Hacienda Yaxcopoil dates back to the 17th century and derives its name from the Mayan for ‘the place of the green alamo trees’.
At its peak, the estate covered some 22,000 acres, making it one of the largest and most important haciendas in the entire Yucatan Peninsula.
As with most haciendas in the region, Hacienda Yaxcopoil originally focused on cattle, the poor soil and arid conditions making it difficult to grow much else on a commercial scale.
All that changed in the 19th century however with the introduction to the region of henequen, the raw material for rope, which was ideally suited to both the soil and climate.
This ‘green gold’, as it came to be known, transformed the fortunes of the region, with a small number of land owners becoming hugely wealthy (as evidenced by their opulent town houses in Merida) while the vast majority of the population, almost entirely indigenous Maya, endured appalling working conditions.
Increased competition and the introduction of synthetic fibres in the mid-20th century meant that boom eventually turned to bust and, with no immediate, viable alternatives, many haciendas were simply abandoned.
Hacienda Yaxcopoil managed to stumble on for far longer than most haciendas in the region – right up to the early 1980s – but today covers just 3% of its original size.
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Thankfully, while many haciendas have entirely collapsed or been converted into luxury hotels (many nearby, including Hacienda Temozon), Hacienda Yaxcopoil has been turned into a museum that offers a fascinating and atmospheric insight into both the very comfortable living conditions of the owners (including much of their original furniture and furnishings) as well as the commercial side of the estate, including the adjacent henequen shredding plant complete with its 1913 diesel engine from Germany.
Getting to Hacienda Yaxcopoil couldn’t be any easier as it is conveniently located just off highway 261 to the south of Merida, enroute to Uxmal and the Puuc Route and only a small detour if heading between Merida and Campeche.
At the time of writing (please check if you are visiting independently), the property is open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 and on Saturday from 09.00 to 14.00. The property is closed on Sunday and can occasionally be closed on Saturday for private events. Entry is 200 pesos (as of May 2025).
Although tours are sometimes available, generally in Spanish, exploring on one’s own is a great way to spend an hour of your time.
If you share our interest in the haciendas of the Yucatan Peninsula, you may be interested in both our related feature, ‘One Day, Four Haciendas’ as well as our sample, private Hacienda Tour itinerary.
