All about Misnébalam Ghost Town in Yucatán (2025 Guide)

Misnébalam is literally "off the beaten path" on the Yucatán Peninsula and it is not your typical tourist destination. It is an abandoned ghost town in the middle of nowhere, 14 kilometres from Mérida on the way to Progreso.

The former hennequen Hacienda Misnébalam and later small town with up to 170 inhabitants was founded around 1900 by Don Fidencio G. Márquez. More than 100 years later, in 2005, the last two inhabitants left the town.

All the buildings are heavily dilapidated, with nature reclaiming much of the village; in most cases, only a few walls remain standing. The chapel (see the picture below) is one of the best-preserved structures, with its broken altar adding to its ghostly charm.

Before I forget, if you are interested in abandoned sites and urban ruins, be sure to take a look at our photo blog on the Lost Places in Mérida.

What Misnébalam Means

The name of Misnébalam comes from "Misné" which means in Mayan language: "tail of cats" and "balam" which means "Jaguar". Misnébalam therefore translates as the tail of the Jaguar.

The Legend of Misnébalam

In October 1921, Don Fidencio G. Márquez, his son and a worker were attacked and murdered as they were returning from the fields to the hacienda. A foreman took over the management of the hacienda.

Márquez couldn’t find peace because of his unfinished work and kept wandering the hacienda at night as a restless ghost. After a while, the foreman began abusing a young boy known as Juliancito, who eventually opened up to a priest in search of help.

During the night, however, he hanged himself from one of the trees in the main courtyard.

From that point on, many residents also claimed to see the boy’s ghost at night or hear the sound of children laughing in the dark. Others have seen Juliancito running across the hacienda playing with a ball.

After the priest’s death, his ghost was also seen wandering near the village church. Some houses lit up despite having no electricity, and eerie voices and whispers were heard by locals.

In addition to the decline of hennequen production (due to the invention of more cost-effective synthetic materials), this led to residents leaving the village. The last two residents left in 2005. Today, the place is inhabited only by the ghosts of restless souls.

Visitors rarely stray there. The place has also attracted satanists, cults and paranormal researchers over the years. If this does not deter you, the lost place offers interesting photo opportunities.

What You Should Know

The place is not looked after or maintained in any way. There are of course no sanitary facilities or anything like that, everything is very overgrown and falling into disrepair.

As these are old, very dilapidated ruins, you need to be careful when exploring. Unfortunately, many of the buildings have also been sprayed with graffiti, which takes away some of the charm.

Practical Tips for Your Visit

Here are some practical tips:

• There's no entrance fee to visit and typically you will be alone on site.

• Guided tours are also offered, usually starting from Progreso.

• Early morning or late afternoon is ideal for cooler temperatures and better lighting for photos.

• Sturdy shoes, water, and insect repellent are a must.

• A camera or phone with a wide-angle lens will help you capture the haunting beauty of the ruins.

How to Get to Misnébalam from Mérida?

There is no public transport, the only way to get to Misnébalam is is through an organized tour or by car (or by bicycle, motorbike or similar).

Take the Mérida-Progreso highway, and at kilometer 17 there is a turnoff. Be careful, the last stretch of road is very bad. And... beware of the spirits!

Image Source: ©Inri, flickr, CC0 1.0 Universal, Link

The picture was modified (resized, image improvements)