All about Misnébalam Ghost Town in Mexico

Misnébalam is literally "off the beaten path", as it is an abandoned ghost town in the middle of nowhere, 14 kilometres from Mérida on the way to Progreso.

The hennequen Hacienda Misnébalam and later small town with up to 170 inhabitants was founded around 1900 by Don Fidencio G. Márquez. More than 100 years later, the last inhabitant left the town.

The name of Misnébalam comes from "Misné" which means in Mayan language: "tail of cats" and "balam" which means "Jaguar". Misnébalam therefore translates as the tail of the Jaguar.

The spirits of the deceased

In October 1921, Don Fidencio G. Márquez, his son and a worker were attacked and murdered as they were returning from the fields to the hacienda. A foreman took over the management of the hacienda.

The following legend is told:

Márquez continued to walk the hacienda at night as a ghost and could not rest because of his unfinished work. Later, the foreman abused a boy nicknamed Juliancito. The boy confided in a priest.

During the night, however, he hanged himself from one of the trees in the main courtyard. From then on, many residents reported seeing the boy's ghost at night or hearing children's laughter. Others have seen Juliancito running across the hacienda playing with a ball.

There is also a church in the village and after the death of the priest, his ghost has also been observed wandering restlessly around the church. Houses were observed with all the lights shining even though there was no electricity, other residents heard ominous voices and mutterings.

In addition to the decline of hennequen production (due to the invention of more cost-effective synthetic materials), this led to residents leaving the village. The last two residents left in 2005. Today, the place is inhabited only by the ghosts of restless souls.

Visitors rarely stray there. The place has also attracted satanists, cults and paranormal researchers over the years. If this does not deter you, the lost place offers interesting photo opportunities.

How to get to Misnébalam from Mérida?

There is no public transport, the only way to get to Misnébalam is is through an organized tour or by car (or by bicycle, motorbike or similar). Take the Mérida-Progreso highway, and at kilometer 17 there is a turnoff. Be careful, the last stretch of road is very bad. And... beware of the spirits!