In the heart of Playa del Carmen, the Mayan pole dancers have been given a spot in the central zocalo, Parques Fundadores, to show off the famous Mayan pole dance. This Dance is called Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers), or Palo Volador (Pole Flying) and is a ritual performed by Mayans in both Mexico and Guatemala. Thankfully, the dance of the flyers can be seen each hour in the center of Playa del Carmen or at the entrance to the Tulum ruins.
This ceremony was said to be used to stop droughts in ancient times, but is now a recognized historical and cultural dance that is kept alive by communities to honor the historical traditions and rituals of ancient cultures. The Dance of the Flyers was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in order to help the ritual survive and thrive in the modern world.
The dance of the flyers starts each hour in Playa del Carmen or Tulum. It is a wonderful dance to see and the music is mesmerizing. Check out more activities in Playa del Carmen that you can see while visiting the area.