Best Hacienda Hotels Near Merida (Even on a Budget!)
- Maria DiCicco
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
If the romance of a centuries old plantation home sounds intriguing for an overnight stay in Merida, then I've rounded up exactly what you are looking for.
These often luxurious and absolutely gorgeous properties range from super luxe to totally affordable, and provide unique lodging to couples and families with children.
Below find a few I have stayed at myself, as well as others to fill in the gaps for your research on the best Hacienda hotels near Merida (even on a budget).
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What is a Hacienda, Anyway?
Haciendas typically were large estates for a community of farmers, ranchers, miners and manufacturers. A Hacienda would consist of the main house, workshops, stables for animals, and homes for the workers.
It was a common meeting place for communities and typically included a school and a church onsite.
Most of these hotels are built out from the elegant main houses that existed in operation around the 18th century. By the early 1900s the wealthy estate owners had to break up the properties for redistribution to the poorer community members, a result of the Mexican Revolution.
All in all, these gorgeous estates served as emblems of royalty, wealth and prosperity, even gifted from the Spanish crown, believe it or not!
That said, many went to ruins and others have been converted to hotels and even restaurants.
Below, let's get into a few of the Merida area haciendas that I think are worth staying at.
Best Luxury Haciendas in Merida Area
Stunning in every way, this hotel helps you compile (or spend) coveted IHG points while literally sitting in the lap of luxury, only an hour from Merida. This property boasts a private cenote, spa treatments and colorful meals at their restaurant.
Hot Tip: For other superb IHG options near Merida, check out Hacienda Santa Rosa de Lima or Hacienda San Jose Cholul.
Known for its luxurious surrounds, visitors can enjoy tranquility in the spa and a garden oasis in the city of Merida. Visit this beautifully restored 17th century hacienda and experience the luxury for yourself.
Photos do more than words, so check rates here, which start around $250.
This place is pure elegance. I had the pleasure of staying in this beautiful location about 45 minutes east of Merida's city center and we literally had the entire estate to ourselves. A former cattle ranching site, the hacienda and grounds were founded in the 16th century!
We stayed in the castle cupola, which housed our two-story bathroom and opened up to one of the sites' pools for swimming.
Every inch of the hotel was magical, from the horse carriage and meeting spaces to the landscaping and decor.
Arrange for an opulent al fresco dinner in advance of your stay and enjoy traditional Huevos motulenos for breakfast in the main house.
Families are welcome, and the pool is a lovely refresher after a hot day in town.
Rates start around $189 per night. Choose your room and book here.
This 18th century hacienda is located 25 minutes from Merida. With a spa featuring Mayan wellness techniques, the days can be spent getting relaxing treatments and the evening can be enjoyed at their restaurant serving up French-inspired cuisine.
The grounds are impeccably clean and inviting, and the pool area is perfect for terrace evening drinks.
Best Mid-Range Haciendas Near Merida to Rest Your Head
You may have already planned to visit the "Yellow City" of Izamal, one hour from Merida, but I really encourage you to spend the night there to enhance the experience.
My family stayed on our previous visit to Merida (part of a Cancun to Merida road trip) and it was our first real hacienda stay.
Dripping in charm and beautiful rooms, this affordable hotel clocks in around $108 per night - absolutely worth every penny.
Enjoy a dip in the pool before an exceptionally delicious meal al fresco.
This unassuming hotel looks small from the curb but inside, be greeted by enormously charming and very traditional wood-beamed ceilings and walkways with arches surrounding their pool. Built in 1820, it is a newly renovated historical home.
Modern rooms feel luxurious and the bar is quite inviting!
Compare rates here, which hover around $94 a night.
If you are venturing south of Merida to visit Uxmal and the Puuc route, or visiting Hacienda Mucuyche (more below) and its cenotes just six minutes drive away, then this is 500 year old hacienda is a great option in the area.
Simple and charmingly rustic, you'll feel you are in someone's home, carefully adorned just for you (versus over the top luxury).
The best part? They have their own cenote to swim in!
Check rates here, which average around $98 a night. You may also find this hotel under the name "Hacienda Santo Domingo de Yunku".
Best Budget-Friendly Haciendas Near Merida
Close to the airport, this "hacienda-inspired" hotel has a swim-up bar, hammocks for lounging, a restaurant and clean, colorful rooms. It may not be a real hacienda, but it stacks up pretty close for the price.
This hotel is especially great for late arrivals (or early departures) to/from Merida's airport, which is technically walkable (but I wouldn't recommend it).
Find prices as low as $49! Compare rates here.
Have Lunch in a Hacienda (Without an Overnight Stay)
Have lunch at Hacienda Teya outside Merida. Part of a chain of restaurants, Teya is a gastronomic gem situated in an old Hacienda dating back to 1683!
Experience ice cold AC interiors with charming Spanish decor, while looking out from your table to the fun little zoo park full of deer and peacocks in the yard.
Food is delicious, as are the cocktails. Don't miss the flan de la casa for dessert!
Before leaving, be sure to explore the grounds and take lots of photos.
Take a Tour of a 17th Century Hacienda
Complete with Lunch, a grounds tour and two absolutely stunning cenotes, the tours at Hacienda Mucuyche cannot be missed.
Explore the 17th century hacienda, see the machinery used at the ranch, ride on a hand cranked rail car, swim through canals and blue grottos and have an authentic regional lunch in the restaurant. Yea, it's pretty spectacular.
Go on your own by contacting them directly at https://www.cenoteshaciendamucuyche.com/es/contacto or several pre-arranged tours also take you there, including:
Tours to Hacienda Mucuyche
Hacienda Style
Whether you are spending the night, dining at a centuries old hacienda, or swimming in the crystal clear waters of a property that offers it all, hacienda style is classic.
Expect antique interiors, colonial style furniture, and a lot of marbled floors.
High ceilings and wooden beamed breezeways are typical and quite charming.
Be sure to bring your influencer vibes, your flowy dresses and your camera doting husbands because you will want to snap photos of every corner of these gorgeous and elegant properties.
Beyond the fashion of Hacienda evenings, you'll also run into a lot of Hacienda-inspired buildings throughout your Merida visit, like this facade from the Chocostory Ecoparque museum near Uxmal.
The classic Hacienda archways are a dead giveaway.
Lastly, if you enjoy the Hacienda style, be sure to walk along the Centro's Paseo Montejo to see the old mansions and palaces of the rich and famous, along with a horse and carriage ride, which averages $500-800 MXN depending on length of the trip ($25 for 30 minutes and $40 for close to an an hour).
Enjoy your trip!
