Hacienda San José

The intimate Hacienda San José exudes charm and offers incredible service. What a surprise to find luxurious accommodations so far off the beaten path. Although, as you drive to the hotel it seems very remote (near Tixkokob, the hammock capital of the Yucatán), this is actually a great location for visiting the colonial city of Mérida and taking trips to see the many rich archaeological sites nearby. However, you might not want to stray from this alluring, utterly romantic property. The rooms all exude a quiet elegance and are appropriately decorated with simple furnishings of the very highest quality. Many of the bedrooms have a private plunge pool, but in addition there is a dramatic, large swimming pool with a very special bottom coating that makes the water shimmer like the sea. When restoration began on this abandoned sisal property, the hacienda was no more than a shell; but lots of money and, more importantly, impeccable taste have transformed it into a dream of a small hotel, while avoiding over renovation. Although offering the ultimate in luxury, the colorful old hacienda and its surrounding buildings still ring true to their romantic origins. As you dine exquisitely on the terrace with large arches opening to the gardens, you feel as pampered as the owners of this wealthy sisal plantation must have felt so long ago.