Chichen Itza Hotels - Spa Resorts - Chichen Itza Hotels Reviews

Best Chichen Itza Hotels' Guest Reviews: Hacienda Chichen Resort
Hacienda Chichen Resort 120 guests reviews out of 160 find Hacienda Chichen Resort to be an excellent and very good hotel," This Green Spa Resort has the best Chichen Itza hotels' reviews in both TripAdvisory and Trivago and it has been since 2009 for three consecutive years in Nat. Geo. Travel's "Favorite Stay List for the Best Sustainable Hotels in the World." Also Hacienda Chichen has won many International awards for its commitment to Sustainable Tourism. "Hacienda Chichen does not just reflect its surroundings - it helps define them. Its transcendent innovating Eco-Cultural vision goes beyond traditional hotel keeping," she adds: "you leave with the kind of insight only soulful places can provide."-- National Geographic Travel, Senior Editor, Sheila Feldman

"Entering the grounds of the 16^th Century Hacienda Chichen at the ancient Mayan site of Chichen Itza is to enter a magical world. The gardens, the service, ah! the organic food...everything is sparkling and perfect. I must say your chef is outdoing himself. Every dish we ordered was a work of art and tasty beyond compare. We felt like the guests wishes are satisfied all the time. And how attractive our room was! -- Dr. M. Burling, CA

Hacienda Chichen guests' opinions and reviews are over : "We stayed at Hacienda Chichen 7 nights during August 2009. We wanted something that was far away from the heavily-touristic eastern coast of the peninsula, was near some of the best Mayan ruins, and would give us something approaching an authentic look at the Yucatan. Hacienda Chichen managed all of that and more." --- M. Gator from London, UK.

We will not book your visit to Chichen Itza in these hotels: Piramide Inn and Mayaland Resorts, they have the worst overall hotel experience reviews by former guests and visitors to the area:

Piramide Inn: 9 out of 18 guests give Piramide Inn the "worst Chichen Itza hotel" reviews. These are a few of Piramid Inn guests' reviews: " This place is so run down that mold grows in the shower, algae grows around the rusty faucet, and plaster was falling from the ceiling. The room reeked of mildew, and the hotel staff had a major attitude." Another guest notes: "Rooms are facing road and truck traffic was disturbing all day, worst when going to sleep." --- Other guests reviews can be read at TripAdvisor. Ask to view their rooms before checking in this hotel.

Mayaland Hotel and Bungalows: 3 out of the last 5 guests reviews give Mayaland Hotel and Bungalows the second "worst" Chichen Itza hotel experience. These are a few of the guests' comments: "Restaurant is BAD (we had to leave hotel for getting food). Service is the worst you can find in entire Mexico !! It is a shame because the place is very nice (but not clean)," a Swiss couple wrote. "The food at the lunch buffet was bland and in many cases over cooked. The BBQ meat was decent but often empty as the cook at that station kept disappearing; overall service was lacking," Other guests note: "Very noisy place, poor food quality."

Yaxkin Spa located in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, is among the Ten Best Eco-Spas of the World

Yaxkin Spa - a Mayan Holistic Eco-Spa Wellness Center in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
Chichen Itza's Best Spa: Holistic Yaxkin Spa offers traditional Mayan treatments inspired by its Yucatán jungle surroundings. Treatments: Try sasil-tun, hot-stone therapy; kakaw, cacao-coconut massage; or zumpul-che, a holistic purifying sweat bath within a Mayan Cave. Treatments utilize local herbs, organic honey cacao. Local Sights: Explore the Maya temples of Chichen Itza and Yaxkin Spa' lush tropical gardens and forest, home to over 150 bird species. --- 50 Top Wellness Destinations - National Geographic Traveler

Eight Escapes to Heal Your Body from Condé Nast Traveler
Chosen as one of the World's Ten Best Eco-Spas, Yaxkin Spa is included among the World's Eight Spas to offer genuine Ancient Healing Traditions that soothe the body, ease the mind, and feed the senses. A Green Innovative Spa-Wellness Center that preserves ancient Mayan healing therapies --- Condé Nast Traveler

Yaxkin Spa Location, Hotel Exclusive Zone of Chichen Itza, Yucatan Mexico
US and International Reservations: 877 631 4005; Mexico Reservations: +52 999 920 8407

Yaxkin Spa offers many Eco-Spa holistic Mayan healing services.

