This hotel will be etched in my memory until the day I die. It is a place I speak about on an almost daily basis to any and all who will listen.

As a travel magazine editor I have had more thAn my fair share of exceptional experiences and stayed in some of the most glamorous places, but Uayamon stands in a class of its own.

I visited the hotel to film it as part of a travel documentary for the the Discovery Network. The series featured destinations and operators who were going well beyond what's expected in the field of sustainable tourism.

Now, you wouldn't normally think of of talking about a luxury hotel and sustainability in the same sentence, but Uayamon....as with everything else about this place... is an exception to the rule.

A few little secrets you may not know: a husband and wife with a fascination for ruins literally romanced the stone to rescue Hacienda Uayamon and restore it it's former magnificence. The husband is one of Mexico's most renowned architects and he cleverly left some sections of the structure and decor in its pre-restoration state, so guests can appreciate the "before and after".

The wife is one of the country's most humble and talented philanthropists. She focussed on a wholly different kind of restoration...the social kind. From fund raising to help rebuilding hundreds of homes ruined during a hurricane, to developing village-owned cottage industry workshops where locals could practice traditional handicrafts to offer them for sale, to rescuing traditional Mayan healing techniques and medicines to improve health, and even initiating community garden projects...

Their efforts have resulted in massive Social and economic change for Uayamon and surrounding villages. Urban drift has all but reversed resulting in families now staying intact due to the availability of local jobs, childhood malnutrition has gone, community health has massively improved and the financially crippling reliance on western medicine been broken, culture and tradition have been restored in a genuine and useful...not staged for tourists...manner, and one of Mexico's most beautiful Haciendas has been preserved for future generations.

The deep reaching development strategy developed and implemented by these two people leaves the mind blogged. To have achieved so much in such a selfless manner is a lesson to us all.

To have preserved such beauty and done so in an holistic manner the enables people to thrive, nature to be preserved and heritage to be restored, is something more tourism operators and developers should strive for.

The result is nothing short of spectacular. Hacienda Uayamon is not simply a hotel; it is a multi-layered destination awaiting your discovery. Each building has its own story and each has been showcased in a way that presents itself as a photographers dream.

This is the place to laze in a hammock slung over one of the world's most beautiful pools as the moon glows in the sky above.

It's a place where the spirit of the Ceibre tree can be heard exhaling on a hot day.

A place colored by pirate sackings and sisal plantation wealth.

Does it deserve to be on your Bucket List?

In my opinion...AT THE VERY TOP!

Well done team Hacienda Uayamon and thank you for giving me such rich memories for life.

SPG Platimun member traveling with family. Upon check in we were told they only had a twin bed room and only for one night. (we reserved for three and a king). After an uncomfortable few minutes (not a lot of options for another hotel) we were taken to a very nice suite.

Food and service was outstanding, and Alberto made us feel like family and treated our daughter like a princess with gifts and treats.

The pool is cold but one acclimates quickly.

Family favorite was our room side dipping pool and bedded palapa with ceiling fan.

If you can get to the Hacienda Uayamon, please stay there. This is a magical place tucked into the the tropical forests of Campeche, Mexico on the western Yucatan peninsula. The Hacienda is close to several significant Mayan ruins and the bustling capital city of Campeche also named Campeche. There are almost no words to accurately describe the absolute beauty of this place or the impeccable service provided by the hotel staff and management. If you are looking for a truly memorable life experience, stay here.

Almost no place I have ever stayed matches the pictures you see on their web-site, Hacienda Uayamon (why-a-mon) is the exception. This place is a jewel in Starwood's crown. Both my wife and I agreed that this was the most fantastic property we have ever stayed. I love historical architecture, so it is possible that I am biased. We were the only couple there for our 3 day stay, as such we felt like we owned a 200 year old colonial plantation.

The staff was incredibly gracious. Most of them were locals. One of the missions of the Haciendas in the Yucatan is to provide quality jobs for the locals. We ate on site every day (breakfast and dinner), both meals were so large that lunch was not necessary. The quality of the food and service was well worth the money. We also had a couples "relaxing" massage, which was heavenly. I opted against the Mayan massage based on other reviews.

Some of the other reviews identified issues with mosquitos. I have been to a Costa Rican jungle resort that was pretty bad, so I was expecting to lather myself in bug spray. However in Uayamon I did not find them to be any worse than at home. During feeding hours (morning and afternoon) they were out in the wooded areas of the property, but that was it.

The restoration work they did was first class and very innovative, especially the pool area. We stayed in the Colonial Suite (upgraded), which was the former charity hospital, built in 1905. It had an outdoor tub and pergola with a day bed. Most of the other rooms appeared to have the pergola. All of the rooms were secluded and private, which allowed us to enjoy the outdoor living pace at all hours. The rooms were lavishly furnished.

We flew into Cancun because they have much cheaper flights from the US. We spent the first night in Cancun, then drove the 6 hours to Uayamon the next morning. The drive was not bad, there are ruins that can be seen enroute if you leave early enough and you can also stop in Merida for lunch. They have a nice historic center. I drove a rental car and had no issues driving. It is interstate or highway (180) most of the way from Cancun to Campeche. Every large town had police check points at the entrance roads. We never felt unsafe and traveled by ourselves. You MUST go see Edzna, which is only 30 minutes from the property. Uxmal is 3 hours away, we did this on the way back to Cancun. Campeche’s historic center is only a 30 minute drive. The resort offers guided tours through a company called Catherwood Travels. You should do some research on them before going at catherwoodtravels.com. The resort’s staff speaks English, but more complex conversations, such as understanding touring options and pricing can be difficult.
On-line directions to the resort are so-so, but we finally found it. You do not want to attempt this in the dark. My GPS took me into the town of China, which was out of route. There is a road right off 180 that leads to Uayamon, a few hundred feet north of the China exit. There is a small state sign, saying Hda. Uayamon and Edzna marking this road, but it is in overgrown weeds. Once you are on the road to Uayamon, the signage gets much better.

I can't say enough good thinks about Hacienda Uayamon. I just wish I