Tekax to Host Second Annual Chaya Festival to Boost Tourism in Southern Yucatan

Tekax, Yucatan — The Yucatan Tourism Promotion Secretariat (Sefotur) and the municipal government of Tekax announced the second edition of the Chaya Festival, scheduled for April 18-19 in the town’s main park. The event aims to boost tourism, strengthen the regional economy, and showcase the cultural, culinary, and natural wealth of southern Yucatan.

Officials presented the festival at the Yucatan Siglo XXI Convention Center, with Tourism Secretary Darío Flota Ocampo and Tekax Mayor Hervé Manuel Vallejos Sansores leading the announcement alongside municipal authorities and representatives from the Cultur board.

During the presentation, Flota Ocampo emphasized that the festival expresses Yucatan’s identity through tradition, creativity, and development potential. He noted that Tekax is part of the regional “Conociendo Yucatan” campaign, which promotes domestic tourism and inland destinations.

The first edition in 2025 drew approximately 3,000 visitors and over 70 exhibitors, generating economic opportunities and supporting local talent. For the 2026 event, organizers expect increased participation from artisans, entrepreneurs, and artists.

Mayor Vallejos Sansores highlighted new features for this year’s festival, including children’s activities, tourist circuits, and tours of emblematic sites in the municipality to enhance the experience for local, national, and international visitors.

The program will feature traditional clothing fashion shows, cultural and musical performances, and workshops on traditional cooking. More than 30 culinary exhibitors will offer dishes made with chaya, a native leafy green central to Yucatecan cuisine.

The festival will also promote the region’s seven ecotourism parks and the Chacmultún archaeological site, diversifying tourism offerings and strengthening Tekax’s position as a destination. The event is free and open to the public to encourage family participation.