AIRBNB EXPERIENCES

Art and culture activities in Yucatan

Book unique activities hosted by local experts on Airbnb.

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Capture Mercado Lucas de Gálvez with a food photographer

This intimate exploration of a thriving Yucatecan market blends photography, culture, and local flavors. You’ll learn to capture authentic moments, and how to understand the cultural context behind each image. • We’ll walk through the market as I explain its history as a hub of Yucatecan life, sharing its stories, traditions, and flavors. I’ll show you techniques for capturing spontaneous scenes. • Engage with vendors, artisans, and local figures who’ll share their stories and expertise. This is also a great chance to capture in-the-moment portraits and interactions. • Visit a food stall to observe and photograph the preparation of iconic market dishes in action, before we reflect on our experiences and hold a constructive feedback session about our photos. You’ll leave with enhanced real-life photography skills, an appreciation for the market’s place in Yucatecan life, and my digital guide on documentary photography—a valuable resource for your ongoing explorations.

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Explore Yucatán’s henequen heritage and textile art

The story of Yucatán is stitched into its textiles, woven with the strength of henequen—a fiber made from agave leaves—and the artistry of generations past. You’ll wander through the Xcumpich neighborhood, a historical center for henequen production, and learn to make textiles with guidance from a local designer who reimagines ancestral techniques for today’s world. • We’ll meet at the grand pich tree in Xcumpich Park before setting off on a guided walk through the remnants of an old hacienda. • Learn how henequen—once known as “green gold”—shaped the region’s economy and identity, and see firsthand how this neighborhood continues to honor its textile traditions. • Outside, surrounded by trees and an old water well, a local textile artist will introduce you to working with henequen. Through a step-by-step demonstration, you’ll create your own small textile piece using traditional knotting and free-form techniques. More than just a souvenir, your piece will carry the story of a place where history, nature, and creativity intertwine. Through this experience, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the skill and artistry behind handmade textiles while supporting local traditions that bridge past and present.

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Urban sketching & watercolor workshop at Galería Secreta

Join me, a Cuban visual artist, for a unique art lesson in Mérida’s historic Barrio de Santiago, where you’ll learn how to sketch or paint using watercolor, charcoal, ink, or graphite. This fun and immersive art experience is a good fit for all skill levels and ages, including children. • Tour my studio at Galería Secreta and hear about Merida’s architectural history, artistic traditions, and my personal creative process. I’ll give an overview of the materials we’ll be using. • Explore Barrio de Santiago, taking in the grand colonial facades, architectural details, courtyards, and unique entryways. As we walk, you’ll choose a building or architectural element as inspiration for your art piece. I’ll share creative prompts to feed your process and inspire the art you’re about to make. • Time to make your masterpiece! Back at the studio, choose your materials and medium and get to work sketching or watercoloring. I’ll help you throughout, sharing tips on technique, composition, shading, and blending. You’ll leave with your handmade artwork, and a deeper understanding of the area’s architecture and history.

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Traditional sweat lodge ceremony with a Maya shaman

In Acanceh, where ancient traditions thrive, shaman Don Edgar welcomes you to a sacred journey of purification, spiritual cleansing, and harmony with nature and the cosmos. • The journey begins with a warm welcome from Don Edgar as you step into a sacred space. Learn about Maya numerology and its ties to nature’s cycles that reveal the interconnectedness among life, the universe, and the self. • Change into comfortable clothes to partake in a cleansing blessing performed with incense and traditional elements. Through this ritual, you’ll clear away stagnant energies and set intentions for the ritual. • Inside the sweat lodge, called a temazcal, feel the embrace of warmth and steam infused with aromatic herbs. Don Edgar will guide the ritual as you listen to ancient teachings and reflections on balance and renewal. • When you emerge from the temazcal, you’ll cool down in a serene setting with herbal tea to replenish your energy. Don Edgar leads a closing discussion, offering space to reflect on personal insights before parting with blessings and a renewed sense of connection to yourself and the wisdom of the ancients. The sweat lodge ceremony is an invitation to embrace the wisdom of the Maya, aligning mind, body, and spirit in a ritual passed down through generations.

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