Sisal
A Sleepy Gulf Coast Village That Was The Main Port Of The Yucatan'S Henequen (Sisal) Rope Trade, With A Faded Old Customs House, A Restored Fort, A Long Empty Beach And A Lagoon Of Flamingos Nearby. A Quiet Seaside Escape For People From Merida, Still Undeveloped, With A Handful Of Boutique Hotels And Seafood Places · Hunucma, Yucatán
Sisal is a small Gulf coast village in Yucatan, about 55 km north-west of Merida by way of Hunucma. For most of the 19th century it was the peninsula's main port, shipping bales of henequen, the fibre called sisal, around the world, and the name of the plant comes from here. The trade died, and what remains is a faded old customs house (aduana), a small restored fort, a pier and a long, wide, almost empty beach. Pueblo Magico status has brought boutique hotels, a few restaurants and kayak trips into the mangroves, but not crowds. The Gulf is shallow, windy and warm, and the sea is not clear like the Caribbean. Flamingos feed in the lagoons near Celestun, which is far, and in the estuaries nearby. It suits Merida residents, couples and slow travellers who want a rest by the sea in winter. It is worth a night or a long day for the beach and seafood. It is not worth it if you want clear turquoise water, big hotels or nightlife, and not on a windy day.
Sisal, a Pueblo Magico and former henequen port on the Gulf of Mexico about 55 km north-west of Merida; coordinates approximate, Hunucma, Yucatán, Mexico
The beach and the pier are open at all hours and are FREE to use. The old customs house and the fort are small and are usually open in the daytime only, commonly from about 9 in the morning to late afternoon, and may be CLOSED on Mondays or without notice. Restaurants open mostly from late morning to early evening, and many close on weekday evenings in the low season. Boat trips to the mangroves and flamingo areas go in the morning and need an advance booking. Confirm times and prices locally, because they shift with the season.