Xcanatún: Hacienda History, Cuisine and Nature

At Hacienda Xcanatun, culinary experiences come together with gardens, spa offerings and seasonal chamber music. First consider whether cuisine and regional history, nature or a spa treatment are especially important for your trip. This will help you tailor your search for hotels in Xcanatún to your own travel priorities.

Henequen History and Mérida

Hacienda Xcanatún was one of the region’s most important henequen haciendas in the 18th century. Henequen is also part of Mérida’s historical landscape: Paseo de Montejo was inaugurated in 1888 and illustrates the heyday of the henequen industry in Yucatán. Mérida offers its own points of reference for an urban perspective on history and gastronomy. The city’s historic zone was declared a Zona de Monumentos Históricos in 1982. It covers 8,795 km² and 659 city blocks; it contains 3,906 historically valuable buildings constructed between the 16th and 19th centuries. Mérida is also a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. This urban perspective complements the history of the henequen hacienda without conflating the two places.

Cooking Classes, Dishes and Tastings

Hacienda Xcanatun’s cooking classes include preparing Sikil P'aak. The sauce is made with cooked tomatoes, roasted and ground pumpkin seeds, and chives; it is served with freshly toasted totopos or tlayudas from Oaxaca. Another experience focuses on Mexican salsa made with native chili peppers from the property’s own garden.

Visitors can watch cochinita pibil being prepared in a rustic pib oven. The dish comes from the pre-Hispanic culinary tradition and is typical of the Yucatán Peninsula. Tequila and mezcal tastings are also available. The activity program also gives visitors the chance to discover a local craft beer brewed in the community of Xcanatún. The hacienda’s restaurant combines local ingredients with French techniques; restaurant details may change. If cuisine is important to your travel decision, check the latest information before your trip.

Gardens, Eco-Tour and Spa

Hacienda Xcanatun is surrounded by private gardens and lush vegetation. The grounds cover 2.5 acres; on a guided eco-tour, visitors can discover the local flora and fauna. The natural landscape and ecological balance around the hacienda also include a wild family of coatis. Their presence may vary over time, so sightings are not guaranteed.

Angsana Spa offers an exclusive range of Asian therapies. All treatments require a reservation and incur an additional fee. Another option is the publicly accessible Lol-Ha Pool Club, which offers a special Xcanatun day package. Visitors can use the pools and facilities for a consumption fee in the restaurant-bar area. Spa treatments, the eco-tour and the pool offer are quite different: if you plan to focus on one of them, take the respective conditions into account when planning.

Chamber Music and Getting There

Hacienda Xcanatun hosts seasonal chamber music concerts in its intimate chapel. Since they take place seasonally, check the concert dates before planning your trip around them. Xcanatún is accessible via the Mérida–Progreso highway. At Parque de Industrias No Contaminantes, a turnoff to the northeast leads to the town. Use the highway and turnoff as landmarks for your journey to Xcanatún.

Discover more destinations: Kaua, Hoctun, Xoy, Opichen, Río Lagartos, Uayma, Chicxulub, Progreso

For the main travel overview: Yucatán.