”Performing on Ochil’s amphitheater was an incredible experience for me. It helped me realize the journey I had been on to get there as if I had brought two sides of myself to this place and in this space they could exist together.”
-Florence + The Machine
Ochil derives from the word Ooch (possum), which in Maya means “from the land of the possum.” It has remains of ancient Mayan carved stone platforms, adjacent to the cenote located at the bottom of a slight topographic depression. The hacienda has its origins as a cattle ranch, and in the late 19th century gave prosperity to the region with the production of henequen fiber, well known as “green gold”. With the collapse of the henequen market, the hacienda was abandoned and destroyed. In 1997, practically in ruins, its restoration was undertaken by the hands of the architect Salvador Reyes together with the archaeologist Luis Millet who preserved many details.
Beautifully restored, the majestic main gate stands out, with a Moorish-style arch
and neoclassical influence. Another of its characteristics is the beautiful amphitheater that flows into a cenote, the work of James Turrell and the architect Carlos Cuevas, which makes this hacienda a magical and special place for unique celebrations.