Hacienda Yaxcopoil
Hacienda Yaxcopoil
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
About
Hacienda Yaxcopoil (YASH-coh-poh-EEL) is a Yucatan plantation dating back to the 17th century. The hacienda has been the location of several film and television productions, and is featured in most travel guides. Its archives are frequently cited in historical texts and research. The Hacienda may be the best preserved but unrestored hacienda in the Yucatan. The Hacienda is open daily for tours, a private guest house, museum of Mayan artifacts, gift shop, snack bar and events.
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4.5
224 reviews
Excellent
125
Very good
72
Average
24
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Rob C
San Jose, CA2,111 contributions
Aug 2020
Visited the Hacienda during the summer of 2020. The place was closed due to COVID. Still had a decent time walking around and looking at the ruins and the main building. Visually it's very romantic, I wish I had the chance to go inside. Hopefully, the place will open back up soon.
Written 26 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ImmerWandern
Palos Park, IL11,705 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
We dropped by at Yaxcopoil as part of a day trip out of Mérida to Uxmal and cenotes. Unfortunately our schedule did not allow for an in-depth visit.
An appreciation of the henequén fiber industry is almost as important to understanding Yucatán history as that of the Mayan civilization. The conquistadors, after subduing the Aztecs, turned to the Yucatán and the Maya but did not find mineral riches in here as had their comrades in Peru and Bolivia. They thus enriched themselves through agriculture having been granted by the Spanish crown licenses to establish what were essentially mini-kingdoms called encomiendas. The Spanish landowners - encomenderos - were free to extract labor and tribute from the Maya working their land. Land around Mérida was not as lush further south in the Yucatán peninsula and so less conducive to large-scale cultivation such that cattle ranching became the main activity followed by maize/corn-growing. The encomienda system formally ended with Mexico’s independence from Spain and became known as haciendas. But whatever the name the reality on the ground remained one of extreme inequality to put it mildly and culminated in the Caste War of the mid-1800s.
The Maya had long used a native agave plant as a source of fiber and the Spaniards recognized this already in the 1700s. It was not until the latter 1800s that the industry became the major source of income for the region. As an endemic plant it flourished in the northern Yucatán without needing too much care. A couple events elsewhere in the world played significant roles in stimulating the henequén industry. The first was the invention and subsequent widespread use of the combine harvester and mechanized the hay press. The increased efficiency of reaping and baling hay created greater demand for baling twine and natural fiber was easier to use than wire. The second event was the Spanish-American War of 1898 which adversely affected production of the primary natural fiber rope used at the time, Manila rope made of abacá or Manila hemp (also used to make paper hence the term “Manila envelope”). The Philippines was a Spanish colony up until 1898 and even though the Spaniards left the Philippines the Treaty of Paris granted the Philippines to the US and Filipinos fought to try to preserve their recently-won freedom from new colonial rulers but lost that war. Regardless, the ongoing fighting diminished Manila rope production allowing henequén to dominate the market. The value of this “green gold” was such that in the early 20th Century Mérida was said to have the highest concentration of millionaires in the world. The invention of synthetic fiber caused the henequén industry to die off and the once-extensive plantations abandoned the land returning to its natural vegetation.
A hacienda existed in the 1700s prior to the current structures which date back to 1864, and the area had been occupied by Late-Classic Mayans as seen in the ruins around the property. The henequen boom years were between the 1880s and 1920s but production continued until the mid-20th Century when petroleum-based synthetic fibers replaced henequen. Hacienda Yaxcopoil still struggled on until 1984 when it finally quit the hemp fiber business. Like other former haciendas in Yucatan it has turned to tourism to survive. Only 18 plantations remain, producing 5,000 tons of henequen annually, a far cry from about 200 haciendas turning out an annual production of 200,000 tons 100 years ago.
Yaxcopoil is one such property reinventing itself as a tourist destination. Be sure to check Yaxcopoil’s website for details about their property. Not onl does the property contain the colonial era buildings but some Mayan ruins as well. On our visit we passed small crumbling brick and stone with fallen roofs and walls with fading red paint; these were quarters for the Maya laborers. Technically they were not slaves but just a small step beyond that, essentially indentured laborers, paid in paper scripts that had no value outside of the hacienda and could only be used in the on-site store.
We parked at the main plaza to view the buildings surrounding us. Yaxcopoil means “place of the green Alamo tree” and it was in the shade of one such large cottonwood that we took shelter from the sun. To our right was the the "Casa de Maquina" where shredding machines processed the leaves of henequen agave to extract the fibers. The fibers were then shipped to the factories where twine, rope, and burlap bags were manufactured. The Maya had long used the henequen to make fiber and the process was adopted and industrialized by the Spaniards. In front and to the left was the arched veranda and gateway to the hacienda. To our left a light green building has functioned as a school, initially for children of Mayan laborers and now for the wider community. Behind us was a tortilleria where we observed production of tortillas. It was a mechanized process, not the traditional hand-made the masa harina (corn flour) was fed into the press and perfectly formed round tortillas emerged on a small conveyer belt. These were then passed through an oven emerging baked to be efficiently stacked in piles. The tortilla piles were sold by the kilo. Our guide talked the ladies into giving us a couple fresh tortillas to sample (and they were among the tastiest tortillas we had ever tried).
