Archaeological site 17 km south of Motul
Maya ruins with a platform of 36 stone columns beside a henequen hacienda that still makes rope with old machinery.
Aké is a small Maya site south of Motul where two chapters of Yucatán's history sit side by side. The ruins share their land with San Lorenzo Aké, a henequen hacienda from the early 20th century, and some of the ancient buildings stand right next to the hacienda's houses and fields.
The most striking structure is Building 1, known as Los Pilares: a broad stepped platform topped by 36 square stone columns that once held up a roof. Around the main plaza are other platforms and mounds built from unusually large, roughly cut blocks. Aké was an important city long before Chichén Itzá, and a white stone causeway, or sacbé, about 32 kilometers long, once connected it to Izamal.
The hacienda adds a lot to the visit. Unlike most henequen estates in Yucatán, which closed decades ago or became hotels, San Lorenzo Aké has kept old machinery working to strip henequen leaves and twist the fiber into rope, so you can see how the "green gold" that built Mérida's mansions was processed. The site gets few visitors, and you will often have it nearly to yourself.
What to see and do
Climb Los Pilares, the platform with 36 stone columns, for a view over the site and the hacienda.
Look for the giant, roughly cut stones in the platforms around the main plaza.
Ask at the hacienda whether you can see the old henequen machinery working.
Walk through the village of Aké around the hacienda's main house and chapel.
Getting there
From Motul, Aké is about 30 to 40 minutes by car south through Tixkokob and Ekmul. There is little or no public transportation to the site, so a car or taxi is the practical option. It is an INAH site with a small entry fee; there are few services, so bring water.
17 km south of Motul
Directions from Motul on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Aké
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Photos
Weather warm
Aké shares the climate of Motul, 17 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Motul your base
Aké is an easy trip from Motul, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Izamal · 29 km away
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.