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Hacienda Route
To spend a day exploring haciendas,
start out early by driving south from Merida towards Uman. Follow the signs to Muna on Highway 261. After 35
minutes, at the 187 Kilometer marker, you'll come to a little town
near Hacienda Yaxcopoil (YASH-coh-poh-EEL), which is Mayan for "the
place of the green Alamo trees." You can recognize the hacienda
by its beautiful arch, painted in a deep mostarza color.
Park outside and walk through the arch, allowing your imagination
to take you back hundreds of years.
Hacienda Yaxcopoil
Is a hacienda where time stands still. Rather than renovating
the buildings, the owner has simply arrested the decay. You'll pay
a small entrance fee of 40 pesos per person to roam freely through
the rooms in the casa principal. There you will see the large
lounges and drawing rooms with high ceilings, walls with painted
stencils, original mosaico floor tiles, and European furniture
in every room.
Don't miss the Mayan museum, with its display of ancient pottery
and archeological relics found on the grounds. There is an impressive casa de maquinas here also, with examples of the machinery
used to process henequen. Hacienda Yaxcopoil is open from 8:00 AM
to 6:00 PM daily, or from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Sundays. You can
learn more by visiting their website at www.yaxcopoil.com
 The luxurious pool at Hacienda Temozon
and distant casa principal.
Hacienda Temozon Sur
By now you might be getting hungry, so continue south on Highway
261. At the 182 Kilometer marker, you'll see the left turn signs
towards Hacienda Temozon Sur. Follow the signs to the parking lot.
Leaving your car, you'll smell the sweet air and hear the birds
of Temozon, the most palatial of the restored haciendas. The entrance
leads up stairways, past the unique dolphin-head waterspouts, to
the grand terrace.
Below: the henequen fields at Hacienda Ochil,
complete with working rail car.
This hacienda, renovated by Merida resident architect Salvador Reyes-Rios
for Roberto Hernandez of Banamex, was chosen for a summit meeting
between President Bill Clinton and Presidente Dr. Ernesto Zedillo
of Mexico in 1999. If you're hungry, you can enjoy a delicious gourmet
meal for a reasonable price. The service is impeccable, the food
outstanding and the occasional peacock adds to the peaceful and
exotic setting. If you plan to spend the night here, be prepared
for a luxurious experience at a luxurious price. But you don't have
to spend the night to enjoy Temozon. (Note: Some visitors have been
turned away in the past with no logical explanation. This hacienda
is an exclusive hotel and is occasionally rented to guests who want
total privacy. If you can't eat here, enjoy the view and proceed
on to Hacienda Ochil).
Hacienda Ochil
Return to Highway 261 and continue south. After Kilometer 176, look
for the signs to Hacienda Ochil (oh-CHEEL) on your right. Hacienda
Ochil is every bit as historically interesting as Yaxcopoil, but
with the added pleasure of several artisan workshops, a giftshop
and a small hacienda museum.
Here you can watch master craftsmen teach younger artisans to work
in leather, stone, metal, wood and henequen. Although most of the
products are commissioned, you can purchase some of their work in
the gift shop. If you're looking for a genuine henequen or a nice
cotton hammaca, you can
find them here at a reasonable price.
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 The distinctive Moorish archway of
Hacienda Yaxcopoil.
Ochil is a charming and intimate hacienda that houses an informal
restaurant, a gift shop, the artisan workshops and a museum. The
museum has many interesting photographs that trace the history and
restoration of Ochil, as well as examples of products and artifacts
from when the haciendas were in full operation.
One of the pleasures of Ochil is simply strolling around the grounds,
enjoying the lush gardens. If you walk behind the restaurant and
down the path, you will be pleasantly surprised by a half-hidden
cenote. Depending on the water level, you may be able to walk inside
under a ledge and see ancient Mayan handprints painted on the cave
walls.
If you don't have time to spend a whole day exploring the haciendas,
there are haciendas closer to town.
Hacienda Teya
You can take a quick drive on Highway 180 out of Merida toward Cancun.
Take the left turn towards Hacienda Teya (tay-yah). Teya has been
renovated with a modern restaurant, large enough to accommodate
tour buses and events such as weddings. They have conference rooms,
a gift shop, a chapel, and many beautiful suites, but the mirrored
ballroom with reflecting pool will really impress.
The chapel at Hacienda Santa Cruz Palomeque
In the other direction and for a completely different experience,
you can go south on Calle Itzaes past the airport. Get on the Periferico
going toward Uxmal. Go past the Uxmal turn off until you see the
sign for the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve on your right. Turn right
at the second opportunity after that sign. If you have made the
correct turn, you will immediately see a small sign for Santa Cruz
Palomeque. Continue straight until you reach the town. The hacienda
is on the left and is available for strolling around. The beautifully
restored chapel is also open to visitors.
Recommended reading
 Hacienda Temozon restaurant & spa
Hacienda Temozon restaurant review
Hacienda Ochil restaurant review
Haciendas
Hacienda Hotels
Hacienda Tours
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