This hacienda is perfection. The website or photos do not do this place justice. It is simply magical. One of the best places we've ever stayed.
I spent months researching hotels in the Yucatan before I left.Often when I travel, I check out other hotels I was interested in for future visits. I found that many luxury/ high end hotels in the yucatan were not nearly as nice as they were on the website--many had few or no windows or were in isolated locations with no guests (and some of these were $400+/night)
Hacienda Xcanatun was decorated beautifully, recreating the feeling of the hacienda's hayday yet feeling ultra-modern.
It's about 15 minutes from the center of Merida but you really don't want to leave the premises.
One evening we walked around the grounds quite late and were surprised that they were so well lit and that the waterfall was still runnning even though no one was around. The flowers and landscaping were beautiful. You could hear piano music from the room in the evenings which we loved.
We ate at the restaurant for breakfast and dinner and ordered room service regularly. The service was attentive, friendly and very professional. The food was delicious. You must try the poblano pepper /blue cheese soup. It was also nice that people from the town dine here which made it feel more fun.

I wish there were direct flights from San Francisco to Merida. I'd be back more frequently.

The only suggestions I would make are: 1) they should have a computer/ business room (my laptop broke) 2) they should light the patio on the restaurant better. The food was so fabulous but we had a hard time seeing it. 3) Perhaps convert the TV room into a yoga room and have yoga retreats there. It's a very special room that was a chapel once and a very sweet space. It seems wasted on a TV.

From the moment of our arrival to our departure 9 days later the staff showed us warmth, dignity and respect.

We felt completely at home and comfortable as the hacienda mirrored the sense of security of the town of Merida and the Yucatan. The complete thoroughness to every detail showed in the beautiful restoration of the hacienda as well as the gourmet cuisine which we enjoyed meal after meal.

This trip changed our whole concept of travel. It was a vacation that was filled with peace, calmness and complete relaxation. Having spa services on site made the experience complete; it truly was magical.

I stayed at this hotel the last day of my vacation in the area. I was looking for a nice place to rest and relax after several days of adventure activities. The place was very quiet and even there were other guests it felt like there was nobody else. I stayed in a two level room, very spacious. The food at the restaurant was very good.

My wife and I decided to have a destination wedding in the Yucatan Peninsula area in late 2009. After searching the internet for location ideas, preferably at a local Hacienda, we found the Hacienda Xcanatun website. The pictures of the facility, along with the wedding package price, caught our attention and we contacted the Hacienda to see if the dates we wanted in 2011 were available. We recieved a quick response and contracted for the Hacienda for our wedding in January of 2011. Upon arrival we found the pictures of the site did not truly do it justice. The staff and Miss Baker were a pleasure to deal with and made the days up to the wedding date easy and non-stressful. We stayed at the Hacienda for four days and three nights and the expected stress of an impending wedding never appeared. The suites for our guests, as part of the package for our wedding, and our Honeymoon Suite, were beyond comfort and luxury. (I have stayed at The Venetian in Las Vegas and the suites at the Hacienda are by far surperior) The environment of the Hacienda allowed my family and guests to truly unwind and be in a relaxed and peacefule state. The grounds are beautiful and are a joy to walk around and absorb natures pace and peace. There are no televisions in the rooms, but we did not miss them. The feel of dis-connecting from the rest of the world and its rushing pace was a welcomed relief. A couple of our guests took advantage of the spa and enjoyed it. A Mayan Wedding ceremony was arranged with the Hacienda's assistance, and a Shaman priest performed our union. The Hacienda staff and facility saw that everything went beautifully. Our guest list was small but inclusive, and the dinning feast on the outside patio, with music, was a nice topping to the evenings events. The dinner and meals eaten at the Hacienda were a delight and the Wedding Feast was perfect for the event. Staff at all times during our stay and special evening were attentive, respectful and helpful at all times. ( We watched a large frond from a tall coconut tree fall from the wind one morning, and within a few minutes it was cleared from the grounds) What we liked about the Hacienda best was just about everything on the grounds and the location.