A VILLAGE WITHIN THE PARK
Tanah Village
San Antonio
Two hours from the International Airport, through forested hillsides and winding roads of the Cayo District, is the Town of San Ignacio. Beyond that is the smaller village of San Antonio. To us it is known as Tanah, which in our Yucatec Maya language translates to ‘our home’.
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Tanah is surrounded by the magnificent hills which make part of the Maya Mountains. We pray that all visitors may enjoy the peace and tranquility while being able to respectfully share our culture, history and beauty of our home.
The land of Tanah was once inhabited by ancient Maya, whose presence can still be felt through pottery and other artefacts in the majestic Maya temples and sacred caves that are abundant in this area.
Due to the civil war and discrimination in the Mexican Yucatan, waves of Maya entered what is now Belize in 1842, rooting into lands their ancient ancestors once occupied.
At first, settlements were only built in the north and there were only four families - Tzib, Mai, Chi and Pech. The reverberation of war was still palpable. Loggers were entering Belize via its rivers, and terrorising Maya communities. A deeper migration into the southwest occurred.
They found and settled in Tanah where they found a sanctuary. Tanah has no nearby rivers, which is one of the reasons for its uniqueness. Due to the lack of water, it is said that the first settlers lived way up in the Pine Ridge Mountains in a place Privacion. Legend has it that one day while hunting a pecarries, they were led down to Tanah. They found a patch of wet soil. In that moment the pecarries miraculously disappeared. It is our belief that that the Maya God (Yum K'aax-K'u), transformed into a pecarry's form with the intention to lead the hunters to this place where they begun the settlement of Tanah.
They dug a well, which can still be seen in our village, and named it pu’soon, which continued to serve the community for generations.
Today our village has approximately three and a half thousand inhabitants, mostly Yucatec Maya.
Deep well hand pumps was a way to complement the traditional method of obtaining potable water via springs and wells. Ponds were also built to raise animals such as cattle and pigs and irrigate traditional crops like corn, peanuts, plantains, yams, beans and other vegetables. In these ways we were able to sustain ourselves, and also become a major crop provider of fresh produce for a large portion of the country.
About a decade ago, a gravity fed water system that makes its way through the Elijio Panti National Park was built for our village. Our community has learnt the importance of working together to protect the jungle as its health impacts our most basic of needs.
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Our Beliefs
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We are the Masewal Maya people of Tanah. Although we wear modern clothing and participate in regional politics and economics, we are still devoted to the ancient customs and beliefs of our ancestors.
It is our belief that Itzamna created everything on Earth, and that Yum K'aax-K'u guides and protects our mountains and animals. Mother Ix Chel protects and heals her children here on Earth. These guardians benevolently permit humans to hunt and gather only as is necessary for our subsistence, with the necessary permission, respect and reverence offered. They gave us sacred corn, from whom we believe humans arose. They provide us with sacred medicinal plants for healing. These beings are our principal deities.
Our grandparents have preserved a number of legends for us through sitting late in the evening regaling our children with stories. Our people happily and generously share our history, talents and folklore with visitors. We know that when La Llorona is heard wailing in the mountains, she brings a very specific message. We know to check our horses’ manes every morning for a perfect trim, evidence that dwarfs from the mountains rode them the night before.
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Our Language
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We work united to preserve and safeguard the importance of our Maya language Ta’an, also known as Yucatec Maya. It is our mother tongue, spoken by our ancient ancestors through the ages. In modern times, Yucatec Maya is mainly spoken by adults, while the children and young adults are heard speaking in Spanish, Creole and English in the village. Residents from Tanah welcome the vast languages spoken which make our village unique. This allow us to share our culture with visitors and interact with other indigenous communities.
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When you visit Tanah, common phrases you may hear include:
(Bix-a-bel) - How are you?
(Bix-a-K'aaba') - what's your name?
(Tu'ux-ka-biin) - where are you going?
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Our Music and Rituals
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We still practice our music of our ancient ancestors, as well the haunting melodies of the Latin American Marimba which accompanies our traditional Maya dances.
