Are you thinking of travelling around Mexico, and planning to visit the Yucatan Peninsular? Do you want to try something completely off the beaten track - away from the usual tourist path? Maybe you did not know that it is possible to stay in a Mayan village rental - to enjoy civilized comforts, like electricity, running hot water, and indoor cooking facilities, while living in Mayan-style cottages with typical thatched roofs and sleeping in hammocks. This article will introduce you to an alternative form of holiday for people with a spirit of adventure and a desire to learn about the Mayan way of life.
About fifty kilometres south-east of Merida, the capital city of the Yucatan, lies the tiny village of Chunkanan. Only an hour's drive, but a lifetime away in terms of culture and pace of life, the village is famous for its three cenotes or sacred underground lakes. No visit to the Yucatan would be complete without swimming in a Mayan cenote, and the village of Chunkanan is in the centre of an area studded with cenotes. The village of some five hundred inhabitants consists mainly of Mayan cottages or cabanas with roofs thatched with palm leaves. In front of the church there is a grassy main square, where horses graze and children play. The ruins of the abandoned hacienda add atmosphere, and give an indication of past glories.
Set back from the main part of the village is Sac Nicte, a private compound of about an acre in size, that has three Mayan-style cottages or cabanas. Surrounded by tropical gardens, Sac Nicte has a large swimming pool filled with water from a deep well that has been pumped up by a traditional windmill. Within a few minutes walking distance of the centre of the village, Sac Nicte is secluded but very much part of the village. Those who rent these Mayan cottages can see first hand how typical Mayans live. The locals are extremely friendly, and generously welcome visitors into their homes.
The main source of income for the villagers is taking visitors to the cenotes. The only access is by riding in a small horse-drawn truck along an old train track. The journey takes you seven kilometres into the jungle, stopping off at each cenote so you can climb down into these beautiful underground caverns and swim in the unforgettably clear turquoise waters. In the village you will see many horses quietly waiting for their turn, or tethered in front of the Mayan cottages.
