Many Mérida residents consider restaurant Casa de Piedra at Hacienda Xcanatún as one of the “must’s” to show their visitors. But…there is more to Hacienda Xcanatún than dining…join us for a look at the history and the services of this very special Yucatecan icon.
The History The owners Jorge and Tina bought the hacienda in 1993, and began a renovation in 1994 which would take them six years to complete. It was a complete ruin. But, even though they purchased the “diamond in the rough” before others started buying and restoring haciendas in Yucatán, they saw the potential, and realized that the location at the north end of Mérida was perfect, not too far to drive for an evening out, and with easy access to the coast.
Hacienda Xcanatún was built in the 18th century to cultivate corn and raise horses and other carriage animals, and then coverted into a sisal-growing and processing hacienda in the mid-19th century. But with the development of man-made fibers, the demand for sisal products fell, and the original owners sold what was left of the land and buildings, and then it became a seldom-used summer home.
In 1988, Hurricane Gilbert destroyed most of what was left. Jorge and Tina’s recovery efforts were aided by experts in Maya and colonial architecture, who developed plans to recover as much as possible from the existing buildings and to rebuild those that were too deteriorated, preserving all the architectural elements. Special attention was paid to maintain the original feeling of space, ambience, ornamentation, and materials, even when changes had to be made or a new building had to be built…in the end, offering guests the highest comfort and best functionality. The result is a mix of historic, traditional, and contemporary elements; a piece of the past brought back to life.
The Hotel Hacienda Xcanatún opened in 2000 as an exclusive small luxury hotel with 18 distinctive suites. Outdoor hydrotherapy tubs or hand-carved coral stone bathtubs, combined with soothing decor and outstanding attention to detail will make you want to stay longer.
There are two unique and refreshing swimming pools with bar service, and local and exotic tropical flora in three acres of gardens, pools, and fountains. The hotel has earned innumerable awards which celebrate and praise its excellence.
The Restaurant Casa de Piedra, in true hacienda tradition, where landlords feasted every day, offers an outstanding menu using Caribbean, Yucatecan, and international ingredients with French technique. This unique culinary fusion has established Casa de Piedra as a landmark for exquisite dining, and has earned it the Star Diamond Award from the American Society of Hospitality Services for five years.
The Spa Here you can experience ancient Maya treatments with a magical, restorative spirit. The variety of local plants and flowers used in ancient Maya healing practices are combined with ingredients such as honey and chocolate to pamper you and reduce your stress from head to toe. In the Photo Gallery, look for the photo of the Spa "muse"... she sits on a special pedestal at the end of hall where the treatment rooms are...pure tranquility!
For information:
Tel. (999) 930 2140 Within Mexico call toll free 01-800-202-2566 From the USA 1-888-883-3633
Email: hacienda@xcanatun.com
Website: www.xcanatun.com
