Many times we do not stop in places due to ignorance, not knowing what to do or what to do. The town of Espita was a wonderful gift on the road, my luck was that I stopped.

Sometimes I go out without a concrete plan of where I am going to sleep, which allows me to choose as the day goes. Espita was not in my plan, I was on my way to Cenotillo and Tunkás to photograph their cenotes, but I was tired, the day was half cloudy and I did not know for sure if there was a lodging where I was going.

When I crossed Espita I saw an accommodation and I stopped to ask: conversing with the hotel boy, very kind as the rest of the spiteños with whom I spoke, he told me that there was un Very nice cenote in the vicinity. That was enough to change my plan and end up sleeping in Espita: that's how simple the changes are sometimes.

Explore with our guide Valladolid and its surroundings

Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.

Where to eat in Espita

Once found lodgingI was missing where to eat. In the towns you always find a place to have breakfast near the markets and various places of cheap cuisine, sometimes without advertising, within the same houses. They are not easy to see if you are not used to it.

The simplest is to ask, the friendliness of the locals of these lands always leads to good things. On this occasion I simply passed a place where several nuns ate and entered. A success: tasty food and good price.

Mildred's restaurant, who has a good hand behind the stove, they know him as La Doña (behind the Municipal Palace, 22 street with the 23). They told me that Espita is famous for desserts like arepas, so you have to try the sweets and other delicacies next time.

Streets of Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.
Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.
Some basses accommodate them as restaurants, without sign
La Doña Espita Restaurant, Yucatan, Mexico.
Sandrea with Mildred
With Mildred, how nice it was 🙂

Hacienda and cenote Kancabá:

Hospedaje and full belly is all that the traveler needs, I already had my basics in Espita, I just needed to go out and visit the cenote.

It was another nice surprise cenote Kancabá, which takes its name from the old Hacienda henequera. This area was prolific in haciendas, where they cultivated the so-called green gold, A species of Yucatan native cactus. From the leaves of the henequen, their natural fibers are extracted for the manufacture of yarns and fabrics for domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial use. The henequen it marked the social and economic life of the Yucatan region, where everything revolved around it from 1850 to 1950. The old train tracks, a means of transportation for the henequen, cross the town of Espita indicating this not so distant past.

At present, access to the Kancabá Hacienda is only for clients who stay in the place. Too bad we can't enjoy the beautiful cenote more. This updated information was given to me by some blog friends who love to go out and meet. Thank you very much dear, the path belongs to everyone thanks to you too.

The Kancabá Hacienda has been renovated to offer lodging, and allow access to the fantastic cenote inside the property, something very common in the estates. This place deserves a full entry into the wanderings of these lands, you will surely like it.

Hacienda cenote Kancaba, Espita, Yucatan, Mexico
Hacienda cenote Kancabá, Espita, Yucatán, Mexico.
Hacienda cenote Kancaba, Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.

What else to do in Espita?

Other attractions to visit in Espita are the Pom archaeological zone, it is at the west exit, the old railway station, the Sociedad Progreso y Recreo cultural center, the bullring or the church of San José.

Walking Espita is savoring Yucatan: its central park, the gazebo, the Willys and its thunderous music, the cultural house, the tricitaxis and motorcycle taxis, the combis waiting to be filled, the couple romance in the park, the men talking in the shade of the trees, the ladies with their huipiles in the market, street vendors.

I don't need much more to spend a good afternoon wandering around. Pure Yucatan sober, humble, welcoming and kind at heart.

Streets of Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.
Plaza and fountain Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.
Entrance to the market, in the surroundings you can find where to have breakfast and eat
Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.
Espita, Yucatan, Mexico
What would Yucatan be without the motorcycle taxi?
Meet Espita, the Athens of Yucatan 1
Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.
Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.

Espita was and continues to be one of the traditional populations of the Peninsula. Something basic to know the historical importance of a population is to look at the church: if it has two large towers on the side of the main facade with their corresponding bell towers, it tells us that it was a large city, in the smallest towns the temples do not have towers.

This is because the towers were paid in the form of a tithe to the Church, as a contribution from the settlers. If they were few inhabitants, they did not come to pay for their towers, in well-known cities they did. The temple of the town of Espita It is one of those that gives a very long shadow, a place with history and pleasant surprises.

Church of San José de Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.
Church of San José de Espita
Espita, Yucatan, Mexico.

On more than one occasion he had gone through Spigot When going to Izamal, the interior highway has nice sections and I like to drive through here. This time I had the fortune to stop and get to know Espita a little, now I know that I will return and eat where Mildred, the good is repeated.

Meet Espita, the Athens of Yucatan 2

Spita, towns

LOCATION: Espita is located east of Mérida, 80 km from Izamal and 49 km from Valladolid. Tizimin, entrance to the tourist corridor of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, is only 27 kilometers from Espita.
HOW TO GET IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? A Spigot  Transportation arrives from Tizimín, 22 pesos the half-hour journey. Direct combis leave Merida only on Monday and Tuesday morning. Tizimín is perfectly connected with Valladolid, Mérida and other important towns in the area.
ADVICE FOR VISITING ESPITA: Espita festivities are from December 19 to 26, on those dates better book accommodation. At Easter it is still full. The hacienda and cenote Kancabá It is located at 6 kilometers from Espita, north exit to Sucilá. Follow a wooden sign with the name Kancabá, and more than 4 kilometers along a dirt road. Entrance to Cenote 20 pesos.
ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel Posada Georgina and Posada San José. I stayed in the first one, very good value for money.

Good way,

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Sandra Salvadó Training photographer, traveler by vocation and certified tourism guide by the Government of Mexico. We promote natural wonders and contemporary Mayan culture. Great fan of pre-Hispanic history. Author of the blog and co-founder of The Shortest Path Travel, agency that guides you through alternative paths in Mayan lands. Social and sustainable tourism in the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas.
I am at your disposal for whatever you need. Let's talk.

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