Tenabo: Maya Heritage, Handicrafts and Festival Culture

Tenabo brings together the Iglesia de la Asunción and Maya heritage with handicrafts and festival traditions. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between the town of Tenabo and the municipality of Tenabo: archaeological traces in the central area relate to the town, while Kankí and Tinún are located within the municipality, and the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve includes parts of the municipality of Tenabo. This allows you to plan your stay around the town’s history, handicrafts or archaeological sites in the municipality.

Church and archaeological traces in the town

Construction of the Iglesia de la Asunción in Tenabo began in 1594. The church stands on a ceremonial site; carved stones from archaeological zones were reused in its construction and are visible in the church building. Its façade features a mixtilinear espadaña. An espadaña is a bell gable; the term mixtilinear refers to an outline made up of straight and curved lines. Inside the church is an image of the Cristo Yacente.

The central area of Tenabo also contains archaeological remains, carved stones and ceramic shards. The area was once a Maya settlement with ceremonial centers. These traces are part of the townscape, while the Kankí archaeological zone is located within the municipality.

Handicrafts and everyday life

Handicrafts in Tenabo include making hammocks. Traditional garments from the state of Campeche are also made here. These include huipiles, ternos and embroidered blouses, which represent traditional women’s clothing in Campeche. Alongside the buildings, textile crafts and regional clothing are also a focus.

The park is also part of everyday life in Tenabo in the afternoon: residents gather there. In the afternoon, you can spend time with locals in the park and enjoy merengue and pozol.

Archaeology and protected area in the municipality

The Kankí archaeological zone in the municipality of Tenabo lies on the slopes of an ancient Maya sanctuary. It preserves structures with interconnected courtyards, as well as a palace bearing traces of its former decoration. The structures include Crestería, Casa del Oriente, Edificio de Escalera Invertida, Casa de los 20 Aposentos and part of the Patio Sureste. They represent different phases of Puuc architecture from 600 to 850. If you include Kankí in your travel plans, check the current access conditions before visiting.

Tinún is also located on the slopes of an ancient Maya sanctuary. Another site within the municipality is the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve, which includes parts of the municipality of Tenabo. It was designated a protected area on May 24, 1999; its total area is 282,857.62706 hectares.

Festivals and when to visit

The novena celebration in honor of the Virgen de la Asunción is a recurring tradition in Tenabo. It includes Masses, rosaries, vaquerías, the traditional Cabeza de Cochino dance and fireworks. The official 2023 program lists the celebration dates as August 8–15. For the Fiesta del Gran Poder de Dios, also called Gran Poder del Divino Rostro, the 2023 municipal development program lists May 4–18. It names handicraft and agricultural exhibitions, vaquerías and fireworks as part of the festivities. During traditional vaquerías in Tenabo, jarana music is played by groups known as charangas. If you want to time your trip to coincide with one of the festivals, check the dates for the specific year you plan to travel.

Discover more destinations: Escárcega, Seybaplaya, Robles, Santo Domingo Keste, Champotón, Ciudad Del Carmen, Isla Aguada, Chicanná

For the main travel overview: Campeche.