Price Band: $$$
Tags: Hacienda, romantic, sightseeing, experience
Hacienda Santa Rosa
Yucatan
Hacienda Santa Rosa
Yucatan
Hacienda Santa Rosa
Yucatan
Hacienda Santa Rosa
Yucatan
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In a nutshell:
Intimate hacienda hotel with just a handful of exquisite rooms, most with high ceilings and original features. Santa Rosa is located near to a small Yucatecan town, and offers the ideal opportunity to learn about traditional Mayan life, past and present. The picturesque swimming pool and beautiful gardens add to the charm of a stay here. The Mayan ruins of Uxmal, Kabah, Labna and Sayil are close by.
The Hacienda Santa Rosa is a true haven for those intent on seeing the very best that the Yucatan has to offer. Along with its nearby sister hotels the Haciendas Temozon and San Jose, we can think of no better base for a leisurely exploration of the most impressive archaeological sites in this state as well as the myriad of other fascinating diversions, from nature reserves to caves and villages that have changed little over the last few centuries.
Although the location is superb for sightseeing – particularly for visiting the ruins of Uxmal and thePuuc sites or virgin gulf coast beaches and nature reserves – we guarantee that you will find it difficult to tear yourselves away from your temporary home. Even the first rays of sunlight falling on the cool tile floor will invite lazy, indulgent mornings. Breakfast on the terrace just can’t be hurried, and the swimming pool beckons long before the sun reaches its peak.
Each of the Haciendas has its own charms, but we particularly like the intimacy and serenity of the Hacienda Santa Rosa. A visit here is rather like staying with friends – the welcome is warm and sincere and it’s fun to watch the daily activity around this rather grand house.
We recommend a visit of at least three days, even when combined with visits to other haciendas, in order to immerse oneself in the tranquility here and to see even a small percentage of the local attractions. Above all, plan some extra time just for relaxation – Hacienda Santa Rosa is a very difficult place to leave!
The Hacienda Santa Rosa was nearly one hundred years old when the restoration program began. Since the original buildings were still in reasonable shape, the developers changed as little as possible in order to preserve the great character and dignity of the colonial architecture. Rather than squeeze more rooms into the existing structures or add modern extensions, the charming guest quarters were fashioned along the boundaries of existing rooms.
This strategy gave rise to the glorious oversized bathrooms, soaring ceilings – some more than twenty feet high – and enormous, heavy doors that lend so much atmosphere to the amazing rooms and suites. Some original floor tiles also remain, and the rough walls have been repainted in typically Mexican yellows, oranges and blues.
To compliment the grand dimensions of the rooms, the interiors have been luxuriously furnished with antique iron bedsteads, delicate lace and hand-embroidered bed linen. Although the airy rooms are naturally cool, ceiling fans and high-tech air-conditioning have been installed.
In line with the original layout of the Hacienda, the guest rooms are housed in two distinct areas.
Adjacent to the main reception areas and restaurant are four rooms, including two deluxe suites with private, secluded gardens and small plunge pools.
On the other side of the fabulous main swimming pool, a further five rooms are fronted by tropical gardens.
The three furthermost rooms back onto another area of lawns that features a second, smaller swimming pool whose use is exclusive to occupants of these rooms.
The tenth room is the Cuarto del Patron – traditionally the quarters of the owner of the Hacienda and is adjacent to the restaurant.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Air-conditioning, ceiling fan, hairdryer, minibar.
Superior room #1
King bed, bath tub
Superior room #2
King bed, bath tub
Superior room #3
King bed, bath tub
Deluxe Suite #4
King bed, private garden, plunge pool
Deluxe suite #5
Two beds, private garden, plunge pool
Deluxe Suite #6
Two beds, private garden, plunge pool
Superior room #7
Two beds
Junior Suite #8
Two beds, terrace, shared pool
Junior Suite #9
Two beds, terrace, shared pool
Junior Suite #10
King bed, terrace, shared pool
Mayan Villa #11
King bed, private garden, plunge pool
Superior Room #1
This room was originally the Cuarto del Patron or owner’s residence. It is located next to the library in the main building and overlooks the main plaza to the front and a small garden to the rear. The room is spacious and echoes the grandeur of the nearby reception areas, with tall ceilings and cool tiled floors. It also has a bathtub (the other rooms just have showers).
