Tixkokob

​Tixkokob is a fantastic town in Yucatán just a few minutes outside of the capital at Mérida. But Tixkokob is entirely its own thing, The name, from the Yucatec Maya language, means place of poisonous vipers. But don't let that throw you. 

Historians recognize that an ancient settlement here was part of the Maya chiefdom of the Ceh Pech but it's not recorded just when it came to be. Today, it's a major center for artisan culture which is already important all across the region. Most famous for hammocks, hardly a visitor will leave without one. But that is just the beginning. The area around the Manuel Romero Ancona market is central and loaded with handcrafts from all over the state. It's a terrific place to eat too. In fact, the market was taken over from the church already by the late 19th century and it has been there ever since. 

Visitors come to stroll the streets around the cathedral, and the nearly attached central market, and the entire historic center area. From the center, the important Aké Yucatán archaeological site is a mere 20 minutes by taxi. The site is quite old, dating to the early Classic Period between 250 and 500 CE. The site may be quite a bit more famous than Tixkokob, at least among the archaeological enthusiasts. The Mayapan archaeological site is about an hour south of the city, and may be even more dramatic. 

Closer to home, the Cenote Aketzali is all but in the city center, too. It's one of the most important and publicly accessible swimming holes in the town. And people come to eat: cochinita pibil, panuchos, and papadzules. In a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere, there's always something coming out of the kitchen.  

As a weekend day trip from Mérida, it's perfect. But with the Tren Maya, lots of visitors arrive just for a visit to Tixkokob and the surrounding country. Travel time from Cancun is about five hours, and lots of visitors will stop here before continuing on to larger Mérida.