Yucatan haciendas make a wonderful place to base yourself while traveling in Mexico. What could be a more indulgent and luxurious accommodation experience than staying in a centuries-old colonial mansion?
These gorgeous historic properties have been renovated to suit the modern luxury traveler while still maintaining their original characteristics and charm. Many Yucatan haciendas boast spas, spacious gardens, and gourmet restaurants on-site.
What is a Hacienda?
Many haciendas in the Yucatan region date back as far as the 1500s. These grand properties were large, spacious homesteads that were built in rural and agricultural areas of Mexico.
You can also find these properties elsewhere in Central and South America. They were built by Spanish nobility following the colonization of Mexico.
The haciendas were built for the purposes of simultaneously having a place to live while tending to livestock, mining nearby resources, or running farms. A lot of Yucatan haciendas popped up during the henequen boom (1880-1915).
Henequen comes from the agave cactus and looks like a green yucca. It is used to make string, hammocks, crude clothing, and rugs. The abundance of these plants in the Yucatan region, and the demand for its byproducts, turned the Yucatan region into one of the richest states in Mexico.
Most Yucatan haciendas offer a small number of rooms and suites. This is a much more pleasant and exclusive vacation experience than staying in a cookie-cutter hotel room of a property with dozens of rooms. Staying in a hacienda is a highlight of any Yucatan road trip.
Best Yucatan Haciendas
Staying in one of the Yucatan haciendas is a luxury travel experience. Most offer rooms starting from $200 a night, however, you can sometimes find deals available.
If you want to treat yourself to a night of indulgence and luxury during your Yucatan trip, you should absolutely try and spend at least one night in a hacienda. If your budget doesn’t allow this, you can stop by to dine at the restaurants and tour the grounds of the properties.
Hacienda Santa Cruz
Where: C. 86 S/N, Santa Cruz Palomeque, 97315 Mérida
Hacienda Santa Cruz is a gorgeous property close to the village of Dzununcán, just outside of Merida. The property dates all the way back to 1640 and sits within the Cuxtal ecological reserve.
Hacienda Santa Cruz is different from other Yucatan haciendas because the owners still live on site. They pride themselves on their ability to give tourists a truly personalized travel experience and offer the same hospitality that you would expect if you were staying with family.
There are two swimming pools and a spa on site. The Casa de Maquin Restaurant here offers some of the best Yucatecan food in Merida.
Stop by for breakfast or brunch to enjoy a la carte dining and Mexican breakfast classics like chilaquiles, huevos Mexicanos, and homemade sweet bread. Better yet? A live trio will be there to play Mexican folk music as you dine.
Hacienda Santa Cruz offers several rooms and suites housed within the property’s main house. The property also boasts a small chapel, stunning gardens, and a small folk village that depicts what life was like here centuries ago.
Each room or suite here is decorated in a distinct, unique way and boasts Yucatan textiles or colorfully painted walls. You can check the latest room rates and availability at Hacienda Santa Cruz here.
Hacienda San Jose
Where: Km 30 Carretera Tixkokob-Tekanto, 97470 Tixkokob, Yucatan
Hacienda San Jose in Tixkokob is one of several converted luxury haciendas that is managed by Marriott. It sits just 36km east of Merida, encompassed by beautifully manicured gardens and tropical woodlands.
The colorful premises boasts several spectacular rooms, suites, and self-contained villas, each of which has been decorated differently. The renovation and restoration efforts of the hacienda were made with explicit care to protect the original characteristics of the building and the personal touches which the former owners gave it.
Most feature 18-foot ceilings with exposed beams, 10-foot-high double wooden doors, beautiful wooden beds, dark tropical hardwood cabinets, and tile floors. Having hammocks in virtually every room and living space is a quintessentially Yucatecan tradition that is followed here.
The majority of rooms and suites at Hacienda San Jose feature woven cotton hammocks – the perfect place to lounge around and relax after a long day of sightseeing. The restaurant here, housed within an old factory building, is one of the best restaurants in Merida.
Tixkokob itself is a charming town, worthy of a little exploration. Foodie travelers will love the dining options available here.
Pueblo Pibil (Calle 21 & 28, N ° 180) and Celestial Cocina Jardin (Calle 27, Calle 18 y 20, 97470) are two great places to add to your radar. Click here to check the latest room rates and availability at Hacienda San Jose.
Hacienda Temozon
Where: Km 182 Carretera Merida-Uxmal, 97825 Temozón Sur, Yucatan
Hacienda Temozon is another Marriott managed luxury collection hacienda close to Merida. It sits in the heart of the Yucatan jungle, near to several spectacular attractions that are often missed off most peoples Yucatan itineraries.
The property is spectacular – its exteriors boast coral walls and white trim, and its interiors feature 18-foot ceilings with exposed wooden beams. Each terrace offers its own private plunge pool.
