Hacienda Tamchen

Hacienda Tamchen is set in beautiful gardens, alive with local flora. There’s also a lovely lily pond in the garden, surrounded by spiky blue agave: two of the suites are built over lily ponds of their own.

There is one suite and three villas with private plunge pools, which combine luxurious comfort with the rustic, organic features of the original hacienda, which provide plenty of character: the bathrooms, for example, have rough-hewn stone sinks, and there’s exposed masonry in the walls. The rooms open onto serene lily ponds in the beautiful, tranquil gardens.

Your stay includes a hearty breakfast spread of pastries, fruits, and hot and cold options including Mexican specialities, and sumptuous three-course dinners, where you can experience the rich flavours of Yucatan cuisine. This type of cooking draws heavily on the region’s Mayan history, and specialities include pibil (suckling pig) and spicy tamales.

A range of massage treatments are on offer, and there’s also a quiet meditation area. The hacienda also has a beautiful outdoor pool, surrounded by colourful hammocks – the perfect place to while away an afternoon.

The most significant attraction nearby is Uxmal, one of the most important Mayan cities, home to fascinating and brilliantly preserved ancient pyramids. Mayapan, once the capital of Mayan civilisation, is also close by.

Further afield, but worth the trip to see one of the bona fide wonders of the world, is the magnificent Chichen Itza. Wildlife watchers can get their fix at the Celestun Biosphere Reserve, where hordes of pink flamingos populate the mangroves and white beaches.