Hacienda Temozon

Thoroughly grand and atmospheric country mansion, originally a 16th century cattle ranch. The beautifully restored hotel offers 21st century luxury faithful to the historical context.

The most refined of a necklace of countryside retreats housed in restored colonial haciendas, Hacienda Temozón will really make you feel you have stepped back into history – and the illustrious history of the colonial aristocracy at that.

The cliché “lovingly restored” might have been invented for the way haciendas which had fallen into disrepair have been transformed into smart accommodation for visitors exploring the Mayan and colonial heritage of the Yucatán Peninsula. The remains of this 16th century estate, formerly a cattle ranch, have been particularly impressively transformed into a truly first-class choice.

You feel more like a guest at a large country house than a hotel. Neat palm-shaded lawns, a neoclassical, lap-length pool and a stately drive lead to the smart terracotta main building; they in turn are overlooked by the shaded al fresco restaurant on a grand terrace. Rooms are huge yet intimate, with towering ceilings and remnants of frescos and other antique features that reflect the ageing splendour of the original building.