Mar24: Hacienda Uxmal (1673)

Your first sight is of an enormous grand staircase from the lower parking lot by the palm studded fountain and elegant gardens. Parked nearby is the antique land rovers and modern porches. The historic hotel is full of museum pieces and old photographs throughout. Notable guests have been QEII, Jackie O, Indira Ghandi, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, and notable Mexican politicians and famous citizens. It’s. Been a world heritage site since 1989. Vestiges of Mayan buildings remain throughout the grounds. It is almost opposite the entrance to the Uxmal ruins.

  Inside you go up another grant staircase to the 2nd floor where all rooms overlook the gorgeous gardens and pool. Birds, birds, birds everywhere welcome you and at night call of tree frogs and insect is almost deafening. 

  Older staff at this family-owned grand hotel quietly cater to the guests, women in traditional white cotton embroidered huipils (dresses) and men in white suits. Most don’t speak English. A small poolside bar has a large selection of premium tequilas but Ted has his own bottle by the bed!

  Each day our bed is adorned with towel arrangements and fresh flowers from the gardens.

  The cool AC rooms are furnished in heavy polished mahogany furniture, large armoires but with a modern safe now. Visitors seem to be sparse although one small German group and one small French group arrive during our stay. 

  The suites have impressive stained glass windows of ruin sites in front along with cool slats to the veranda/terrace. We also have a lovely stained glass window to our bathroom. 

  Chocolate was a very important crop through the ages to the Maya so the hacienda has a chocolate museum next door as well as the planetarium. We don’t visit either. 

  Of course you pay for all this exclusiveness but its less than the plain Jane room at the Calgary airport Marriott where we spent a night before our flight this trip!