Chunhuhub is a town surrounded by jungle in the center of the state of Quintana Roo, where travelers will meet an ecotourism center called “Kiichpam K’áax”, which is a Mayan family cooperative and with the help of collaborators, committed to the preservation of nature, culture, and wildlife. The name of this community in Mayan “Kiichpam K’áax” means “Pretty Jungle”. We found it 10km from the town of Chunhuhub, in the municipality of Felipe Carillo Puerto.
For visitors, this ecotourism center is an opportunity to experience coexistence with nature, respecting the environment and the Mayan cultural identity.
Accomodation
Travelers will be able to experience the “ecological huts”, which are huts built with materials respectful to nature, but also with all the necessary amenities, cleanliness, comfortable beds and a privative bathroom. All this so that you can enjoy the activities, such as:
Pib tamales gastronomic workshop
For food-lovers travelers, this activity is an opportunity to discover the traditional cuisine of the region. The activity lasts for one morning in which the traditional Pib tamales cooks, which are made thanks to the Mayan celebration “Hanal Pixán” or Mayan Festival of the souls; The Mayan word “Pib” not only refers to tamales, but also to an underground oven named piíb. The foods that are prepared in said oven received the same name, as is the case of the Pibil cochinita. Locals will guide visitors in the process of preparing and cooking one of the most typical dishes of the peninsula.
Tamales are a Mexican icon, made with corn dough, topped with sauce and meat, then wrapped in a banana leaf. Visitors will actively participate in the making of this dish, helping to collect the banana leaves, gathering firewood to light the oven, and then creating the dough.
A day in life’s Mayan communities (Chunhuhub)
For travelers who like to immerse themselves and want to live differently for a few hours, this activity will cover all these needs!
Accompanied by a local guide, you will make a first stop at a pineapple plantation. They will learn about the importance of this fruit and how it is harvested in the Milpa Maya. Later, the visit continues to a local family where they will taste a traditional peninsula dish together. After a good meal, visitors will boeard a typical local transport to visit the Chunhuhub community and delight the palate with an authentic local dessert. Finally, they will go to the house of another Mayan family in the community of Xpichil, where they will have the opportunity to share with them their life experiences through embroidery and the teachings of their ancestors.
To the end visit, travelers can relax in the fresh crystal and clear waters of a cenote inside the jungle, in the town of Dzula.
Henequen yarn, green gold in pre-hispanic times
Cultivated by the Mayan since pre-hispanic times, henequen is a species of plant of the agave genus that has been called “green gold” for the great economic benefits it generated during its industrial development. This activity henequen fiber extraction technique (called sizal, in Kiij Mayan), inherited from ancient cultures and taught by a very experienced host from the community, who will share whit them his knowledge about the process, manufacturing and daily use. They will learn about the importance of its cultural preservation and will have the opportunity to practice the extraction of the henequen thread, as well as the process of collecting the leaves, which is know as penca.
The great Chunhuhub Gum Tree
Do you know what real chewing gum is? Not the artificial petroleum-based gum, but the natural resin that makes it so popular..
Visitors to the Yucatan Peninsula can find this gum, especially at the Chunhuhub Mayan cooperative. The latter is dedicated to preserving the traditions and know-how acquired over the years. To see these very special trees, travelers will have to enter the jungle on a path built by the community that preserves this nature.
The most skilled will have the opportunity to learn to climb a gum tree with a special technique. To conclude the activity, the travelers will taste the organic gum produced by the trees of the community. It’s also important to know that the gum season is during the rainy season, between June and September. Outside of this season, only a demonstration will be offered, without cutting down the tree.