Superior room #2
This room occupies a tranquil position close to the central plaza. The original double doors open onto the stone patio that connects the main building with the chapel, offering a shady vantage point onto the picturesque gardens. During the balmy evenings, a romantic dinner can be served in the shade of the trees nearby. Inside, a spacious bathroom features a wall shower and separate tub with antique style wood surround.
Superior Room #3
Tucked away behind the former chapel, this Superior room overlooks leafy gardens to the side of the Hacienda. It’s the perfect vista for lazy sunny mornings. In the distance, behind the high stone walls, you may hear snatches of daily life in the little village and you are certain to catch sight of the resident peacocks strolling their territory. This room also has a spacious bathroom with shower and separate tub.
Superior Room #7
This room is also a Superior category with twin double beds. It is very similar in layout to the neighboring room Junior 6. The two rooms are immediately adjacent and would be ideal for larger family groups wishing to take two rooms close together.
These three Junior Suites are adjacent and share a swimming pool and gardens.
Junior Suite #8
This suite is one of three that share a swimming pool and private gardens. Each room also has its own terrace overlooking the pool and gardens, with outdoor furniture for dining and relaxation. Room 8 has twin beds and a fabulous oversized bathroom with huge shower and beautiful wooden vanity unit. A further set of double doors in the bathroom makes the room especially light and airy. Cool tile floors, crisp cotton and lace and fresh tropical flowers please the senses and recreate the opulence of the Hacienda’s glorious past.
Junior Suite #9
This suite is very similar to the neighboring room 8, with twin beds and a large bathroom. It also has doors opening to a private terrace (immediately adjacent to rooms 8 and 10) with views of the swimming pool and expansive lawns beyond.
Junior Suite #10
This stunning Suite is one of the largest accommodations at the Hacienda. An airy sitting room with sofa and writing desk faces the central plaza, offering extra space for entertaining or for business. Both the bedroom and large bathroom have double doors opening onto the private patio and gardens, where the large shared swimming pool is located.
This enticing swimming pool is set in beautiful gardens with a very serene outlook. Junior Suites 8, 9 and 10 share the use of the pool. The lawns behind the pool stretch as far as the eye can see and are a favorite haunt of the Hacienda’s resident peacocks.
Deluxe Suite #6
Photographs on this page are of suite #6. This room is located not far from the main building and restaurant. It overlooks the lawns of the central plaza to the front and the Hacienda’s orchards to the rear. The interior of the suite is spacious and airy, with two double beds and a sitting area. This suite features a delightful private garden with an enticing plunge pool set beneath the majestic old walls along with a day bed for afternoon siestas. The table and chairs made this a wonderful spot for a romantic dinner.
Deluxe Suite #4
This Junior Suite is accessed from the far side of the Hacienda and has its own private and secluded garden complete with a refreshing plunge pool. The garden is shaded by tall foliage and its boundary is marked by crumbling stone pillars. The outlook is totally peaceful and serene and would make an ideal choice for honeymooners and escapists.
Deluxe Suite #5
Junior Suite #5 is adjacent to room 4 and also boasts a plunge pool and secluded walled garden. The interior is equally spacious and features twin beds and an indulgent oversized bathroom.
This suite is built in the style of a traditional Mayan house, with thatched palapa roof and rounded walls. But the interior is far from traditional; it is air-conditioned and features a private garden and plunge pool.
