Tixkokob is a municipality located in the western part of Yucatán This picturesque town is known for many things but one of its biggest tourist attractions is the traditional festival dedicated to Saint Bernardino of Siena what usually captures the most attention is the construction of the large bullring: a huge wooden three-story arena that is assembled from scratch every year by local residents "We’ve even received visitors from Germany who were quite amazed," commented Adi Uitz Adi's family has been involved in the construction of these arenas for several decades and she learned everything about this practice from her father To understand more about this great example of traditional and ephemeral architecture Adi explained that the circular area dedicated to bullfighting is called “Ruedo," the artisanal structure is called “Coso," and the sections that make up the Coso are called "Palcos (or boxes)” with approximately five people on each railing (which is the exposed part of the two upper floors facing inward towards the Ruedo) This monumental work is the result of a collaborative effort by all the families that make up the Tixkokob Asociación de Palqueros (Box-makers’ Association) and they coordinate several weeks in advance to get the Coso ready on time The act of building the Palcos or boxes is called "tying the Palcos," as only three-strand ropes are used to secure everything this does not mean that the construction is unsafe as the assembly process is supervised by members of Civil Protection who ensure that the Coso meets the highest safety standards If you're interested in visiting the bullring of Tixkokob but don't want or can't participate in the other activities as preparations for the evening festivities start after that time simply ask around to get in touch with one of the box-making families There are usually guards and monitors around the venue who can direct you to the right person The entrance fee for the activities typically ranges from $60 to $120 pesos per person; while you don’t have to pay to visit the ring If you're climbing onto the Palcos for the first time you'll be encouraged to visit the Ruedo and experience firsthand all the effort and affection that Yucatecos put into keeping our traditions alive We thank Adi from the Uitz Ek family for sharing her knowledge with us First published in Yucatán Today print and digital magazine no we accompany the traveler so that they can experience the authentic essence of Yucatán Forbes Magazine’s “richest man in the world” has purchased Hacienda Katanchel in Tixkokob He intends to turn it into an ultra-luxurious hotel This 17th-century estate is 45 minutes east of Mérida and became part of the international luxury hotel chain Belmond now that it’s part of Bernard Arnault’s massive portfolio.  plans to reopen Hacienda Katanchel in 2027 they’re obviously giving themselves plenty of time to upgrade the grounds The Katanchel estate will have 35 independent suites and a complete revitalizing spa complex The entire property is 543 acres and has a cenote a sacred well and the remains of a Maya pyramid The property was originally a cattle and horse ranch and was converted to a henequen plantation toward the end of the 19th century its roughly 60 buildings were left to decay the property was a privately owned nature reserve and resort One of the warehouses was transformed into a laboratory where residents were trained in the conservation of the region’s plants and trees The entrance to the main house is built in the colonial style with two rows of three arches supported by Doric columns and a wide staircase that leads to the front porches The chapel’s original floors date from the seventeenth century The machine house restaurant will see possibly the most sweeping changes and the former company store has already been converted into the resort’s offices the driving force behind fashion powerhouse LVMH is a French businessman and art collector with a staggering net worth of $194 billion Arnault began in his family’s engineering firm which he transformed into a real estate venture laying the groundwork for his future endeavors His foray into luxury started with acquiring Boussac Saint-Frères a struggling conglomerate that included the iconic Christian Dior His decisive actions earned him the moniker “The Terminator” as he revived Dior and streamlined the business Arnault co-founded LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) He expanded LVMH’s portfolio and solidified its position as a global leader Arnault’s ambition extended beyond luxury goods as he invested in various web companies and philanthropic endeavors Arnault’s leadership has been marked by innovation and a keen eye for emerging trends He championed the LVMH Young Fashion Designer competition fostering the next generation of creative talent His passion for art led him to establish the Louis Vuitton Foundation He has transformed LVMH into the largest company in the Eurozone by market capitalization.  