Hacienda San Jose, Mexico

From the huge, crumbling arch which welcomes you into the grounds, to the ancient trees and candlelit paths of the beautiful gardens, Hacienda San Jose is an evocative place. Great care has been taken with its renovation to ensure maximum comfort without sacrificing the property’s original character.

Almost all of Hacienda San Jose’s guest rooms are housed within the restored, original hacienda buildings, and are very comfortable while retaining their original character. Expect to find high ceilings with wooden beams, heavy antique doors, furniture carved from tropical wood, and traditional Mayan arts and crafts adorning the walls.

Hacienda San Jose’s restaurant is housed within the old hacienda building, overlooking the beautiful gardens beyond a grand colonnade. The food encompasses a wide variety of regional, national and international dishes, with an emphasis on the use of organic ingredients, many of which are grown in the hotel’s own garden and orchards. For an atmospheric, romantic dinner, you can enjoy your food by candlelight in a quiet corner of the gardens, down a winding path surrounded by ancient tree roots.

The hacienda features an outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by tropical vegetation, which is the perfect place to cool off after a day tramping around Chichen Itza. There are also a range of luxurious treatments on offer at the hotel’s beautiful outdoor spa cabin; massage therapies can also be arranged in the privacy of your own room.

The main attraction nearby is undoubtedly Chichen Itza, one of the wonders of the world and a brilliantly preserved Mayan city dating back nearly 1,000 years. Other historical sites near the hotel include Tixkokob, home to the crumbling ruins of ancient temples. Merida, the nearest large modern city, has beautiful colonial architecture, and a long history as a cultural crossroads – it’s said that the Spanish spoken here has a distinctly ‘Mayan’ tinge.