Visit a historic henequen hacienda

Discover the surprising substance that made the Yucatán peninsula's fortune in the 19th century – henequén, or sisal.

Find out how a variety of agave plant came to shape the fortunes of a vast region of Mexico on this tour of the Yucatán's henequén (sisal) plantations. The strong fibres yielded by the plant were found to be the most effective raw material for rope-making – a booming industry in an era of seaborne trade and transportation.

Begin by visiting a working henequén hacienda to see for yourself how the substance is cultivated using centuries-old machinery that recalls the sisal boom years of the 1800s. Ride out on a wooden cart pulled by mules to tour the plantation and stop for a swim in a cenote (a natural sinkhole typical of the peninsula).