Only he who carries on his lips the power of prayer; only he who keeps the gratitude of an offering in his lap; only he who considers the physical effort to be a form of sacrifice, know the profound meaning of taking part of a pilgrimage like the Sacred Mayan Journey.
Today, more than 300 oarsmen make the contemporary history of the Sacred Journey, showing the world what discipline, attitude, faith and teamwork accomplish; it’s the role model of the ancient Maya, who went on pilgrimage – for ten centuries- to consult the goddess Ixchel oracle, on the island of Cozumel.
The project of the Sacred Mayan Journey was founded more than three years ago. Recovered from the written glyphs, narrated by the Chroniclers of the Indies and interpreted by the Maya culture specialists, today, Ixchel’s depiction helps us understand the intimate connection between the natural forces and the human nature.
Program
The ancient Maya greatly venerated Ixchel, goddess of the Moon, the tides and fertility. Every year they would go on a pilgrimage to visit her at her principle sanctuary on the island of Cozumel. The main departure point was Polé (today’s Xcaret), whence they would cross the channel in wooden canoes.
With the arrival of the Spanish and as time went on, this practice disappeared, and today, after 500 years, is recreated by Xcaret, bringing back – with accurate historical adherence- clothing, rituals, dances, music, offerings and canoes of the ancient Maya.
The Maya
For over a thousand years, a cultural connection between past and present prevails in the Mayan society memory; nowadays, such essence, praising the culture and value of life, makes history through the Sacred Mayan Journey.
Ppolé
The name Polé comes from the Yucatecan Mayan word P’ole, derived from the root p’ol, meaning “merchandise” and “merchant’s deal”.
Cuzamil
This was the hub for the post-Classic trade route, where merchants and pilgrims arrived from all over the peninsula to render homage to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of the Moon. Cozumel was one of the great pilgrimage sites, along with Tulum and Cobá.
Xamanhá
Embarkation port for the Mayan pilgrimages for more than 1,000 years that in Maya means “water of the North”. Once the Maya declined, it became the first settlement of the early 20th century, as a fishermen and farmers community
Ppolé
The name Polé comes from the Yucatecan Mayan word P’ole, derived from the root p’ol, meaning “merchandise” and “merchant’s deal”.
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