Hacienda Chichen Resort Review

It was a long bus ride from Playa del Carmen (4.5 hrs), however we made good time and arrived a bit early for check-in at Hacienda Chichen Resort and Yaxkin Spa. I was excited to review the hotel, and astounded by the elegance and old word charm of the property. Beautiful archways graced the colonial architecture. It felt like we had stepped back into a different time. A wave of serenity washed over me.

Hacienda Chichen Resort Review

Aracely the receptionist who sat behind the front desk warmly greeted us. She told us a bit about the resort, the amenities as well as the bird sanctuary and maya jungle private reserve. She explained that the resort’s mission is to provide its guests with a carbon neutral getaway, while respecting Mother Earth.

The Colonial style cottages were inspired by the Mayan culture. Hence they are adorned with original artwork as well as hand-carved wood furniture by locals. In fact, the property also hosts a gift shop which sells locally made treasures available for sale. Local artists created the artistic products. The Maya Foundation in Laakeech A.C., a fantastic nonprofit serving the local Mayan community works with the artists.

Hacienda Chichen Resort Review — *Hacienda Chichen Veranda; photo by Richard Bilow*

Since our cottage was not yet ready, Aracely suggested we indulge in a massage, enjoy a tour with one of their staff as well as lunch at Los Faisanes Restaurant. We agreed to the latter two. Unfortunately, we were on a tight schedule and did not have time to utilize the spa. My husband was anxious to start his search for unusual and exotic birds to photograph. And boy did he find them. See a link below for his Bird Photography Article.

Hacienda Chichen Resort Tour

Adrian arrived promptly in the lobby to take us on our tour of the property. He told us a bit about the history of Hacienda Chichen, as we began our walk. If you would like to find out more info about the history, visit Hacienda Chichen’s website – see link below.

He guided us through the garden and into the tiny church that hosts weddings. On our journey, we saw all kinds of birds and a large iguana. Adrian showed us pictures of recent baby owls that had been born on the property. He also showed us the fruit and veggie garden, where much of the produce for the restaurant is grown. Needless to say, this is what prompted us to suddenly say, ok – “Lets eat.”

The room was not quite ready, so we grabbed a quick light lunch to keep in step with our schedule. There was a gentle breeze, so we sat on the veranda overlooking the garden with a glimpse of the pool. Massive palms and lush Flora surrounded the pool. It was truly magical.

For lunch I chose the Ensalada Greene. It was simply divine – all of the ingredients came from the Hacienda Chichen garden. It was fantastic. I was craving healthy food, since Rich and I had been eating way too many street tacos in Playa del Carmen. The salad was so fresh, and all the veggies were filled with flavor – so good. Rich also chose a lighter meal (for him) – Pollo Ixchel. This was soooo fantastic I ordered it for our final meal. For more info on this dish, read my Los Faisanes Restaurant Review – see link below.

The Lodging Review

The cottage was gorgeous. We walked into a charming front sitting room and were welcomed by a cool breeze from the air conditioner. The room was well prepared for us. The bed was covered in flowers, creating the most inviting welcome one could imagine.

There was a large stone wall that separated the rooms. It features a grand cut through window, where a large colorful ceramic vase sat. As I gazed to my right, I spotted the king size bed with delicate red flowers, leaves and petals artfully scattered across it.

The sloped ceiling ran the full length of the cottage with dark wood beams spaced accordingly. The front room featured wrought iron chairs and a table with windows surrounding the space. The garden landscape as well as leafy plants filled the windows for an immersive nature view. This made for an exotic ambience, that I found I could enjoy right from bed. The sitting room also had a small refrigerator and a coffee machine.

Also, the bedroom windows had white drapes cleverly tied in the middle with colorful wraps to unify the decor. Plus, the bathroom was also beautiful.

Design Accents

The attention to detail was astounding. Tiny accents, such as vibrant floral pillows, plants in gorgeous planters all offered pops of color. There were also beautiful photos of birds as well as exquisite Mayan art on the walls. Even the tissue box offered a delicately rolled rose made of tissue. While the staff turned a face towel into another rose in the bathroom. The hospitality of the resort was unparalleled. This also became evident when another employee offered to fix my husband’s glasses as I mentioned in my restaurant review. During our tour, Adrian explained that his training emphasized the importance of guest relations.

We had an incredible time here, and I love that it is a pet-friendly hotel as well. What began as a way of gaining early access to Chichén Itzá, turned into a truly exotic haven of serenity. There was magic there. Rich went to look for birds at 5:30am, and his first sighting was a toucan. Somehow, with his blurry morning eyes he nailed some amazing shots (see link below). See the ETG Instagram for a full video of all the birds, as well as another featuring the grounds of this fantastic resort.

We made some precious memories at Hacienda Chichen and Yaxkin Spa As we said goodbye we both agreed, we most probably would be back one day! Adios amigos! Hacienda Chichen and Yaxkin Spa, Zona Hotelera de Chichen Itza, KM. 120 Carretera libre 180-Puerto Juarez, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico C.P. 97751; https://www.haciendachichen.com