Viceroy Riviera Maya
The Viceroy is a boutique beach front resort located just outside Playa del Carmen on Mexico's Yucatán peninsula.
Hidden amongst the tropical ferns, palms and guava trees, the villas are decorated with sophisticated simplicity. Each comes with an outdoor terrace, private plunge pool, hammock and DVD/CD player.
The resort has a private stretch of white sand beach, from which there is great snorkelling, and a lagoon pool with a sundeck and pool bar. A full-service 'jungle spa' offers a wide variety of massages and treatments, including Mayan-style sauna, and daily yoga classes are offered by the sea.
An award-winning restaurant serves gourmet Yucatecan cuisine overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and there is a pool grill and cocktail lounge. Playa del Carmen, just ten minutes away, offers good shopping, and excursions can be arranged to many different locations including the Sian Kaan nature reserve, ancient cities and ruins (Tulum, Coba, Chichen-Itza, Uxmal) Cozumel Island and the Spanish colonial cities of Valladolid and Mérida.
Why We Love It
This is one of the most luxurious properties on the 'Riviera Maya' and the resort has the ambience of an exclusive residential compound.
Be Tulum
Leave the ankle-biters at home, Be Tulum is a boutique luxury hotel with an unbeatable beachfront location, and designed with relaxation in mind, is exclusively for grown ups.
The 18 Jungle and Arena suites are set along the beach or amongst the tropical gardens, each with its own pool or Jacuzzi, open plan bathrooms and outdoor showers. There are two further ocean suites with glass swimming pools on the private roof terraces. All of the suites have been designed and built using local materials which are in keeping with the jungle surroundings, and the décor is sophisticated and modern throughout, with state of the art mod cons such as ipod docking stations in every room.
The beach is the central hub of the hotel, with a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. There is also a great spa offering a range of treatments at the hotel.
Located in the charming area of Tulum, Be Tulum is sandwiched between tropical forests, white sandy beaches and the turquoise Caribbean waters. Numerous activities are on offer, including swimming with dolphins, snorkelling and fishing. It is also perfectly placed for exploring nearby shops and restaurants.
Why We Love It
Sebastian and Hernan Sas, the Argentine brothers who designed and own the hotel, have created a trendy design hotel whilst retaining a tranquil atmosphere.
Hotel Esencia
Hotel Esencia is a chic beach retreat set on a two-mile stretch of white-sand beach along the 'Riviera Maya' of Mexico's Yucatán coast.
The property is surrounded by a 50-acre estate, and the rooms are divided between ocean suites, garden suites and a single private villa. All rooms are decorated in a simple and elegant style, featuring native hardwood furnishings, crisp white walls and large windows that frame tropical garden and sea views. Each room also comes with a private plunge pool, sundeck and an extra-large bathroom with a rain-shower.
Breakfast is delivered to your room each morning, while the hotel's gourmet restaurant serves delicious lunches and suppers. A private chef is also available for in-room dining. Other facilities at Esencia include two swimming pools, complimentary yoga classes and a spa set in a quiet corner of the estate which offers an array of treatments and massages, as well as two domed steam rooms.
Esencia makes an ideal spot to relax and unwind, but for those that want shopping and nightlife, these can be found in Playa del Carmen, 20 minutes away.
Why We Love It
Esencia makes an ideal spot to relax and unwind, but for those that want shopping and nightlife the bright lights of Playa del Carmen are just 20 minutes away.
Hacienda San José
Hacienda San José is a secluded 'boutique hacienda' located on the Yucatán peninsula, 24 miles south-east of Mérida.
Most of the rooms and suites are located in the beautifully restored 18th-century building. These rooms are characterised by high ceilings with exposed beams, cool tiled floors and beautiful wooden beds and cabinets. Hacienda's are the perfect option for those looking for a characterful accommodation option.
Alternatively, there are a few Mayan Villas privately situated among the beautiful gardens. All rooms come with traditional amenities such as cotton hammocks, and more modern ones such as high-speed internet access.