An appreciation of the henequén fiber industry is almost as important to understanding Yucatán history as that of the Mayan civilization. The conquistadors, after subduing the Aztecs, turned to the Yucatán and the Maya but did not find mineral riches in here as had their comrades in Peru and Bolivia. They thus enriched themselves through agriculture having been granted by the Spanish crown licenses to establish what were essentially mini-kingdoms called encomiendas. The Spanish landowners - encomenderos - were free to extract labor and tribute from the Maya working their land. Land around Mérida was not as lush further south in the Yucatán peninsula and so less conducive to large-scale cultivation such that cattle ranching became the main activity followed by maize/corn-growing. The encomienda system formally ended with Mexico’s independence from Spain and became known as haciendas. But whatever the name the reality on the ground remained one of extreme inequality to put it mildly and culminated in the Caste War of the mid-1800s.
The Maya had long used a native agave plant as a source of fiber and the Spaniards recognized this already in the 1700s. It was not until the latter 1800s that the industry became the major source of income for the region. As an endemic plant it flourished in the northern Yucatán without needing too much care. A couple events elsewhere in the world played significant roles in stimulating the henequén industry. The first was the invention and subsequent widespread use of the combine harvester and mechanized the hay press. The increased efficiency of reaping and baling hay created greater demand for baling twine and natural fiber was easier to use than wire. The second event was the Spanish-American War of 1898 which adversely affected production of the primary natural fiber rope used at the time, Manila rope made of abacá or Manila hemp (also used to make paper hence the term “Manila envelope”). The Philippines was a Spanish colony up until 1898 and even though the Spaniards left the Philippines the Treaty of Paris granted the Philippines to the US and Filipinos fought to try to preserve their recently-won freedom from new colonial rulers but lost that war. Regardless, the ongoing fighting diminished Manila rope production allowing henequén to dominate the market. The value of this “green gold” was such that in the early 20th Century Mérida was said to have the highest concentration of millionaires in the world. The invention of synthetic fiber caused the henequén industry to die off and the once-extensive plantations abandoned the land returning to its natural vegetation.
A hacienda existed in the 1700s prior to the current structures which date back to 1864, and the area had been occupied by Late-Classic Mayans as seen in the ruins around the property. The henequen boom years were between the 1880s and 1920s but production continued until the mid-20th Century when petroleum-based synthetic fibers replaced henequen. Hacienda Yaxcopoil still struggled on until 1984 when it finally quit the hemp fiber business. Like other former haciendas in Yucatan it has turned to tourism to survive. Only 18 plantations remain, producing 5,000 tons of henequen annually, a far cry from about 200 haciendas turning out an annual production of 200,000 tons 100 years ago.
Yaxcopoil is one such property reinventing itself as a tourist destination. Be sure to check Yaxcopoil’s website for details about their property. Not onl does the property contain the colonial era buildings but some Mayan ruins as well. On our visit we passed small crumbling brick and stone with fallen roofs and walls with fading red paint; these were quarters for the Maya laborers. Technically they were not slaves but just a small step beyond that, essentially indentured laborers, paid in paper scripts that had no value outside of the hacienda and could only be used in the on-site store.
We parked at the main plaza to view the buildings surrounding us. Yaxcopoil means “place of the green Alamo tree” and it was in the shade of one such large cottonwood that we took shelter from the sun. To our right was the the "Casa de Maquina" where shredding machines processed the leaves of henequen agave to extract the fibers. The fibers were then shipped to the factories where twine, rope, and burlap bags were manufactured. The Maya had long used the henequen to make fiber and the process was adopted and industrialized by the Spaniards. In front and to the left was the arched veranda and gateway to the hacienda. To our left a light green building has functioned as a school, initially for children of Mayan laborers and now for the wider community. Behind us was a tortilleria where we observed production of tortillas. It was a mechanized process, not the traditional hand-made the masa harina (corn flour) was fed into the press and perfectly formed round tortillas emerged on a small conveyer belt. These were then passed through an oven emerging baked to be efficiently stacked in piles. The tortilla piles were sold by the kilo. Our guide talked the ladies into giving us a couple fresh tortillas to sample (and they were among the tastiest tortillas we had ever tried).
Written 6 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
welcome to visit next time around
Written 8 June 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
acorna
Vilnius, Lithuania4,609 contributions
Jul 2019
We visited Yaxcopoil hacienda as a part of the Uxmal tour. Our guide was excellent, so the visit turned out to be not only a tour around a quite well-preserved old homestead, but also a story of haciendas of Yucatan in general, the life of the owners and the workers all enveloped in bits and pieces of history of Mexico and Yucatan. The hacienda is well worth to visit – for these who are interested in history, old life style and machinery history, too (there are several very interesting pieces there). But get yourself a good guide! Otherwise it will be just a pile of old buildings with a garden and some museum stuff.
Written 22 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gracias por su visita, reseña y puntuación.
