All about Hacienda Xcanatún in Mérida, Mexico (2025)

Hacienda Xcanatún, located on the northern outskirts of Mérida, was originally built in the 18th century for corn farming and raising carriage animals. In the mid-19th century, it was transformed into a sisal plantation as the industry boomed.

However, with the rise of synthetic fibers, the demand for sisal declined, and the hacienda was eventually used only as a summer retreat. In 1988, a hurricane caused severe damage, leaving the property in ruins.

The current owners purchased the hacienda in 1993 and spent six years restoring it into a hotel and spa. It finally reopened in 2000, preserving much of its original charm while adding modern luxury.

The hacienda is named after the nearby town of Xcanatún, located just north of Mérida along Highway 261. If you're heading to Progreso or the coast, stopping here makes for a great addition to your trip.

Day pass

A day pass costs 1,459 pesos (as of 2025) and includes breakfast at the on-site restaurant, Casa de Piedra, 600 pesos in credit for hotel services, and a 10% discount at the spa. Discounted rates are available for children.

Pool, Garden and Spa

The hacienda features two swimming pools surrounded by three hectares of lush gardens. The spa offers treatments inspired by ancient Mayan traditions, incorporating local ingredients like honey and chocolate.

Many of the plants and flowers used in these treatments have been part of Mayan healing practices for centuries.

Restaurant Casa de Piedra

Casa de Piedra combines Caribbean, Yucatecan, and international ingredients with French culinary techniques. The restaurant has received the Star Diamond Award from the American Society of Hospitality Services for five consecutive years.

For many Mérida residents, dining at Casa de Piedra is a must when showing visitors around. The restaurant is especially popular on weekends, so it’s best to make a reservation in advance if you plan to go.

Haciendas in Yucatán

Haciendas in Yucatán were once large estates primarily used for cattle ranching and agriculture. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the demand for sisal, also known as henequén, soared, turning Mérida into one of Mexico’s wealthiest cities.

Many cattle ranches were converted into sisal plantations as it became the region’s most profitable industry. However, with the rise of synthetic fibers, the demand for sisal plummeted, leading to the decline of the industry and the abandonment of many haciendas.

Another reason was that after the Mexican Revolution, many large estates were expropriated and broken up into smaller plots for small farmers. This made many large ranches unprofitable, and many disappeared altogether.

In the 19th century, there were about 1,170 haciendas on the Yucatán Peninsula, of which around 400 still exist today, although most are in ruins.

About 300 of these haciendas are located in the state of Yucatán. Some haciendas have been restored and turned into hotels, restaurants, or tourist attractions. Here are two recommended haciendas in Mérida I’ve written about:

• Hacienda Santa Cruz

  • Address: Calle 86 S/N, Santa Cruz Palomeque, Yucatán

  • A beautifully restored hacienda that now operates as a boutique hotel and spa with lush gardens. It is located right on the southern outskirts of Mérida.

    
    

• Hacienda San Ildefonso Teya

  • Address: Carretera Mérida - Cancún Km 12.5, Kanasín, Yucatán

  • A former sisal plantation, now a restaurant known for its traditional Yucatecan cuisine. It is located right on the eastern outskirts of Mérida.

And here are the top haciendas just outside Mérida:

• Hacienda Sotuta de Peón

  • Address: Km 45, Carretera Mérida - Campeche, Tecoh, Yucatán

  • This is the best hacienda in my opinion. It is the only working sisal hacienda, offering guided tours with demonstrations of traditional fiber processing, and a cenote for swimming.

    
    

• Hacienda Mucuyché

  • Address: Camino a Mucuyché de Peón, Abalá, Yucatán

  • If your focus is also especially on cenotes, Hacienda Mucuyché is the best recommendation. The hacienda is famous for its two stunning cenotes, set within the ruins of the historic hacienda.

    
    

• Hacienda Xcanatún

  • Address: Carretera Mérida-Progreso Km 12, Xcanatún, Yucatán

  • As described here. A restored 18th-century sisal hacienda, now a luxury hotel and spa with a fine dining restaurant.

    
    

• Hacienda Yaxcopoil

  • Address: Carretera Mérida - Uxmal Km 186, Yaxcopoil, Yucatán

  • A well-preserved 17th-century hacienda, now a museum showcasing the history of sisal production and hacienda life.