Santa Elena can be viewed as a cultural destination on two scales: in the town, the Parroquia de San Mateo, the Museo de las Momias and the festival of Santo Cristo de Amor are among the cultural highlights. At the level of the municipality, the Maya sites of Kabah and Uxmal are also worth exploring. When planning your visit, it is therefore helpful to distinguish between the experiences in the town and the archaeological sites in the municipality.
Church and Townscape
The Catholic church of Santa Elena stands on a hill and is visible as you enter the town. The parish church is called Parroquia de San Mateo; its architectural style is also noteworthy. Its location makes it an easy-to-recognize landmark on arrival. The church provides an architectural connection to the town’s history, while the museum conveys history through objects and murals.
History at the Museo de las Momias
The Museo de las Momias de Santa Elena has three rooms containing objects and murals related to the history of the municipality. One room also contains a Maya burial site with a skull and Maya objects. The history of the municipality and the burial site thus represent different themes within the same museum.
Festival and Music
The festival of Santo Cristo de Amor brings together Masses, processions, hymns of praise to Christ and public dances. A Jaranero group accompanies the dancing; its musicians play saxophones, trumpets, a bass drum and timpani. The accompaniment therefore includes both wind and percussion instruments. The traditional program may change from year to year. If you would like to include the festival in your trip, check the latest dates and program in advance.
Cultural Experiences with Don Hernán
Cultural experiences with Don Hernán, a Maya priest, include an interactive demonstration of henequen extraction in which visitors can take part. He welcomes visitors to his home and explains how a traditional Maya house is built. A Maya ritual with prayers in the Maya language is also demonstrated. The henequen experience is explicitly interactive, while the ritual is presented as a demonstration. If you would like to plan one of these cultural experiences, confirm current availability locally.
Kabah and Uxmal in the Municipality
The municipal level is also important when it comes to Kabah and Uxmal. Uxmal is a Maya archaeological site in the municipality of Santa Elena and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kabah is also located in the municipality. Most of the buildings in its archaeological zone are accessible, allowing you to view their particularly extensive Puuc-style decoration up close. At the end of the route through the site are an arch and a sacbé that leads to Uxmal. Santa Elena’s townscape and the archaeological Maya sites in its municipality thus offer distinct highlights.
Discover more destinations: Temozon, Hoctun, Chicxulub, Carolina, Temax, Izamal, CelestĂşn, Chelem
For the broader travel overview: Yucatán.
