Sotuta de Peon is found south of Merida near the east coast of Mexico. This hacienda (traditional ranch house) is the only working henequen (a kind of agave plant) farm in the world, and visits to Sotuta de Peon provide a fascinating glimpse into a tradition that has lasted hundreds of years. Most tours leave from Merida (32 kilometres away), and commence with a tour of the main farmhouse at Sotuta de Peon, a grand 19th-century building with period furniture. From there, visitors are given an informative demonstration of how henequen can be cleaned (now using modern machinery), treated and then hand-woven into rope. After this, you are encouraged to take a ride (via mule-cart) to visit a traditional Mayan homestead, and – finally – to swim in the wonderful cenote (natural sinkhole) on the hacienda property.