Hotel Esencia, Mexico
Another vacation destination that started with an infatuation on Instagram. With its bold, bright colors and beautiful white-sand beach, Hotel Esencia is a seemingly endless palette of stunning social media shots. Everything about the hotel appears expertly curated, from start to finish, from the elegantly graphical website to the very personal check-out process. We loved our time at the Hotel, and recent significant improvements to the facilities make us want to return even more!
Originally built as the private home of an Italian duchess, Hotel Esencia is located in Xpu-Ha, Mexico, at the mid-point between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It is approximately a one-hour drive south from Cancun International Airport. Since we planned to spend most of our time at the 50-acre estate, we decided a rental car wasn't needed, and the hotel arranged a luxury car service for the airport transfer for about $150 each way.
Dream
The estate sits on one of the only remaining undeveloped shores of the Mayan Riviera, by a pristine beach in the bay of Xpu-Ha, where every year sea turtles return to nest. Consisting of the main house and only 38 suites and three villas, this is the antithesis of the bustling Cancun resorts, providing privacy, seclusion and incredible service.
A series of footpaths radiate from the main house leading to the spacious, whitewashed, adobe-walled guest suites which nestle amongst the jungle palms. Each room has a private terrace with seating area where complimentary coffee, pastries & fruits will be waiting for you each morning in a small closet, protected from the prying beaks of exotic birds and other fauna. The rooms have an unfussy mid-century feel with colorful local accents including handwoven Mexican rugs.
We definitely plan to return to Hotel Esencia and would love to try one of their new Beach Suites, which feature a private beachfront terrace and unobstructed sea views. These were recently added following the acquisition of the small hotel next door.
Dine
There were two restaurants at the hotel at the time of our visit; the Pool Restaurant and the Garden Restaurant. Breakfast is taken each day at the Pool Restaurant. Only one of the two restaurants is open each evening for dinner. However, with large and varied menus offering great food with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, there is plenty to choose from, and dinners at the hotel are an event.
Pool Restaurant: This is situated between the hotel pools and the beach. Breakfast was a relaxing experience with incredible views of the pools and the ocean. We also had two of our dinners here. One evening we ordered from the regular menu offering dishes such as seared yellowfin tuna with Mexican Caponata and roasted cauliflower, or grilled angus beef tenderloin with rustic mashed potatoes. On the second occasion there was a special barbecue dinner event with various meats and vegetables expertly cooked on the open grills in view of the diners.
Garden Restaurant: Set in a palapa in the palm garden, between the main house and the guest suites, we ate one of our dinners here, accompanied by the music of a live Mariachi band. The restaurant offers a refined take on Mexican cuisine, with dishes such as catch of the day fish fillet Veracruz style, or grilled chicken breast with saffron-turmeric rice. Before we arrived, the garden had been magically transformed into a chic lounge under the stars with romantic lighting and comfy white cushion-seats dotted across the lawn. After dinner, we reclined on the cushions and enjoyed a nightcap.
Opened in November 2017, the hotel has a new beach restaurant called Mistura Xpu-Ha. Set in a towering palapa with spectacular views of Xpu-Ha bay, the restaurant offers a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavors using the best ingredients of the Yucatan peninsula.
Do
With the hotel’s proximity to both Tulum and Playa del Carmen, everything from Mayan Pyramids to nightclubs are only 20 minutes away. However, we chose to spend our time relaxing at the hotel, where there is more than enough to keep one occupied.
Beach Fun: The powdery white-sand beach is just a few steps away. There you can swim, snorkel, paddle board, sun bathe or simply lounge under your palapa, with service at the touch of a button. Perfect. The hotel also has two swimming pools.
Spa & Health Club: The Esencia Spa is set in a Mayan-style circular palapa-roofed hut. There you can find a vast range of restorative treatments, with signature items including the Lime Ritual Purifying Massage, and the Energetic Mayan Therapeutic Massage. Marvelous. Meanwhile, the fitness room contains just enough Technogym equipment for a good workout.
Explore: On our next visit we may decide to venture a little further afield. For the more adventurous, the hotel can arrange trips to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, the Rio Secreto underground river rich in stalactites and stalagmites, and other nearby points of interest.
After a fantastic stay in paradise, remember to take with you your complimentary beach bag and Havaiana sandals.