A hacienda with cenotes
Mucuyché is a former hacienda in the municipality of Abalá, south of Mérida. Like many Yucatán haciendas, it lived off henequen, the native agave whose fiber was Yucatán's "green gold." What sets it apart is the cenotes on its grounds; Yucatán's sustainable development ministry lists a cenote at the hacienda in its official inventory of cenotes and caves.
Carlota and Azul Maya
- Cenote Carlota: one of the two cenotes on the visit.
- Cenote Azul Maya: the second, connected to the first.
- The channel: to get from one to the other you cross a channel, swimming or along a stone path.
It's a different experience from Homún: instead of visiting several separate cenotes, here the water forms a small connected system.
The history you'll hear
Before you get in the water, a guide from the hacienda explains how the henequen business worked and what survives from that era. It's a good way to understand why Yucatán is dotted with haciendas and old stone estates.
Tips
- Shower before swimming and leave sunscreen and repellent out of the water.
- Bring water shoes: the stone path can be wet.
- Wear a life vest if you're not a confident swimmer, especially to cross the channel.
- Lunch at the hacienda is paid separately, à la carte.
Mucuyché from Mérida
Mary Tours' Hacienda Mucuyché trip includes transportation from Mérida (about an hour), check-in and a history tour with a hacienda guide, and two hours at the Carlota and Azul Maya cenotes. There's time to eat at the hacienda restaurant (pay as you go) and a pool if you want more time in the water. The office is on Calle 61 in Mérida's historic center; prices are in the booking section.
Fun facts
- At Mucuyché you cross from one cenote to the other through a channel.
- The hacienda lived off henequen, Yucatán's "green gold."
- Yucatán's environment ministry lists the Mucuyché cenote in its official inventory.
Related tours
Cenotes · 7 h
Hacienda Mucuyché
A stone channel joining two cenotes
from $1,800 MXN per person
See itinerary
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM · daily
- 9:30 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to the estate, in the municipality of Abalá.
- 10:30 AM Check-in and historical tour — A guide from the estate itself explains how the henequen business worked and what survives of it.
- 11:00 AM Carlota and Azul Maya cenotes — Two hours in the water. To move between the cenotes you cross the channel, swimming or along the stone path.
- 1:00 PM Time for lunch — Yucatecan food at the estate restaurant, paid per order. There is a pool for anyone who wants to stay in the water.
- 3:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back.
Included: Transport, Guide, Entry to the hacienda and cenotes
Not included: Food, Drinks
Cenotes · 7 h
The four cenotes of Santa Bárbara
Four different cenotes and a lunch made by hand
from $1,450 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Homún, through the ring of cenotes.
- 11:00 AM Cascabel cenote — Closed, cave type. You descend inside and the water sits in half-light: the most striking of the four.
- 11:30 AM Chaksikín cenote — Semi-open. You go down between limestone walls painted with Maya-themed murals.
- 12:00 PM Xooch cenote — Semi-open, with a shaft of light that falls straight onto the water mid-morning.
- 12:30 PM Pool Cocom cenote — Open and surrounded by vegetation. You swim along a channel out to the wide part.
- 1:30 PM Regional lunch — Home cooking with hand-made tortillas. Plenty of time to eat without rushing.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back, arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Entry to all four cenotes, Regional lunch
Not included: Drinks with lunch
Transfers · 10.5 h
Transfer to Uxmal and Yaxcopoil
The Puuc route at your own pace, with the van waiting
from $2,550 MXN per vehicle
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hacienda Mucuyché?
In the municipality of Abalá, about an hour from Mérida.
How many cenotes does it have?
The visit includes two, Carlota and Azul Maya, connected by a channel.
Is lunch included?
On the Mary Tours trip, lunch at the hacienda restaurant is paid separately.
Mucuyché or Santa Bárbara?
Mucuyché pairs hacienda history with two connected cenotes; Santa Bárbara has four cenotes of different types.
