As a socially responsible company, Xel-Ha promotes the rescue of a Yucatan Peninsula's ancestral tradition that has been fading over time: the keeping of the mayan bee, also called meliponiculture or stingless beekeeping.

The mayan bees (or stingless bees), live in the planet's tropical regions, In Mexico they can be located mostly in the southeast area, in the Yucatan Peninsula. Their scientific name is Melipona becheii benetth. In the Mayan language, they receive different designations, depending on the region:  Xunaan Cab, X´colel Cab, Pool Cab and Hobon Cab.

For the ancient mayans, stingless bees had a very important role, given that native apiculture is based on a rite honoring the 4 cardinal points and the god Hobnil, god of the hive and patron of beekeepers. Wax and honey were the most important exportation articles, which by their high quality and abundance, earned a well-deserved fame out of Yucatan.

Near the plant nursery at Xel-Ha, is the meliponary, conformed by a shack, called Na´ajil Cab or Yoo´Toch Cab. Inside it, hollow trunks called hobons are settled; each hobon acts as beehive for the bees.

The sides of the hobons are sealed with wood covers called U´mak, and finally, covered with reddish mud, or kancab. The hobon shows an entrance orifice, through which only one insect can cross, and where a sentinel bee called Balamil Cab is located.

The honey extraction ceremony is very precise, requiring specific offerings, a mayan priest for prayer and the sacred music known as "mayapax."

In addition to the permanent care provided to Xel-Ha's meliponary, this space is an educative center for more than 8 thousand children from Quintana Roo, who on a yearly basis, visit it freely. An average of 120 schools of the region are received each year. Twice a year, in June and December, ceremonies are held at Xel-Ha, on full moon nights.

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La abeja maya en Xel Ha

Como empresa socialmente responsable, Xel-Há impulsa el rescate de una tradición ancestral de la Península de Yucatán que se ha ido perdiendo con el paso del tiempo: la cría de la abeja maya, también llamada meliponicultura.

Las abejas mayas (o abejas sin aguijón) habitan en las regiones tropicales del planeta. En la República Mexicana se localiza principalmente en el Sureste, en la Península de Yucatán. Su nombre científico es Melipona becheii beneth. En maya recibe las siguientes denominaciones dependiendo de la región maya donde se localice: Xunaan Cab, X´colel Cab, Pool Cab y Hobon Cab.

Para los antiguos mayas, las abejas sin aguijón ocuparon un lugar muy importante, ya que la apicultura nativa se fundamenta en un rito a los cuatro puntos cardinales y al dios Hobnil, que es dios de la colmena y patrón de los apicultores. La cera y la miel fueron los principales artículos de exportación, que por su buena calidad y abundancia gozaron de justa fama fuera de Yucatán.

En el área de vivero de Xel-Ha se encuentra el meliponario, conformado por una choza, a la que se le denomina Na´ajil Cab, o Yoo´Toch Cab. En su interior se asientan una serie de troncos huecos llamados hobones;  cada hobon hace las veces de colmena de las abejas.

La ceremonia para la extracción de la miel es muy precisa, requiriendo ofrendas específicas, un sacerdote y acompañantes para las oraciones y la música sagrada conocida como "mayapax."