All about Hacienda Yaxcopoil in Mexico

Hacienda Yaxcopoil is an old traditional plantation near Mérida. It dates back to the 17th century. The name Yaxcopoil means "place of green alamo trees" in Mayan and was named after the nearby Mayan ruins. A big alamo tree is also in front of the hacienda.

The hacienda represents the history of three major eras on the Yucatán Peninsula: the pre-Columbian period, the Spanish colonial period, and the boom years of hennequen cultivation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Hacienda Yaxcopoil was once considered one of the most important estates in the Yucatán Peninsula, encompassing approximately 22,000 hectares of land at the time. The hacienda was first operated as a cattle ranch and later as a henequen plantation.

Facilities

While some haciandas in Yucatán have been very lavishly converted into luxury hotels, Hacienda Yaxcopoil has also been partially restored, but is still very much in its original state with some ruins. This makes the special charm of the property.

The property and the buildings of the hacienda have often served as a film set. There is a guest house, a gift shop and a snack bar. The hacienda's main house is basically a museum of Maya artifacts that shows how Merida's wealthy class used to live.

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 with antique furniture. There is only this one room, so you will be the only guest and have the hacienda to yourself in the evening.

One night costs around 110 US dollars including a breakfast. You can also book dinner for around 15 US dollars.

A few tips

Hacienda Yaxcopoil is a nice location and admission is comparatively inexpensive, but I wouldn't go there from Mérida just for the hacienda. It could even happen that you are the only visitor. It's a nice visit if you can combine another destination.

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.