The luxurious bedroom, with its king size bed suspended on ropes, is divided from the bathroom by a dressing and vanity area. These sumptuous and novel quarters appeal to romantics and would make a wonderful choice for honeymooners.
A corridor connects the bedroom with the large bathroom, which is virtually a separate house. Here you’ll find a walk-in shower and dressing room. Along the corridor stone troughs serve as basins in the vanity area and glass doors open to the outdoor plunge pool, which is set in a private walled garden.
The house also has a secluded terrace with outdoor dining furniture for a special, romantic meal.
The Hacienda’s restaurant serves exquisite local and international dishes in suitably grand surroundings. Guests can dine in some of the most lavish of the original reception rooms, with antique furniture and traditional decor, or outside on the long terrace. Room service is also available for all meals.
We recommend that you try some of the deservedly popular local dishes, such as pollo pibil or poc chuc. Made to time-honored recipes, they are full of taste but rarely very spicy, and include the traditional flavorings of achiote, bitter orange and cilantro. When served in such atmospheric surroundings, you are guaranteed a memorable experience.
The main pool at the Hacienda Santa Rosa is one of the most enticing that we’ve seen. The design is unique since it follows the foundations of the original swimming pool at the Hacienda (a pool was deemed necessary to provide relief from the summer heat). Changing rooms were built above the pool to provide a shaded area in the water – a great place for today’s vacationers to escape the midday sun.
The swimming pool owes its strikingly reflective appearance to the use of ancient Mayan techniques and materials. A waterproof coating known as Chu-kum, which is a type of tree resin, has been used. One of the properties of the coating is that the hues of the water intensify with its depth. The effect is stunning and we guarantee that you’ll be reaching for your swimming gear as soon as you arrive.
How to get here
By air
The nearest airport is Merida (about 40 miles away) and the journey to the hacienda takes about 50 minutes by road. The hacienda has a remote and tranquil location and is not accessible by public transport. Taxi drivers may not be familiar with the location, so we recommend using the hotel’s transfers or driving to the hotel with good directions.
Cancun airport is about 240 miles / 4 hours away by road.
Driving directions
From Merida airport:
Set the car’s odometer to zero
At the airport exit take the Campeche -Chetumal exit on your left
At 3 km. take the Cancun – Motul exit on your left
At 5At 5 km. take the Campeche exit on your right. At the moment there isn’t a sign before the exit but you’ll see a little Cemex factory just before the exit.
Stay on this highway for 50 km. then take the Maxcanu-Halacho exit on your right. Keep on this road for 8km. Do not enter the town of Maxcanu – you will cross the railway lines and pass a gas station and a small restaurant called “Camino Real”.
After 8km you’ll see a concrete sign and a few meters further on you will find the turning for Granada and Santa Rosa on your right. Take this turn and again follow the road for 8km. You’ll pass through the village of Granada and then nothing but open fields until you reach the town of Santa Rosa. You’ll see the signs for the hacienda 1km into the village of Santa Rosa.
From Cancun airport:Take the “Cuota” (toll) highway in the direction of Merida, which after about 200 kilometers (140 miles) becomes a two-way highway.
When you come to the end of the highway there are traffic lights, turn left end follow the signs to Campeche, Chetumal and Ruta Pu’uc. You’ll then be on the “periferico” or ring road around Merida.
Set your odometer to zero and once on the Periferico it is 12km to the exit to Campeche (the junction is just after the small Cemex factory).
Stay on this highway for 50 km. then take the Maxcanu-Halacho exit on your right. Keep on this road for 8km. Do not enter the town of Maxcanu – you will cross the railway lines and pass a gas station and a small restaurant called “Camino Real”.
After 8km you’ll find the turning for Granada and Santa Rosa, there is a sign just a few meters before the turning . Take this turn and again follow the road for 8km. You’ll pass through the village of Granada and then nothing but open fields until you reach the town of Santa Rosa. You’ll see the signs for the hacienda 1km into the village of Santa Rosa.
