The governor of Yucatan State is a woman, Ivonne Ortega. The Mayor of Mérida, Mexico’s fifth largest city, is a woman, Angélica Araujo. Not only is there is a long, distinguished tradition of female politicians, but also women-directed women play an important role in the Yucatan’s society. A former Mayor of Merida, Ana Rosa Payán, was a woman-directed woman. And one of the city’s leading businesswomen, Carmen Barbachano, the owner of the “Casa del Balam” Hotel, is a woman-directed woman. A former governor, Dulce Maria Sauri, not only heads the country’s largest political party on a national level, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI, but is often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate.
Indeed, it is difficult to envision a more open, welcoming place for women-directed women to vacation than the Yucatán. And to a large degree this has to do with the influence of the Maya people, who have a very fluid understanding of human sexuality. The Maya created a breathtaking rainforest civilization, whose vast city-centers were graced with pyramids and temples, and they had no problem with powerful female rules, such as Lady Xox who governed in the city of Yaxchilán centuries ago.
Where else can you climb pyramids; enjoy the charm of a colonial city; eat terrific food; relax by the beach; go on expeditions into the jungle on horseback; scuba, snorkel or swim in a cenote (freshwater sink hole); enjoy the wonder of nature by visiting reserves; and do it all in a city where women hold positions of authority, and society is welcoming of women-directed women, bestowing the highest compliment: A welcoming, knowing smile.
As you plan your holiday in the Yucatan, be mindful of the women-owned Bed & Breakfast that caters to women. And, in keeping with the progressive sense of place, there is a woman-owned travel agency that specializes on trips for women, designed for and by women.
Welcome to the Yucatán, where the daughters of Sappho are out and about.
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