All about Uayma on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico
Updated: January 29, 2025
Main Category: Day Trips
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Author: Tobias
Uyama is a small quiet Yucatecan town with less than 3,000 inhabitants, located about 15km west from Valladolid. Uayma is about 172km away from Mérida. The journey by car takes about 2h 5min from the city center of Mérida and the place is most of the time tranquilly.
Day Trips
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Uayma
Nestled in the heart of Yucatán, Uayma is a charming and peaceful town with around 3,000 inhabitants, offering a insight into authentic Mayan and colonial heritage.
Located just 15 km west of Valladolid on the Yucatán Peninsula, this hidden gem, founded in 1549, boasts a rich history, vibrant traditions, and one of the region’s most unique churches.
In recent years, Uayma has gained popularity for its stunning 17th-century Church of Santo Domingo, renowned for its beautifully adorned and colorful façade.
The Church of Santo Domingo is dedicated to Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo de Guzmán). He was the founder of the Dominican Order and is venerated as the patron saint of astronomers and theologians.
Church of Santo Domingo
The unusual church is often considered one of the most striking in all of Yucatán. The former convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán is now attached to the church, but it is no longer used as a monastery.
The church was built by the Spanish. As was customary at the time, stones from surrounding Mayan temples (including Chichén Itzá) were used for it. The design with the star patterns that run across the church is continued inside the church.
While the colors outside fade more quickly due to the tropical climate in Yucatán, the walls inside are even more colorful in red, yellow, green and blue tones. The colors also have a meaning: blue stars on the facade represent the original worship of Mary and red represents the blood of Christ.
During the Caste War of Yucatán in the 19th century, the Cruzob Mayas set the church on fire, leaving it almost completely in ruins. As part of their fight against oppression, many colonial buildings were destroyed during the conflict.
Fortunately, in the 20th century, the church was rebuilt, bringing it back to life while still reflecting its mix of Mayan and Spanish influences.
Other places of interest
Even though the church is clearly the main attraction of Uayma and the reason why most tourists come here, there are other beautiful places in Uayma. In addition to old Mayan and colonial buildings, some newer buildings have been constructed in the style of the church.
The Casa de Los Pianos, for example, incorporates many of the architectural elements into its own design, sits just across the church and you can even rent it with its four bedrooms. The house is known as Casa de los Pianos, though the exact origin of its name remains uncertain.
There is also a building opposite the main square of Uayma, which is hard to miss. The Casona Santo Domingo de Guzmán is blue in color and its design reflects many of the church's motifs.
This historic building is also named after Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the patron saint of the town’s church. Originally part of the 17th-century Dominican convent connected to the Church of Santo Domingo, it has since been restored while maintaining its colonial architecture and historical significance.
Combine a trip
A long journey just for Uyama is probably not worth it, but if you visit Valladolid (14km east of Uayma) or Chichén Itzá (40km west of Uyama), you can combine it with a visit to Uayma.
In particular, there is a direct road connection from Valladolid and it is only 15 minutes away. In colonial times Uayma was a major stop on the so-called El Camino Real (in English: The Royal Road) between Mérida and Valladolid.
Image Source: ©Xe3osc, wiki commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The picture was modified (resized, image improvements)
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