Bacalar, Quintana Roo — A new craft store called “Maya Há” has opened at the historic Fort of San Felipe in Bacalar, providing a direct sales platform for artisans from 16 communities across Quintana Roo.
Governor Mara Lezama inaugurated the store, which aims to eliminate middlemen and ensure artisans receive full payment for their work. The store features products from 11 municipalities across the state.
The location at the 18th-century fort, overlooking the iconic Seven Colors Lagoon, provides high visibility to both domestic and international tourists seeking authentic cultural products.
The store offers a wide range of traditional crafts including:
- Carved wood pieces
- Bejuco basketry
- Traditional embroidery using ancestral techniques
- Macramé
- Palm bags
- Fine jewelry made with seashells and precious woods
Artisans from communities including X-Pichil, X-Yatil, Buenavista and Huay Pix contributed to the store’s inventory.
“This is a new door for those who come to this extraordinary place to acquire true works of art, products of the magical hands of our master artisans,” Governor Lezama said during the inauguration.
The store operates from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, aligning with the hours of the Fort of San Felipe Museum. Lilián Villanueva, head of the Institute of Culture and Arts (ICA), said this state-run store model will expand to other strategic locations in Quintana Roo.
The initiative leverages the nearby Tren Maya station to attract more visitors to southern Quintana Roo, promoting cultural tourism beyond the region’s traditional beach destinations.
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