Currently viewing the tag: "Yucatan"
If you haven’t been to the ruin of Ek Balam you are missing out on one of the Yucatan’s great wonders. Located just 20 minutes north of Valladolid or 51km from Chichen Itza, Ek Balam (which means Black Jaguar in Mayan) is still relatively unknown to tourists. Restoration of this site only began in 1997. 
The city was at the height of it’s importance between 600-900AD, the Late Classic period. The site was abandoned for reasons unknown after which it the jungle took over the site burring it under thick foliage. As with all sites in the Yucatan, it was first thought to be hills until explores starting digging down to find the treasure below.
Much of the site is still being uncovered, but what you can see is amazing. It houses one of the last pyramids, Acropolis, in the area which you can still climb. It also has many exquisite examples of detailed glyphs and frescoes.
Currently it is one of the least crowded sites in the area, but it is quickly becoming popular with tourists.
If you are looking for the complete Mayan experience you can spend the night in the local village of Ek Balam. There fellow Calgarian, Lee Christie has the lovely echo hotel, Genesis. She offers classes in traditional Maya cooking, tours of the artisans in the area and nature trips to caves and cenotes in the area.
Convent of San Francisco in Kikil, Yucatan
We are constantly amazed at the structures we come across while traveling through Mexico.
This is the former Convent of San Francisco located in Kikil, Yucatan. Kikil is a small village just north of Tizimín with a population of 85 men and 78 women at last count. You have to love a place that you can count the men and the woman with ease.
This amazing church is not one of a kind in the Yucatan, there are many of them thanks to the Caste Wars. We recommend reading “Caste Wars of the Yucatan” for more information on the shocking history of the area.
As for this church, it hasn’t been used in hundreds of years. As it stands right now, it might be kind of nice to spend time in a church were you can really look up to the heavens.
Casa de los Venados (House of the Deer) in Valladolid is not to be missed.
Owners John and Dorianne Venator have an amazing collection of Mexican art that they have hand picked from all over the country. The collection became so large that they needed to find the perfect space for it.
The couple spent eight and half years remodeling a colonial home in Valladolid to house the collection. The home is something to see on it’s own, but ad in the amazing art collection and you are in for a treat.
Although it is their private residence the couple opens their home to the public everyday at 10:00am for tours, in both English and Spanish, of the more than 3,000 pieces of the collection. In return for the tour they ask for a small donation which goes to a local charity.
Whenever we have a chance to sneak away to Valladolid in the Yucatan, we do. This little city is quickly becoming a trendy, hip place to hang out thanks to businesses like Coqui Coqui Spa & Perfumes that make their own scents and candles or Dutzi Bags that make high end handbags sewn by local Mayan woman using recycled materials and our favourite restaurants Conato 1910.
Monastery of San Bernardino de Siena
Valladolid played a huge role in the Caste War of the Yucatan making it one of the major historical sites of the area.
With tons of history, art, culture, cenotes and great food, Valladolid is not to be missed if you are traveling through this area. Check back this week as I will post more on this cultural hot spot.
