxcopoil is located about 35 kilometers south of Merida, on Federal Highway 261, at Kilometer 220. Follow the signs to Uxmal on 261 to arrive at Hacienda Yaxcopoil.

You can also take a colectivo to Uman and there take another colectivo to Yaxcopoil. There is also a bus (Autobuses del Mayab) from Mérida to Yaxcopoil.

Haciendas in Yucatán

Haciendas in Yucatán were once large estates primarily used for cattle ranching and agriculture. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the demand for sisal, also known as henequén, soared, turning Mérida into one of Mexico’s wealthiest cities.

Many cattle ranches were turned into sisal plantations as the crop became Yucatán’s most profitable industry. But with the rise of synthetic fibers, demand collapsed, leading to the industry’s decline and the abandonment of many haciendas.

Another reason was that after the Mexican Revolution, many large estates were expropriated and broken up into smaller plots for small farmers. This made many large ranches unprofitable, and many disappeared altogether.

In the 19th century, there were about 1,170 haciendas on the Yucatán Peninsula, of which around 400 still exist today, although most are in ruins.

About 300 of these haciendas are located in the state of Yucatán. Some haciendas have been restored and turned into hotels, restaurants, or tourist attractions. Here are two recommended haciendas in Mérida I’ve written about:

• Hacienda Santa Cruz

  • Address: Calle 86 S/N, Santa Cruz Palomeque, Yucatán

  • A beautifully restored hacienda that now operates as a boutique hotel and spa with lush gardens. It is located right on the southern outskirts of Mérida.

    
    

• Hacienda San Ildefonso Teya

  • Address: Carretera Mérida - Cancún Km 12.5, Kanasín, Yucatán

  • A former sisal plantation, now a restaurant known for its traditional Yucatecan cuisine. It is located right on the eastern outskirts of Mérida.

And here are the top haciendas just outside Mérida:

• Hacienda Sotuta de Peón

  • Address: Km 45, Carretera Mérida - Campeche, Tecoh, Yucatán

  • This is the best hacienda in my opinion. It is the only working sisal hacienda, offering guided tours with demonstrations of traditional fiber processing, and a cenote for swimming.

    
    

• Hacienda Mucuyché

  • Address: Camino a Mucuyché de Peón, Abalá, Yucatán

  • If your focus is also especially on cenotes, Hacienda Mucuyché is the best recommendation. The hacienda is famous for its two stunning cenotes, set within the ruins of the historic hacienda.

    
    

• Hacienda Xcanatún

  • Address: Carretera Mérida-Progreso Km 12, Xcanatún, Yucatán

  • A restored 18th-century sisal hacienda, now a luxury hotel and spa with a fine dining restaurant.

    
    

• Hacienda Yaxcopoil

  • Address: Carretera Mérida - Uxmal Km 186, Yaxcopoil, Yucatán

  • A well-preserved 17th-century hacienda, now a museum showcasing the history of sisal production and hacienda life.