Facilities include a swimming pool, a spa offering a variety of treatments, a bar and a restaurant serving Mexican and European cuisine. Mountain biking is also available. Further afield, ruins of the great Mayan civilisation can be seen at sites such as Chichen Itza, Izamal and Dzibilchaltun, all easily accessible from Hacienda San Jose. Other day trips include the Spanish colonial city of Valladolid and the Rio Lagartos nature reserve, famous for its pink flamingos.
Why We Love It
This hotel is perfectly positioned for those people seeking to explore the ancient Mayan culture which once flourished amidst the tropical forests of the Yucatán.
Hacienda Temozon
Hacienda Temozon is located approximately 25 miles from the city of Mérida, in Mexico's Yucatán peninsula.
The beautifully restored hacienda has many rooms and suites, set amid peaceful gardens. All rooms have high ceilings with exposed beams, large iron beds and hammocks for napping. The suites also have private terraces with plunge pools.
Facilities include a swimming pool, gym, floodlit tennis court and a spa offering a variety of massages and treatments. Other activities include archaeological walks and cycling, or you can just relax and enjoy a game of pool or backgammon in the gardens.
The restaurant serves a blend of Mexican and international cuisine, overlooking the gardens and the old factory buildings from the days when the hacienda was a working estancia. Numerous sites of interest can be visited from Hacienda Temozon, including many nature reserves and 'cenotes' - freshwater sinkholes that pockmark the Yucatán.
Why We Love It
An ideal place to explore the spectacular Mayan sites of Uxmal, Chichén Itzá and Mayapan and the Spanish colonial city of Mérida.
Hacienda Uayamon
Hacienda Uayamon is located in the Yucatan Peninsula close to the walled city of Campeche on the Gulf of Mexico and next to the vast Mayan ruins of Edzna.
It used to be a cattle ranch and was converted into a hacienda at the end of the 19th century. There is a wonderful romantic feel to Uayamon and perfect for couples. The property has twelve colonial villas which are individual houses along a tree lined avenue. Each villa has a spacious bedroom with writing desk and satellite TV, a large bathroom and a terrace overlooking the jungle gardens. High beamed ceilings and mahogany furniture echo the opulence of the hacienda's apogee.
The spectacular swimming pool occupies what was formerly the entrance to the Machine House, and the crumbling stone walls and majestic columns have been left in place to create a dramatic setting.
Other activities include archaeological walks and cycling, or you can just relax and enjoy a game of pool or backgammon in the gardens. The restaurant serves a blend of Mexican and international cuisine
Why We Love It
The hotel originally housed the elite of the hacienda staff in the 19th century.
The Lodge at Chichen Itza
The Lodge at Chichen Itza sits within 100 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, filled with tropical trees which are home to many species of bird and butterfly. Boasting a superb location in the heart of the archaeological park, the lodge has its very own entrance to the Mayan temples at Chichen Itza.
There are 39 Mayan style bungalows set around the three swimming pools, and each one is constructed out of local materials such as wood, stone, marble and thatch. Guestrooms are simple and clean, featuring hand-carved woodwork and delicate stained glass windows, each has a large shaded verandah outside, complete with hammocks.
Breakfast is served in the onsite restaurant Palapa, but guests can also choose to enjoy this on their terrace, or in the privacy of their bungalow. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves an international buffet, along with tacos and wood-fired pizzas. Packed lunches can also be provided for guests spending a full day exploring the nearby Mayan ruins.
Guests can indulge themselves with spa treatments, or for early risers, there are numerous bird watching trails to explore within the gardens. Bicycles are complimentary for guests use within the grounds, and horse riding can also be arranged. The bar at The Lodge is the perfect spot to enjoy an evening drink, and watch the Yucatecan Jarana dance performance.
Why We Love It
The Lodge has an unbeatable location for those crack-of-dawn visits to the stunning Chichen Itza site.