Sisal, Yucatán facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sisal
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Town
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 Sisal, Yucatán
Location in Yucatán (state)
Sisal, Yucatán
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State |  Yucatán |
| Municipality | Hunucmá |
| Mexico Ind. | 1821 |
| Yucatan Est. | 1824 |
| Population
(INEGI, 2010)
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| • Total | 1,837 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) |
| Major Airport | Merida (Manuel Crescencio Rejón) International Airport |
| IATA Code | MID |
| ICAO Code | MMMD |
Sisal is a seaport town in the Hunucmá Municipality in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. It was once the most important port in Yucatán. This was during a time when a fiber called henequen was very popular.
Sisal even gave its name to this fiber, which is now known as sisal. Later, a newer port called Progreso was built. This new port took over much of Sisal's trade. Today, Sisal is a small fishing village. Many people visit it for its beautiful beach.
The town is about 53 kilometers (33 miles) northwest of Mérida. Mérida is the capital city of Yucatán. In the past, all trade had to go through the port of Campeche. But the people of Mérida wanted a port closer to them. So, the Spanish king allowed a new port to be built. Sisal was founded in 1811. It has an old fortress called "Fuerte de Santiago." This fort also has an old lighthouse.
After Yucatán became independent from Spain, trade in Sisal grew quickly. By 1845, it was shipping twice as much value as Campeche. But after Progreso was developed, Sisal's importance went down. In 2010, Sisal had 1,837 people living there. The government is now working to make Sisal a popular tourist spot again. They want it to be a safe harbor for fishing boats and tourist ships.
Contents
History of Sisal
Ancient Mayan Times
Long ago, ancient groups lived along the coasts of the Yucatán peninsula. These groups were connected to the big Mayan cities inland. They traveled to explore the coasts and trade many things. They traded salt, fish, fabrics, and pottery.
The Ah-Canul Family
An old Mayan document, the Calkiní Codex, tells a story. It talks about the Canul brothers and their travels. It describes the borders of the Mayan province of Lord Ah-Canul. Sisal was part of this area. The document mentions that a Mayan priest, Ah-Kin Canul, had four boats here. They used these boats for fishing and trading. This was during a time when coastal towns became important for sea trade.
First People in Sisal
Archaeological finds show that Mayans lived here before the Spanish arrived. It's possible they came from another region. They might have made friends with other ports for trade. This helped them grow their power. The first settlers likely arrived around 700 BC. They were Mayan groups with advanced ways of life. Sisal and other coastal places were part of a large trade network. This network connected them with the big city of Chichén Itzá.
Sisal in Colonial Times
The Spanish took over the port of Sisal in 1585. A Spanish leader named Pedro de Ballesteros did this. They named it "Santa María de Zizal." The name Sisal comes from a Mayan word. It means "Place where the cold is heavy and penetrating." Sisal was important for trade during the time of Spanish rule. Cotton, tobacco, and a red dye were sold here. Yucatecan henequen was also shipped from this port. That's why the fiber is called sisal in other parts of the world.
Why Sisal Was Important for Trade
Sisal was officially made a "minor port" in 1811. Before that, in 1798, it was allowed to trade freely with Spain. Sisal became very important after this. Most trade between Mérida, Yucatán, Spain, and Cuba went through Sisal.
However, this good time did not last long. The port itself was not in great condition. Also, the roads to Mérida were bad. This made it hard to move goods. Another problem was that Sisal did not have enough defenses. It was easy for pirates to attack. Sisal was connected to Mérida by a 53 km (33 mile) road built in 1564. But the swampy land made the journey difficult.
Despite these issues, Sisal was declared a town in 1840. It became the main town for the Yucatán coast. This area stretched from Celestún to Isla Mujeres. By the mid-18th century, Sisal was the third-largest port for exports. Only Carmen and Campeche were bigger.
Early Buildings and Forts
Pirate attacks were a big problem in the 1500s. Many ports had to be abandoned. But Sisal was saved because of the Fort of Santiago. Plans for the fort were drawn in 1596. This fort protected the town. By 1765, trade was happening between Campeche, Sisal, and Mérida. They traded beeswax, leather, and wood. Even with the fort, Sisal's trade activity slowly went down over 150 years.
New Ways to Travel
A road from Mérida to Sisal was built in the mid-1700s. This showed how much people needed a port closer to Mérida. They needed it to export goods from the northern part of the peninsula. All kinds of ships came to Sisal. These included large sailing ships and foreign vessels. In the late 1800s, the first steamships started arriving. These ships were much bigger.
When henequen became very popular, trade at the port grew even more. Sisal became a very important place for shipping. But things changed in 1844. The main customs office moved from Sisal to Progreso. This was because Progreso was even closer to Mérida.
Empress Carlota's Visit
Sisal was the main entry point to the Yucatán Peninsula. Because of this, many important historical events happened there. For example, during the Second Mexican Empire, Empress Carlota de México arrived in Sisal. This was during her visit to Yucatán. On November 22, 1865, her ship, the "Tabasco," arrived. The Empress was on board with her family and staff.
To get ready for her visit, a telegraph service was set up. This was the first telegraph line in Yucatán. It connected Mérida and Sisal. It was used to announce the Empress's arrival.
There are still signs of the Empress's journey. Stone columns were built along the Mérida-Sisal road. This road was called "Camino Real" (Royal Road). Each column had the number of the league (a unit of distance) carved into it. Some of these columns are still standing today. Another way her visit was remembered was on the customs building. A marble plaque was placed there. It said: "The employees of Hacienda de Sisal, to the pleasant memory of the happy arrival to the peninsula of its sovereign the Empress Carlota Amalia, on November 22, 1865."
Population Information
According to the 2010 census, Sisal had 1,837 people living there. Out of these, 940 were men and 897 were women.
Gallery
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A view from the lighthouse park in Sisal.
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A street view in Sisal, Yucatán.
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The main park in Sisal, Yucatán.
See also
In Spanish: Sisal (Yucatán) para niños