Written 23 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hubert645
Aalst, Belgium517 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
We visited with a Flemish group this lovely not yet totally restored hacienda with a guide who spoke rather good our mother tongue (Dutch). The hacienda dates back to the 17th century. It was once one of the most important rural estates in the Yucatán. Inside, besides many original pieces of furniture, are 2 oil paintings showing Don Domiciano García Rejón and his wife Dona Mónica Galera. In the back of the museum, you will find the 'Maya Room'. The hacienda also has a well-preserved machine house. Don't miss this, but it is worthwhile to plan it in advance and to pay a guide who speaks your main language.
Written 16 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gracias por su reseña y puntuación.
Written 26 April 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
chitrip
chicago16 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
We spent two nights at the Hacienda Yaxcopoil and look forward to returning. The casita was comfortable and very charming. The food prepared by Aurora was OUTSTANDING! What a lovely experience. Do not miss visiting this hacienda and if you can spend a few nights you will be rewarded with a unique experience. To wake up in the morning and wander the buildings and gardens alone was surreal. Highly recommended. We have stayed in the luxury haciendas of the Yucatan and enjoyed those as well but the Hacienda Yaxcopoil was authentic in every way.
If you can't spend the evening do not miss out on visiting the Hacienda Yaxcopoil.
If you can't spend the evening do not miss out on visiting the Hacienda Yaxcopoil.
Written 11 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gracias por su visita reseña y puntuación.
Written 7 January 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
C74Patricia
Merida, Mexico11 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
This is one of the most impressive old haciendas in the entire region. It is massive, and because it didn't shut down until the early 1980s, it is still easy to imagine daily life there. It is a ruin, not a restoration, but there is furniture in the rooms and photos on the walls. The architecture is incredibly beautiful, with Roman statues decorating the work areas, like new beautiful painted tiles decorating the floors of the living areas, and beautiful gardens everywhere. This place will give you the feeling of life in 19th Century Yucatan like no other. It is elegant, to say the least, but there is also a sense of love and caring there. The Mayan caretakers are friendly and obviously proud of what remains of of this breathtakingly beautiful old symbol of another time.
Written 11 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gracias por su visita reseña y puntuación.
Written 7 January 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
iodoggie
Manteca, CA117 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
My boyfriend and I had visited the Soltuta de Peon hacienda, which has a spectacular tour (we liked it so much, we have been twice), and on a whim, decided to visit Yaxcopoil. This was a much different experience, as there wasn't a guided tour, you just toured the grounds on your own. The grounds are lovely, and you can get an idea of how grand this was in it's heyday. It is run down, to be sure, but still a very worthwhile visit.
Written 13 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gracias por su reseña y puntuación.
Written 26 April 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hal M
Newport Beach11 contributions
Jan 2013 • Couples
We had an amazing experience at Hacienda Yaxcopoil. We stayed two nights in the authentic environs of a classic Yucatan hacienda, treasured for its old world atmosphere and the preservation of pre-Columbian, colonial and “boom” (thanks to the henequen) years. We enjoyed exploring the hacienda and the delicious cuisine, prepared by Aurora real-world style (chicken soup with lime, pico de gallo and chips, 3 types of tamales, salsa, horchata and stewed fruit) Our tour guide, Victor, was also outstanding. He took us to the main sites off the beaten path that we wanted to see and was extremely knowledgeable. Back at the hacienda, we eventually met Miguel, the owner, who arranged for Victor. Miguel should be saluted for his efforts to maintain this important landmark. We also introduced ourselves to the horses (or they to us!). The cream colored one was extremely friendly, or just hungry for apples. We would recommend this as an authentic Yucatan getaway with absolutely no reservations. You’ll be transported back in time while you explore the nearby Mayan ruins along the legendary Puuc route.
Written 15 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gracias por su visita reseña y puntuación.
Written 7 January 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Salvador Ocampo
Playa del Carmen, Mexico18 contributions
Jun 2018
Great stop on the way to or back from Uxmal. Hacienda Yaxcopoil is partially restored into a museum o the epoch when the haciendas ruled the peninsula and the time of the green gold or sisal fiber an agace plant that was used to make all fabric for ropes. Great architectural photos can be snapped here even with your phone. The entrance is cheap to the museum through a double arch at the front of the complex
Written 10 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for you visit, glad that you enjoy it and appreciate our museum
Written 11 July 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
oldbrdrz
Fairfax, VA141 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
The hacienda main building is a drab gray on the outside, only its size and the double Moorish arch at the entrance to the property is impressive. But the inside of the living quarters is another matter. Each room is different and luxuriously appointed. Growing sisal for ship cables and many other uses made the occupants and many others in the region millionaires. The courtyard is vast but the property now is only a fraction of its original size. An English pamphlet is available that gives some information on the rooms.
The warehouse and machine room are quite decorative on the outside. The machine room has scant information on how the sisal fibers are made. Internet information helped us to make sense of what we saw on our return. It was definitely worth stopping here on our way to Uxmal
The warehouse and machine room are quite decorative on the outside. The machine room has scant information on how the sisal fibers are made. Internet information helped us to make sense of what we saw on our return. It was definitely worth stopping here on our way to Uxmal
Written 21 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your visit
Written 22 June 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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