Town 21 km northeast of Espita
The cattle town of eastern Yucatán, famous for the Three Kings pilgrimage and fair every January.
Tizimín, "place of the tapir" in Maya, is the main town of northeastern Yucatán, about 27 kilometers east of Espita. With some 50,000 people it is the region's market and service center, surrounded by the cattle ranches that make this the state's main livestock zone, and it is the gateway to Río Lagartos and the north coast.
Its great event is the feast of the Santos Reyes, the Three Kings, the town's patron saints. Around January 6 and through the following weeks, tens of thousands of pilgrims arrive from across the peninsula to visit the images of the Kings in their sanctuary, and the town holds a big fair with livestock shows, crafts, rides, music and bullfights. The former Franciscan convent next to the church dates from colonial times and is opened to pilgrims during the celebrations.
The rest of the year Tizimín is a working town rather than a tourist one, but it is worth a stop on the way to the coast for its large main square, the church and convent, and the market. Cenote Kikil is just outside town.
What to see and do
Visit the sanctuary of the Three Kings and the former Franciscan convent beside it.
Come in January for the Santos Reyes pilgrimage and fair.
Walk the main square and the market.
Swim at Cenote Kikil on the edge of town.
Getting there
Tizimín is about 25 minutes east of Espita by car. Buses and colectivos connect the two towns, and Tizimín has bus service to Valladolid, Mérida and the coast. During the January fair, traffic and lodging fill up; plan ahead.
21 km northeast of Espita
Directions from Espita on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Tizimín
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Tizimín.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Photos
Weather warm
Tizimín shares the climate of Espita, 21 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Espita your base
Tizimín is an easy trip from Espita, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Espita
-
Ek' Balam
· Archaeological site · 22 km away
A walled Maya city with a huge acropolis and remarkably preserved stucco, under an hour south of Espita. -
Cenote Kikil
· Cenote · 25 km away
A deep, open cenote in landscaped grounds just outside Tizimín, with a restaurant; life jackets are required to swim. -
San Felipe
· Town · 62 km away
A tidy fishing port west of Río Lagartos with brightly painted wooden houses and boats out to quiet beaches. -
Río Lagartos
· Nature reserve · 67 km away
A fishing village on a long coastal lagoon where boat tours go out to see flamingos, crocodiles and herons. -
Las Coloradas
· Nature reserve · 74 km away
Shallow salt-works lagoons that turn bright pink, east of Río Lagartos; visits are guided and swimming is not allowed.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.