Various fiestas and rituals are held throughout the year, including everyone’s favourite, (ABDISA) Another Beautiful Day in San Antonio. The Hog Head Dance in celebration of Saints Day and the memory of Saint Anthony of Padua on June 13th occurs in this event. Festivities begin nine days prior when a pig’s head is baked in a pibil - an underground cooking pit covered with plantain leaves. In the past, each villager used to take part in decorating the hog's head with sweet bread and colourful paper flags. The result was paraded on the shoulders of a man in traditional attire while being led on a rope and tempted to follow the shaking of corn in a wooden maraca.
Many of our ancient Maya rituals take place in our sacred caves, temples, at riverbeds, mountain sides or places of special significance such as Pacbitun, which translates to Stones Set in the Earth and at the Offering cave in the Elijio Panti National Park.
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Our Food
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Corn, beans and Squash are the cornerstone of our diet. Xtz'iit, also known as Tamalitos, is ground young corn steamed in its own green leaves, whereas plantain leaves are used for Bollos and tamales. We have special tortillas, porridge and desserts all made from corn.
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Our tables are also graced by a mix of Maya and Creole cuisine. Rice and beans is thus a popular dish, often served with a spicy chicken stew. The chickens run and breed freely in the village. In Tanah we have a special method for hatching chicks. We utilise indigenous knowledge of anti-parasitic plants to line their nests, hence encouraging a better survival rate of chicks.
Local tea is brewed from corn, lemongrass, ginger. pimiento leaves and more.
Our strong homemade wines are infused with purple corn, cacao, brown sugar, or honey.
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Our Interrelationships
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As Masewal we rely on plants and animals from the jungle for our daily existence. It is therefore important for us to protect this land because our National Park is home to so much diversity in flora and fauna- jaguars, howler monkeys, coatimundi, agouti, paca, puma, wild turkeys, toucan, scarlet macaws, spider monkeys and a countless number of other animal and plant species.
It is fundamental for us that the outside world become intimate with our sacred lands, as the financial support of visitors is what allows us to continue to exist in this way. From the deepest place of gratitude, we welcome those who come in support to experience Tanah and the Elijio Panti National Park.
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Getting Here
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Tanah operates by regular bus service provided by one of our locals known as Mr. Casimiro Mesh who operates "Mesh Bus Service" from San Ignacio to San Antonio Village (Tanah). This bus fare cost BZ$3.50 to San Antonio Village and BZ$2 to Cristo Rey as well as any short drop. However, if you do not want to wait for the regular bus schedules, one can always hire taxis and rental cars are both viable options with a higher cost.
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Lodging
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We recommend multiple options in the vicinity of the Elijio Panti National Park.
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Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge
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Dining
Recommended options:
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Cultural Food Experiences
​San Antonio Women's Cooperative
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Weather
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Weather in the Tanah mountains is always welcoming unlike the heat of the Belizean coast. April and May constitute the dry season, however be prepared for intense sun at any time of the year. Significant rainfall can be expected in the wet season between June and December.
Visiting the park
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Travellers are welcome to visit the Park with prior permission from the Itzamna Society.
Phone: + (501) 622-0962 or email itzamnatechnicalassistant@gmail.com
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Emergencies
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In case of emergencies, call to 911.
San Ignacio Police Department: +501 804-2022
Santa Elena EMT: +501 615-5040
Fire Department Santa Elena, Cayo District: +501 804-4208
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Our Code of Ethics
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There are a number of ways in which visitors can protect our village, our culture and the Park:
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Please do not record or document information shared by the villagers without their consent. Beware that small charges are apt to happen!
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Drive with extreme care within the village in order to protect our children.
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Please ask permission before taking photos of locals. Not doing so can be experienced as humiliating and an invasion of privacy.
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Listen, observe, broaden horizons by mingling with people who have a different concept of time and way of thinking.
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Experience the ancient ways of co-existing with our Maya people in their comfortable way of life.
Our Maya Eco-Culture
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Tanah is a place where the traditions and knowledge of our ancestors are passed down to our children.
It is a place where communion with nature is understood and honoured.
It is a place where our Yucatec Maya language is spoken daily and freely.
It is a place where children follow their parents into the rainforest in search of healing herbs.
It is a place where the knowledge of the past is brought to life through the words of our elders.
We open the door to true self-sufficiency through planting and harvesting, done with prayer and thanksgiving.
This allows our lives to be rich and wholesome.
This is the Maya way of life.
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