THE COLORFUL RITUAL OF THE PAPANTLA FLYERS
When you're walking around Tulum, Xcaret or even Playa del Carmen on a sunny afternoon, you just might hear the song of a cheerful flute off in the distance, often accompanied by drumbeats. If you follow the sound, you'll come across a truly spectacular show only found in Mexico: The Papantla Flyers.
This sky-high dance can be beautiful and a little bit terrifying to watch, but always thrilling. Four "flyers" climb to the top a 30-meter post, where they sit on the four sides of a wooden square. The fifth dancer, known as "El Caporal", stands at the very peak of the pole where he dances while playing the flute and drum. Meanwhile, the four flyers simultaneously fall backwards into the air, attached to the top of the pole only by a rope around their waist. The pivot spins around to let out more rope as the flyers slowly spin around the pole, flying upside down and spreading their arms.
The origins of the Papantla Flyers are filled with mystery and legend because the Spanish conquistadors destroyed many historic documents belonging to the indigenous people. It's believed to have begun in the mountains of the state of Veracruz, and rumored to be from the town of Papantla, Veracruz. However, there seems to be evidence that the ritual was used in other parts of Mexico as well.
In the dance, each of the four flyers spins around the pole 13 times for a total of 52 spins, representing the 52 year cycle used in indigenous Mexican calendars. The dancers dress in brightly colored costumes designed to resemble a tropical bird, intended to get the attention of the god of fertility. The flyers represent rain falling to the ground to ask the god of fertility to bring rain to the lands. The four cardinal points are honored in the ritual as well, with four flyers (one for each point) and El Caporal dancing atop the pole to each direction.
In the Riviera Maya, Papantla Flyer rituals can be found in several locations. Parque Fundadores on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen has daytime performances, as well as the main entrance to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. Xcaret park has Papantla Flyers during the day in the midst of the park, followed by a demonstration during their amazing nighttime show.