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Maní is a small town in southern Yucatán, set in the agricultural lands below the Puuc hills. Before the Spanish arrived, it was the seat of the Xiu lineage, and in the colonial period it became an important Franciscan mission. It is also remembered for a 1562 event in which friar Diego de Landa ordered the burning of Maya codices and sacred objects, a loss still discussed by historians today. Maní has been recognized as a Pueblo Mágico.
The Monastery of San Miguel Arcángel dominates the town with its broad atrium, open chapel and cloister, and it ranks among the best examples of early Franciscan architecture on the peninsula. Nearby, Cenote X'Cabachén lies right in the town center and is tied to local legends. Maní is also known for meliponiculture, the traditional keeping of native stingless bees. Small family-run meliponarios such as U Naajil Yuum K'iin, Lool-Há and Los Jazmines welcome visitors to learn about this practice and taste the honey. The Mercadito Artesanal sells local crafts and food. From Maní, it is easy to continue to the pottery town of Ticul, the Ruta Puuc sites and Uxmal.
Maní suits slow travelers interested in history, food and rural traditions. It fits easily into a loop through southern Yucatán's convent towns.
WiserMap travel guideManí Mexico 1549 Monastery Stingless Bees and a CenoteVisit Maní in Yucatán: the 1549 San Miguel Arcángel monastery, stingless bee meliponarios, a legendary cenote and day trips to Ticul, Uxmal and Ruta Puuc.Read the guide
A large Franciscan convent from the mid 1500s with an open chapel and a vast atrium, where in 1562 Bishop Diego de Landa burned Maya books and idols in a notorious auto de fe. Inside are carved altarpieces. Visit in the morning, and read about the event that destroyed so much Maya writing.
A small cenote in the center of Maní, near the convent, linked to old local legends and long the main water source for the people of the town. It is more a historic site than a swimming spot. Ask locals about the legend, and view it respectfully as part of the town's story.
A family run meliponario where visitors learn about the stingless Melipona bees kept by the Maya for centuries, housed in hollow logs called jobones. Guides explain the rituals and uses of the honey. Buy a little honey or a balm made on site to support the family and the work.
A small stingless bee farm in Maní where guides show the native Melipona beecheii bees, their log hives and how the honey is harvested and used in traditional medicine. The bees are gentle and do not sting. Tours are short and informal, so ask in town for opening times.
Another family meliponario in Maní, set in a garden with flowering plants that feed the bees, where visitors can see the hives and taste the thin, aromatic honey. It is part of a local effort to save the native bees. Bring small bills, and ask before photographing the family or home.
A small market near the main square where local artisans sell embroidered huipiles, hammocks, henequen crafts and honey products made in Maní and nearby villages. Prices are fair and the money goes directly to the makers. Stop by after visiting the convent, as the stalls are just a short walk away.
Maní is known for Yucatecan food, especially poc chuc, thinly sliced pork marinated in sour orange and grilled over charcoal, served with pickled onion and tortillas. Several large restaurants near the center serve it to travelers on the Ruta Puuc. Go for lunch, when the grills are busiest.
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