The opulence of this place has attracted numerous jet-setters, celebrities, and politicians from across the globe. Indeed, two US-Mexico presidential summits were held here. Notably, Bill Clinton and Ernesto Zedillo in 1999 and George Bush & Felipe Calderon in 2007.
Staying at Hacienda Temozon places you just a short distance away from the archaeological sites of Uxmal and Mayapan. Nearby, you can also visit the eerily abandoned Hacienda Uayalceh whose rooms are still filled with decaying yet grandiose furniture…
Click here to check the latest availability and room rates at Hacienda Temozon.
Hacienda San Miguel
Where: Federal Highway Izamal-Valladolid Kilometer 8, 97796, Uayma
Hacienda San Miguel is a gorgeous 16th-century hacienda nestled in the heart of the Mayan jungle just outside of Valladolid. It is remote enough that you feel that you are a million miles away from all of the stresses of modern life, yet close enough to head to the town center for lunch and dinner.
This is one of the oldest haciendas in the Yucatan and it’s a beautiful one. Its location makes it a convenient place for visiting some of the best places in the Yucatan.
Chichen Itza is approximately 45 minutes away from here and the ruins at Ek Balam are 25 minutes north. Like many Yucatan haciendas, Hacienda San Miguel thrived during the henequen boom.
Henequen was the main call of business until 50 years ago. in 1979, it was transformed into a cattle and beekeeping ranch and finally, a luxury tourism property.
The hacienda has witnessed many important historical invents, including the 1910 Mexican revolution. When scenes of violence broke out between the Spanish and the native people, the phone at the hacienda was the only way that the people of Valladolid could contact the people in Merida.
Today, the hacienda offers an indulgent luxury retreat in the middle of nature. There is a restaurant on site serving traditional cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Guests can relax by the pool, hike or cycle the various trails around the property, and play with their travel companions in the games room. There is a small church on site where employees would attend mass on Sundays centuries ago…
Hacienda Sac Chich
Where: Calle 16, Acanceh, 97380 Acanceh, Yucatan
The gorgeous Hacienda Sac Chich, hidden away in the Yucatan jungle, offers the perfect blend of old-world charm and modern interiors and furnishings. Here, historical buildings and award-winning contemporary architecture combine to provide lodging for up to 21 people.
The hacienda is only 30 minutes from central Merida but it feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Accommodation options here are much more spacious than those offered by other Yucatan haciendas.
Hacienda Sac Chich offers three self-contained ¨casas¨ (houses). They boast several bedrooms with living spaces and private bathrooms.
These casas make the perfect accommodation choice for a family, or a group of friends or couples traveling together. Alternatively, they are just as well-suited to the independent traveler that likes plenty of their own space while traveling!
Rooms and casas boast ceilings as high as 26 feet, many of which offer grand 13-foot doors that open out directly to the pools and gardens. The buildings here date back to the 19th century.
There are several freshwater swimming pools on-site, along with barbecues and a volleyball court. There is no restaurant, although Hacienda Sac Chich will prepare meals for guests upon request.
Most casas require a two-night minimum stay and prices vary depending on the specific casa you choose. Click here to check the latest rates and availability.
Hacienda Xcanatun
Where: Calle 20 S/N x 19 y 19A Comisaría Xcanatún, 97302 Mérida, Yucatan
Hacienda Xcanatun by Angsana is located just 15 minutes away from the Yucatan capital of Merida. The property is renowned for being one of the most iconic henequen haciendas of the 18th century.
There are 18 gorgeous suites available on the premises, the largest of which boast their own private pools. The suites have been designed in such a way to give guests a feel for what hacienda life was like for the nobility in the 18th and 19th centuries.
A neutral color palette has been used throughout all of the suites, and the furnishings have been handmade using Mayan techniques. A smart TV, air conditioning, a minibar, and tea/coffee making facilities are available in all rooms.
Casa de Piedra restaurant serves up a selection of mouthwatering Yucatecan and contemporary Mexican delicacies. The menu is the brainchild of beloved on-site chef Gerardo Hernández and it does not disappoint. Even Merida residents and ex-pats will make the journey out of the city just to have the opportunity to dine here.
You can check the latest room rates and availability at Hacienda Xcanatun here.
Hacienda Misne
Where: C. 19 172, Misné, 97173 Mérida, Yucatan
Hacienda Misne is undoubtedly one of the best haciendas near Merida. It is just 15 minutes away from both the city center and Merida’s international airport.
The gorgeous property has been restored to its former glory and consists of several structures that have been painted in vibrant shades of red and yellow. It dates back to the 18th century and boasts a unique combination of architectural details from colonial times, with a slightly French influence.
The old defensive walls that used to protect the hacienda from any potential enemies or intruders still stand to this day. The property is surrounded by lush, tropical gardens filled with colorful, fragrant flowers and dozens of species of birds.
