Built by Spanish colonials in the 16th Century, haciendas once served as large plantations in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Today many have been transformed into luxurious Yucatan hacienda hotels and rental homes. At least 30 haciendas remain in the region, including the five incredible Starwood-owned properties: San Jose, Santa Rosa, Puerta Campeche, Uayamon, and Temozon. These hacienda hotels bring the best of the Yucatan to life for visitors seeking the ultimate in luxury and service.
The gorgeous landscape at Hacienda San Jose (Photo credit: Hacienda San Jose)
Why stay at Yucatan hacienda hotels
At Yucatan hacienda hotels, restored elements of the original henequen factories mix with modern conveniences. Expect air conditioning and WiFi, along with luxurious spas and delicious cuisine. Add warm Mayan hospitality and you will feel like you are living a dream.
Most of the hacienda hotels have spa facilities, and a local non-profit has trained locals in traditional Mayan therapeutic techniques. A masseuse will gently rub your temples as Mayan clay dries on your body. As you gaze through the white stuccoed archway at the hammock and pool beyond, you will hear a voice from the doorway. “Agua fresca? Margarita?” Although you are not sure you should follow a detoxifying clay treatment so closely with a retoxifying cocktail, you can’t resist the bright flavors of fresh lime juice mixed with the mellow local tequila.
This image – the breeze ruffling the leaves in the lush garden, the birds sipping water from a fountain, a hammock and cocktail awaiting poolside, the smiling woman arranging flowers on a towel just so – is one that will come to mind any time you think of Yucatan hacienda hotels.
Luxury spa treatment at Hacienda Petac (Photo credit: Hacienda Petac)
Yucatan hacienda hotels for romance
For a romantic getaway, you will fall in love with Hacienda San Jose and Hacienda Santa Rosa. You can escape and relax with your honey in relative seclusion at either of these small hotels where attentive but discreet staff attend to your needs. Most of the haciendas mentioned in this story can arrange small to medium weddings, including these two. They offer a chapel or church on site and can make arrangements for your special day.
Hacienda Santa Rosa (Photo Credit: Hacienda Santa Rosa)
Yucatan hacienda hotels for families
Hacienda Puerta Campeche features a family room for up to two children with parents. Your kids will be wowed by this hacienda hotel's pool with its swim-through doorways and hammocks in which to laze.
Explore Hacienda Puerta Temozon’s sprawling grounds with your family by bicycles, provided at no additional charge. All ages are welcome at the Spa Cenote (which is actually located inside a cave!). No one in your family will ever forget a stay here.
The stunning swimming pool at Hacienda Puerta Campeche (Photo Credit: Hacienda Puerta Campeche)
Yucatan hacienda hotel for pet lovers
If you want to bring Fluffy or Fido along, Hacienda Chichen offers pet-friendly rooms with gated patios. This hacienda hotel can even arrange a pet-friendly wedding for you.
Spa Cenote at Hacienda Temozon (Photo credit: Hacienda Temozon)
Yucatan hacienda hotels for history buffs
The Museum at Hacienda Chichen, and its proximity to Chichen Itza, make it a perfect choice for history buffs. Located steps from the entrance to Chichen Itza, you can get an early start exploring the temple complex before the heat and the hordes descend.
Another tempting option for history buffs is Hacienda Sotuta de Peon. Visit its living museum dedicated to the history of henequen (or sisal) production, which brought great wealth to the Yucatan in the early 20th Century. A mule-drawn train will take you to a stunning underground cenote (underground river), where you can swim at the end of your visit.
A beautifully laid breakfast at Hacienda Petac (Photo credit: Paige Conner Totaro)
Yucatan hacienda hotel for foodies
Foodies rejoice! If you stay at Hacienda Petac, the staff can arrange a cooking class in a dedicated class kitchen. Learn to make local specialties like panuchos – a bean-filled fried tortilla with salsa, and guacamole.
The Presidential Suite at Hacienda San Jose (Photo credit: Hacienda San Jose)
Yucatan hacienda hotel all for yourself
If you would like to rent a hacienda just for you and your guests in the Yucatan, Hacienda Petac can be rented fully staffed with all meals and non-alcoholic drinks included. An equally enticing property, you can rent Hacienda Sac Chich, either partially or fully staffed.
Whichever Yucatan hacienda hotel you choose, you will be immersed in Mayan culture and cuisine, Spanish colonial history, and modern Mexican hospitality.
Which of these Yucatan hacienda hotels would you choose? Let us know in the comments below!
A Note from The Startup Travel Mama: My stay at Hacienda Petac was sponsored by Starwood and Yucatan Tourism. All opinions are mine, as always. This story includes some affiliate links. Your purchases help keep Travel Mamas a free resource for travelers.
About Paige Conner Totaro, The Startup Travel Mama
SUCH a special place!!
They all sound womderful. Maybe I’d go to Chichen and take my cats. Lol
Wow. How beautiful. I love a nice relaxing atmosphere when I travel.
Wow, this is really a luxury for me. I want to experience this. What a lovely vacation!
Ah the atmosphere is jus tso nice. I love all the great colors they use to decorate.
I’ve just added this to my travel bucket list! What a cool place to stay!!!
This looks so lovely. I would love to go to a hotel like this.
I would love to visit the family hacienda because the hubby and I just went on vacation alone. I think the boys would really enjoy the pools!
I like the fact that there’s one for each of your needs. Whether you’re taking the whole family or just going on vacation with your significant other, this is definitely the place to be!
These look like amazing places to stay. I want to stay at them all starting with the Hacienda Petac.
I really loved Hacienda Petac. The staff was outstanding, and the grounds just perfectly gorgeous and well thought out.
Wow… looks amazing, especially the Yucatan hacienda hotels for families since our kids pretty much always come with us as we don’t have anyone willing to watch them.
Those hotels are gorgeous! If I ever go to Mexico I will have to stay at one of those hotels!
Gosh, these sound like lovely places. I’d be happy to stay in any one of them but the Santa Rosa and San Jose ones sound great.
We have visited Mexico numerous times and always had a fantastic experience. I think I would stay at Hacienda Puerta Campeche, since that is ideal for families and we have yet to travel there with the kids.
These hotels look like paradise! I would love a treatment at that spa!
Wow, these all look like amazing places to stay. That one pool is absolutely beautiful!
A SPA in a cave? Sign me up for that. I can’t wait to attend a beautiful location like this for a getaway without the kids. Right now, all we can do is watch a movie after they are asleep or a 48 hour getaway!
I highly recommend you try one of these. Some are surprisingly affordable.
What an amazing place! I can’t believe they set up a room in a cave like that. I’m in love.
These places are so gorgeous, and the people so warm and welcoming, that I’m already dreaming about going back there. Their creativity and appreciation for beauty in the Yucatan, and in Mexico in general, is inspiring, too. You’ll want to light your walkway with candles and drop flower petals in your bath when you get home. It won’t be the same, but it will remind you of the magic and the charm of Mexico.