A boutique hotel and a beautiful 18th century heritage hacienda just off Campeche

The Hacienda Uayamon is an 18th century colonial house of the Mexican south-east region of Yucatan. It is conveniently located close to the walled city of Campeche - UNESCO world heritage site. In the 19th century, this hacienda and its plantation had become one of the pillars of the regional economy. Recently restored into a luxury heritage boutique hotel, it has successfully preserved the romance and cachet of the old stones but combined it with luxury, comfort, and personalised services and attentions.

Scenic gardens with lush vegetation, aired terraces, 10 large rooms and 2 suites with private terrace and private plunge pools ... this haven of peace is ideally suited to relax after a busy day of sightseeing in Campeche or the surrounding relics of the Mayan civilisation and colonial past.

An authentic colonial plantation reinvented into a beautiful heritage boutique hotel

The objective of the restoration was to preserve the spirit and leverage the architectural elements that made up the particular personality of this Yucatan hacienda into a modern, charming, luxury boutique hotel.

Some areas of the colonial plantation were re-imagined such as the main building's room that was redesigned into a nice swimming pool with crumbling, roofless stone walls and topless pillars. Two suites have been created in what was the hacienda's hospital. The other ten rooms, spread around the plantation, were former workers' quarters that have been restyled into luxurious and intimate places - ideal for couples.

Be they suites or rooms, all are styled with state of the art modern comfort and are adorned with flashbacks from the past: notice the large hooks, sticking out of the thick stone walls, used to span the cotton-woven hammocks? These hammocks allow guests to sink into a comfortable and relaxing Mayan sleep!

The colonial villa is spacious and has a large bedroom with oversized wrought iron bed, a bathroom with shower and bathtub, a superb "day bed", and an exquisite private terrace and private plunge pool.

The colonial suite, located in the old hacienda hospital, has a large bedroom, lounge area, and its own private terrace and plunge pool too!

Hacienda Uayamon preserves the environment and promotes the local community by using recycled water to irrigate its gardens or to grow its own fruit and vegetables. The owners also helped initiate the World Haciendas Foundation, which supports henequen rope-making communities in the Mexican southeast.

The Tempting Experience: a lesson of style signed by Jaya Ibrahim

The design of the hacienda's interior was imagined by the notorious Indonesian interior architect, Jaya Ibrahim, and this touch gives the Hacienda Uayamon its uniqueness.

We spoke to Jaya Ibrahim who told us that when he initiated the project, he carefully reviewed the styles of the period in order to make sure to reshape the hacienda whilst preserving its authentic Hispanic style. He has imagined a renovation that re-establishes the luxury of the colonial times when rich plantation owners and industrial barons lived and instituted their lifestyle. Thus leveraging the old elements and mixing them with modern contemporary touches. Jaya Ibrahim's preferred room is the library.

Services and activities

The Hacienda Uayamon is an ideal place for outdoor activities such as mountain biking or horse-riding.

The spa uses natural regional products such as honey, royal jelly, clay and aloe vera and the Maya massage techniques will relax your body and soul.

You can also spend time relaxing at the side of the inviting shimmering swimming pool or doze of in one of the hammocks to get away from the stress of daily life.

The state of Campeche

The Hacienda Uayamon is ideally suited for travellers looking for a luxury and heritage base as part of a cultural discovery of Mayan civilisation. It is surrounded by the major archaeological sites (Edzna, Santa Rosa Xtampac, Hochob, Calakmul, Balamakú) and by colonial villages (Champoton, Hopelchen, Dzibalchen ...).

Also discover the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (see the turtle camp at Lorenzo San à Champoton) and the caves of Xtacumbilxunaan ...

Press comments and awards

• "150 hotels you will love" (National Geographic Traveller) 2008
• TO DO award 2008
• Best Employers in Latin America 2005 and 2006
• "investor in people award" (Tourism for tomorrow) 2006
• Most romantic hotels (Conde Nast)
• Selected for the august 2006 issue of Architectural Digest
• Best 100 hotels in the World (Conde Nast)
• "Hot List" 2005 (Conde Nast)