There are 42 large, comfortable rooms and 8 lavish suites here. They combine the comforts and amenities of modern life (wifi, smart TVs, rainfall showers, and MP3s) with the decadence of 18th-century Yucatan living (handmade furnishings in wood and iron, soft hammocks perfect for napping, etc).
The restaurant here caters to guests only. It is open daily from 07.00 am until 21.00 pm. You can check the latest room rates and availability at Hacienda Misne here.
Hacienda Sacnicte
Where: Carretera Tekal de Venegas Km. 5, 97541 Izamal
Hacienda Sacnicte sits just outside the charming pueblo magico of Izamal. Pueblo magicos are Mexican towns and villages that have been recognized for being the site of transcendental events in Mexican history, being especially beautiful or cultured, or boasting a particularly interesting local gastronomy.
Izamal is a beautiful little town whose buildings have all been painted in a vibrant shade of yellow. This is in honor of the Mayan Sun God Kinich Kakmó. A pyramid dedicated to this deity can be found in the center of the city.
Izamal makes a pleasant day trip destination from Merida, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun. The brightly colored streets, often completely empty during the day except for the occasional street vendor, are a photographer’s dream.
Meander through the colorful streets, check out the 1561 Convent of San Antonio de Padua, and stop for Yucatecan food prepared using Mayan techniques at Kinich (Calle 27.299y 28y 30, Centro, 97540 Izamal).
While in the area, treat yourself to a stay at Hacienda Sacnicte. Since the hacienda is a little out of the town center, it is best suited to travelers renting a car and driving in Mexico. However, you can certainly organize a cab locally to take you to the hacienda.
Hacienda Sacnicte offers ten rooms and suites, each of which has been tastefully decorated. Furnishings are plush and modern, bright and colorful.
The high ceilings and exposed beams are the best characteristics of the hacienda’s past. The presidential suite here is the room where the Hacendado (hacienda owner) used to sleep and is the perfect choice for absolute indulgence.
You can check the latest room rates and availability at Hacienda Sacnicte here.
Hacienda Santa Rosa
Where: Carretera Mérida Campeche DesviacióN, 97800 Santa Rosa, Yuc.
Hacienda Santa Rosa is one more renovated Yucatan hacienda that is managed by Marriott. It is the smallest of their properties and it is a charming place for a very cozy, personal luxe travel experience.
Other Yucatan haciendas may have accommodated dozens of workers and mined/harvested local resources. However, Hacienda Santa Rosa is the former private estate of a Spanish nobleman.
The buildings here feature uniquely carved columns, manicured gardens, and mysterious evening campfire pits. The hacienda is located close to the village of Maxcanú and the Yucatan-Campeche state border. Opting to stay here places you close to Celestún, Yucatan (61km away), the Edzna ruins of Campeche, and Campeche city.
The hacienda is located somewhat in the middle of nowhere. So, it may be somewhere that you consider staying if you have already visited Merida and the main highlights of the Yucatan and you are on your way to Campeche state.
Staying here would be a good way to break up the long journey to Campeche city. One of the best features of this property is its phenomenally spacious outdoor pool – the perfect place to relax at the end of the day.
When you check into your room, you are greeted with fragrant, fresh flowers, and unparalleled Mayan hospitality. The rooms here boast high ceilings, 19th-century floors, and vintage Mexican décor.
Dining here is an experience in itself. If you wish, you can ask the receptionist/concierge for a ¨romantic dinner¨ experience.
Then, they will set up a table for two in the middle of the woodland, away from any other patrons. Your seating area will be illuminated by twinkling candles while romantic music plays in the background. What could be a more romantic experience?
Click here to check the latest rates and availability at Hacienda Santa Rosa.
Hacienda San Francisco Tzacalha
Where: San Francisco Manzanilla, 97500 Dzidzantún, Yucatan
Hacienda San Francisco Tzacalha is a gorgeous, independently-managed property in Northeastern Yucatan. Its remote location makes the hacienda the perfect place to stay if you are looking for peace and seclusion.
The hacienda also places you very close to some of the best beaches in the Yucatan. From here, you are just a short drive away from the remote and sleepy beach towns of Dzilam de Bravo and Santa Clara.
A little further and you have the beautiful coastline of San Crisanto and its coconut groves and the upscale beach town of San Benito. Telchac Puerto, with its mysterious pink lakes and Xcambo ruins, is also nearby.
The hacienda, like many in the Yucatan region, fell into abandonment and disrepair after the decline of the henequen industry. It was purchased by the Ruz Sosa family who has refurbished it with love and injected a new lease of life into the property.
The property consists of 15 self-contained villas and 11 private rooms. The villas here are complete with their own living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, multiple bedrooms, individual gardens, and small pools.
You can check the latest rates and availability at Hacienda San Francisco Tzacalha here.
Yucatan Haciendas: Parting Words
Have you stayed at any Yucatan haciendas? What did you think? Which properties would you recommend?