This isn’t Belmond’s first Mexico property which re-opened in August 2023; Casa di Sierra Nevada a hotel built inside a 16th-century convent in San Miguel de Allende; and Milaroca Yucatán Magazine has the inside scoop on living here. Sign up to get our top headlines delivered to your inbox every week The Yucatán Ministry of Health reported the state’s first suspected case of the Omicron variant The quick-spreading variant has likely been in Yucatán for weeks as tourists have come and gone freely over the holidays Omicron has spiked daily cases to historic levels while the public was primed… Coronavirus-related deaths in Yucatán fell by a third and infections dropped almost 9% this week the lowest tally since early January when infections started to skyrocket but have most recently settled into a downward trajectory Fewer tourists are visiting Yucatan’s are visiting archaeological zones and official museums this year said the National Institute of Anthropology and History which is 15,562 fewer tourists than last year at this time A consumer advocate has sided against a tourist who demanded a full $2,500 refund once he discovered no decent selection of restaurants in rural Yucatán State health department officials have detected a slight rise in Yucatán COVID-19 cases since Sunday After an almost-steady decline in cases last week daily infections jumped from 172 to 222 on Sunday and But hospitalizations were still under control An Aeromexico Boeing 737-800 headed to Mexico City turned around and returned to the Mérida International Airport less than an hour after departure in the air due to engine problems Passengers on flight AM-837 were climbing out of MID’s runway 36 when the crew shut the engine down and landed safely back… Advertise With Us News & Reviews News Wire Maya Train experiences low-speed derailment No injuries reported as one car derails entering station Mexico — Mexico’s Maya Train experienced its first known derailment today (Monday a low-speed incident when the last car of a four-car trainset apparently split a switch entering the Tixkokob station on the route between Campeche and Cancún The derailment occurred about 9:30 a.m. with the train moving at about 10 kilometers per hour (6 mph); a company statement says the incident caused no “human or material damage” and did not affect scheduled operation of other trains Passengers were provided with transfers to continue their trip to Cancún The statement says a commission is “carrying out an exhaustive investigation of the incident to determine its causes and prevent any similar situation.” Riviera Maya News has several photos of the incident Since the first three cars made it through Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Join Today Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands Authorities are investigating whether the derailment of the Maya Train on Monday was  “intentional,” President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Tuesday The final car of a train traveling to Cancún from Campeche derailed on Monday morning near a junction close to the Tixkokob station in the state of Yucatán No one was injured and the train — which was traveling at just 10 kilometers per hour — wasn’t damaged López Obrador described the derailment as “strange” at his morning press conference “An investigation is being carried out because it is strange and they’re looking at whether it was something intentional or a mistake of those responsible for the management of the tracks,” he said The Maya Train railroad is one of the signature infrastructure projects built by the current federal government An “intentional” derailment could conceivably be an attempt to damage the president and his government in the lead-up to the June 2 elections López Obrador is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election but the ruling Morena party’s presidential candidate is a close ally of the president and is seeking to continue the so-called “fourth transformation” of Mexico he started López Obrador told reporters that the derailment “fortunately” occurred “practically at the station” in Tixkokob and that the train’s protection system “worked and that’s why fortunately there were no injured passengers or terrible tragedy.” “An investigation is being done and we’re going to see what happened,” he added The incident occurred 100 days after the Maya Train railroad began operations on three of its seven sections The 1,554-kilometer-long railroad runs through the Yucatán Peninsula states of Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche as well as Tabasco and Chiapas. It was originally projected to cost US $7.5 billion, but the government predicts the final price tag will be above $28 billion With reports from Reforma and El País ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC formerly a hacienda dating back to the 17th century situated near Merida Katanchel translates to "'where one asks for the arch of heaven," a name that alludes to the site's past as an astronomic observatory the extraordinary estate is home to a cenote (underground river) and the remains of an ancient Mayan pyramid the property's history and the many vivid cultural expressions of the Yucátan peninsula all come together at Katanchel to create the setting for what will become Mexico's one of the most beautiful hacienda hotels is planned to open in 2027 with 35 independent suites upon completing a comprehensive restoration programme The acquisition of Katanchel strengthens Belmond's commitment to Mexico joining three other distinct properties: on