Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations Â»

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places Â»
Though the dam crest is long gone, the tower still stands.
Den Hvide Jomfru (The White Maiden)
The front of the mosque.
Åžakirin Mosque
Ornate decorations are part of some of the music boxes.
Terranova Music Box Museum
Take some of Michigan’s produce home with you.
American Spoon
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Take some of Michigan’s produce home with you.
American Spoon
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
Books are available inside for borrowing or purchase.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
Though they’re protected inside the park, wolves can be killed when they cross its borders.
Wolves Have a Bad Reputation. One Yellowstone Naturalist Is Trying to Fix It.
Passersby stop to admire the punny offerings of Brooklyn’s only dinosaur bodega.
We Visited the Dino Bodega in (Jurassic) Park Slope
Native Americans have a longstanding, rich, and vibrant culture in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s Sacred Landscapes: A Journey Through Native American History

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Rancho Grande Meliponicultura in Rancho Grande Valle Nacional
AO Edited

Meliponicultura in Rancho Grande Valle Nacional

A small outpost dedicated to protecting the stingless bees native to Oaxaca.

Rancho Grande, Mexico

Added By
Scott Mansfield
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The six types of bees here coexist.   Scott Mansfield / Atlas Obscura User
  Scott Mansfield / Atlas Obscura User
Some bees prefer their hive in a log.   Scott Mansfield / Atlas Obscura User
Indigenous communities are not always open; call first.   Scott Mansfield / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Of the eight recognized species of honeybee in the world, none are native to North America. The ubiquitous and indispensable western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is actually an immigrant from Eurasia, introduced to the Americas by European colonists in the 17th century. There are, however, honey-producing bee species native to Central and South America, and you can visit an apiary showcasing six of them at La Meliponicultura in Mexico's Rancho Grande Valle Nacional.

Many of these native bee species (which belong to a group called Meliponini) would be dwarfed by western honey bees; some are smaller than mosquitos. Because of their size, these native bees produce less honey than the European imports; it may take, for example, several years for a colony to produce enough honey to harvest. The native bees are also stingless and docile, though some can inflict painful bites if their hive is being threatened.

The Chinantec, the local Indigenous people, have collected honey from these bees for centuries. The honey from each species has one or more medicinal applications. During a tour, guides can explain each honey’s medicinal applications, which range from healing eye issues, ear problems, or respiratory or intestinal complaints to improving skin conditions. The honeys are also delicious on toast.

There is a small store on site where you can sample and purchase both the honey and medicinal preparations made from honey and bee pollen.

Related Tags

Conservation Endangered Species Indigenous Insects Honey Bees

Know Before You Go

This part of eastern Oaxaca is mountainous, remote, lush, and beautiful and there but there are restaurants, gas stations, and eco-lodges along Highway 175 near the apiary. 

As of February 2022, the pueblo where the apiary is located has been locked down because of COVID. You can send an email to emilio_perez.perez@outlook.com to request a tour.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Yucatan Family Adventure: Meteors, Pyramids & Maya Legends

Explore Maya temples and learn about the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Scott Mansfield

Edited By

linkogecko

  • linkogecko

Published

May 23, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://tuxtepecturismo.com/en/what-to-do/indigenous-communities/rancho-grande/
  • https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/chinantecos-protegen-las-abejas-sin-aguijon
  • https://oaxaca.eluniversal.com.mx/especiales/23-04-2019/chinantecos-protegen-las-meliponas-abejas-sin-aguijon
  • https://elmuromx.org/2017/09/en-peligro-produccion-de-miel-en-la-chinantla-conanp-permite-destruccion-de-su-habitat/
Meliponicultura in Rancho Grande Valle Nacional
San Mateo Yetla
Rancho Grande
Mexico
17.842358, -96.331161
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Huautla de Jiménez

Huautla de Jiménez, Mexico

miles away

La Planta (Power Plant)

San Agustín Etla, Mexico

miles away

Old San Agustin Aqueduct

San Agustín Etla, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 594
Stories 60

Nearby Places

Huautla de Jiménez

Huautla de Jiménez, Mexico

miles away

La Planta (Power Plant)

San Agustín Etla, Mexico

miles away

Old San Agustin Aqueduct

San Agustín Etla, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 594
Stories 60

Related Places

  • The Bee Museum, Rhodes.

    Rhodes, Greece

    Bee Museum of Rhodes

    Learn about the sweet, storied legacy of beekeeping in ancient Greece.

  • The beekeeping museum showcases a traditional beekeeping method.

    Musteika, Lithuania

    Ancient Beekeeping Museum

    A tiny traditional village keeps an ancient method of beekeeping alive.

  • Bontoc, Philippines

    Alab Petroglyphs

    Engravings of penises and vaginas on a boulder in the Philippines dates local tribal history back to the Bronze Age.

  • A bird at Zealandia

    Wellington, New Zealand

    Zealandia

    The world's first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary is a haven for New Zealand's rare and endangered species.

  • All sorts of varieties of honey are available.

    Durango, Colorado

    Honeyville

    This bee-themed family business does more with honey than anyone would think was possible.

  • An adorable drinking fountain for apian visitors.

    Joso, Japan

    Honeybee Drinking Fountain

    Every summer, this shrine sets up a tiny drinking fountain reserved for thirsty apians.

  • a wood-carved, painted thunderbird sits on a pole in front of a blue sky

    Chicago, Illinois

    Kwa-Ma-Rolas Totem Pole

    Kwanu'sila the Thunderbird has been silently watching over Chicago for more than 100 years (kind of).

  • The exterior of Honeytree Meadery.

    Nashville, Tennessee

    Honeytree Meadery

    Sip mead from an East Nashville apiary while snacking on barbacoa tacos.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.