Native Trails MyTrails 2026 256 Quintana Roo 35 Visit of the ruines of Muyil Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy The Maya site of Muyil lies in the biosphere reserve of Sian Ka’an, which has been a UNESCO Natural World Heritage since 1987. The several buildings lie on the shore of the freshwater lagoon of Muyil, which is linked to the Caribbean via canals and natural outlets. Muyil was thus part of the coastal trade network and was dominated by Chichén Itzá, Cobá, and later Mayapán. 36 Boat tour on the Muyil lagoon Duration: 05:00 h · Level: Medium On a small path through the dense jungle of Yucatán, you reach the lagoons in the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve. In a panga boat, you cross the turquoise blue water of the Muyil lagoon before passing the historic, extremely narrow Maya canal into the neighboring Chunyaxché lagoon. On its northern end, there is a small river amidst mangrove forests, where you can let your boat float in the clear water – a wonderful adventure! 37 The production of the natural chewing gum Chicleros Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Medium Experience the traditional way of tapping latex in the woods of Quintana Roo. Down to the present day, the chicleros, mostly direct descendants of the Mayas, harvest the milky sap of the sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota), or – as it is called in Mexico – chicozapote: The first step is obtaining the sap of the tropical tree. This is done by cutting the bark and collecting the fluid flowing out. The white elastic sap was obtained that way by the ancient Mayas already. In the next step, the latex is heated and thickened. The solid latex blocks are then sold to the customers. Mixed with sugar and flavors, chicle – or “chewing gum” in English – is known all over the world. Further, modern industry is not conceivable without latex. 38 City Tour Sacalaca Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy Discover Sacalaca and the Yokdzonot cenote on a tour through the village – a place small in population, but with a great past, since it was the regional center of Christianization and also one of the places where the revolt of the Mayan population against Mexican dominance had its origin. The traditional Mayan houses with walls of vertical branches and roofs of corn straw are still held in high esteem because of the good ventilation. In the center of the village you find a church that suffered heavy damage in the Caste War; once used by the Indian part of the population, its former importance is still reflected in statues and the decoration around the windows. Less than 250 m (820 ft.) from it, there is a second church, which was once built for the people of Spanish origin; its unique bell-gable evokes Dutch golden-age architecture. 39 Visit of the botanical garden Maya Ak'alche - Natural Medicine of the Maya Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy In the Mayan view, diseases are primarily an imbalance between the body and the soul. The therapies of traditional Mayan medicine are therefore directed at restoring the harmony between the patient’s body and the universal energy by decoctions and herbal infusions, massages and other treatments. The botanical garden of HuayMax will give you many interesting insights into the Mayan medicine and the indications of useful and medicinal plants. Many international pharmaceutical companies are very active here to better understand the traditional ways of treatment and integrate them into modern medicine. 40 Visit of the Museo Comunitario “Rebelión de los Mayas” Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy In the village of Huay-Max in the state of Quintana Roo, you visit the community-run Museo Comunitario “Rebelión de los Mayas.” The exhibition recalls the Maya Caste War from 1847 to 1901 and primarily presents the everyday life of local communities. On display are traditional household items, seeds of regional crops, and a tunkul, a wooden percussion instrument used during ceremonies and community gatherings. The small museum is maintained by the local community and illustrates how closely history and present-day Maya life remain connected in this region.
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