the Caribbean coast re-opened in August 2023 following a complete renovation; in the country's heartland a former convent built in the 16th century in San Miguel de Allende; and on the Pacific Coast that will open in 2025 after being conscientiously and sensitively built from the ground up Hotel website Brand OwnerLVMH Hotel Management Explore the greatest Uxmal and the view from the tallest hill in Muna have fun at the Traditional Festival in Tixkokob enjoy the famous "huevos motuleños" in their Magical Town of origin made sure of cool off with the soda fountain at the Lucas de Gálvez Market Discover the best bars and cantinas in Mérida We'll start the week with a free bilingual tour through Mérida’s Centro at 9:30 am. When you’re done, take the heat off with a refreshing drink at Mercado Lucas de Gálvez. At 9 pm, enjoy a Yucatecan Vaquería in the lower part of the Town Hall. Discover what you can do today in our Events section On Tuesday, we’ll visit one of the most iconic archaeological sites in Yucatán: Uxmal. Don't forget to hire a guide to learn more about the Pyramid of the Magician, the most important structure in this place. Uxmal is the capital of the Puuc region a journey of 60 km that goes from Uxmal to the Loltún caves.  Very close to Uxmal lies Muna, the southern star. Don't forget to visit the lookout point of Muna Let the view of the highest hill in the state with the Pyramid of the Magician in the background take your breath away and don't forget to take panoramic photos that you'll surely want to frame for posterity. If you'd like to experience a traditional Yucatecan festival, then it's time to head to Tixkokob. This town, known as the Land of Hammocks will be celebrating its patron saint festivals in honor of Saint Bernardino of Siena at the end of May and traditional dishes that you won't want to miss On Friday, we have a historical visit ahead, as we’ll head to the recently named Magical Town of Motul Here you'll be able to learn more about this important figure in the history of Yucatán and México a dish whose name was coined by Felipe himself Today we’ll explore one of the most beloved beaches by Yucatecos: Telchac Puerto. But first, make a stop in Xcambó to explore the only archaeological site along the coast and one of the oldest in Yucatán enjoy a refreshing coconut water or a Michelada beer cocktail and let yourself be seduced by some of its delicious restaurants If the heat of our lands has you roasting and thirsty, don't worry, the solution is here! To wrap up the week, we'll venture out to enjoy the various cantinas, bars, and Botaneros in Mérida’s Centro we bring you a tour with several options to enjoy a good drink and a lively atmosphere it’s been featured in countless travel guides due to the quality of its content The relatively early arrival of extreme heat to Yucatán has caused hundreds of fires which have turned countless swaths of land to ash and created smoky conditions Fires are not unusual during this time of year in the region but it is surprising how many are taking place in Yucatán’s capital most of the reported fires have been concentrated in and around Kanasín and Caucel “We are seeing large amounts of fires that start small on places like the side of the road but quickly rage out of control,” said the civil protection director Several of these fires start with glass bottles that act like magnifying glasses when hit by the sun and turn surrounding vegetation and waste to tinder.  Several fires have also been reported at warehouses along Mérida’s Periférico many of which have been attributed to faulty wiring there are the “controlled” agricultural fires that get out of control due to winds carrying sparks into nearby dry areas The situation is being made worse by the deforestation experienced in several parts of the state but we have to find a way to better balance the construction of new residential and commercial developments with what the ecosystem can handle,” said Mérida Mayor Renán Barrera Concha The extremely dry conditions have also given way to several fires caused by cigarette butts and other forms of thoughtless behavior a devastating fire hit the TechnoHotel resort in Telchac Puerto causing damages in the millions after a thatched roof caught fire during a wedding and then spread to nearby trees and structures Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and translation degrees from universities in Mexico 120 volunteers at Playa Aventuras’ beach cleaned over a mile of coastline mobilized the community in a joint effort to preserve the Maya Riviera’s coasts and seabeds.  Among the main waste collected were single-use plastics Among the municipalities on the peninsula worst affected by deforestation over the past decade are Othon P according to a recent report by Greenpeace When Cementos Fortaleza’s new factory in Yucatán is completed next year cement prices could become more competitive Sandwiched between farms in Campeche and Quintana Roo that illegally grow transgenic soybeans Yucatán state struggles to eradicate genetically manipulated seeds A contingent of 150 firefighters has been working to temper the blaze and avoid its spread Sea turtles continue to be endangered in Yucatán but a new study suggests that their numbers are beginning to recover