"While my friends went to Chichen Itza's Light and Sound Show at dusk, I treated myself to a Mayan Holistic experience at Yaxkin Spa. I chose the Mayan Saka full body treatment. What a wonderful healing experience this was for me; first the Mayan Healers did a holistic cleansing ceremony with prayers and chanting as they blessed the fresh cenote mineral water and healing gemstones that soon were to help my body, mind, and spirit enter into a genuine ancient Mayan healing therapy. The Mayan Healers worked on me gently, it was painful behind my knees and upper arms....knots. As they worked the knots and stress out of my tired body and put hot stones on the knees and upper arms knot areas, I felt the release flow through my muscles and a few minutes later my body felt light and serene. I truly felt these Mayan Healers were healing me, not just giving me a mechanical massage." J. Abbott - YucatanToday Chief Editor

"My first massage at Yaxkin Spa began with a Mayan prayer, led by Maya Healer Beatriz Correa. Blessing the cenote water held in an earthen bowl, lighting the “new fire” of copal incense, and encouraging me to breathe slowly and deeply, she expressed gratitude to the four elements, before inviting me to lie down and let the treatment begin. An hour and a half later I emerged - energized, light, and with a feeling of deep calm. Weeks later, back in New York, I still felt the energy of the treatment. I have returned many times again and continue to find Yaxkin Spa's healing therapies Magical." --- S. Davis - New York Free-Lance Writer

Yaxkin Spa is not only among the top best Eco-Spas of the World, it also is a magical wellness center filled with genuine care and healing for the body, mind, emotions, and soul. I requested a Kukulkan Spa Therapy that can be said to be a "soulful healing" experience for anyone. By the time the Mayan Healer finished, I was in a deep calm sleep; once I woke up, a lovely organic Mayan herbal tea refreshed and revitalized my body and mental energy. Never have I experience such healing peaceful energy at a Spa treatment, so I asked the Maya Healers if I could come back next day for another full body therapy, they recommended a Yax-Tun Mayan Jade treatment and I must say I did not want it to end! --- Lee Thomas - Green Spas Travel Operator

Best Chichen Itza Restaurants' Reviews:

Hacienda Chichen Resort: Chilam Balam Restaurant - Finest Restaurant in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

View Chef Josue Cime's free online organic recipes and Mayan Fusion Cuisine delights

Chilam Balam Restaurant is the Hacienda Chichen's formal air-conditioned, non-smoking, interior dining salon. Decorated with exquisite antique furniture and large carved-stoned arches, Chilam Balam Restaurant offers reservations for solo, couples, and small group dinning. Chilam Balam Restaurant is the best rated among Chichen Itza restaurants due to its excellent food produce quality, organic fresh produces, and gourmet Mayan Fusion Cuisine. Menu a la Carte with Chef Cime's Nightly Gourmet Specials. Restaurant Chilam Balam offers guests a lovely open-dinning-terrace area overlooking at the Hacienda Chichen's main Colonial fountain and gardens; at night this beautiful Colonial restaurant offers guests live guitar music ambiance and refreshingly informal candle light dining. This Colonial open terrace restaurant is the most romantic star-gazing dinning experience offered among Chichen Itza restaurants and hotels. Menu selection is easy with our vast range of culinary artistic meals: from 100% Organic grown produces, gourmet fusion cuisine, to rich ancient Maya recipes. Dinning: Reserve a romantic dinning experience under the stars serenade by a Guitar Trio singing classic soft songs. So Magical !

If you want excellent quality cuisine created with top quality meat products, organic hand-picked ripe vegetable and fruit produces, gourmet menu selections, and excellent ecological food purchasing practices, be sure to eat at Hacienda Chichen's main restaurant "Chilam Balam", a fine culinary destination.

Price: $$$ Food Quality Premium Service: A la Carte - Fine Cooking Lovers must stay and eat here! Chef Josue Cime served top organic produces and this restaurant purchases only vacuum sealed top quality produces including the finest aged meat cuts imported to Mexico. Chef Josue Cime menu choices will satisfied gourmet food lovers and travelers that appreciate top quality organic healthy meal choices grown in-house by the hotel's own farmers' crew. Prices are reasonable for the exquisite top quality of food served. Restaurant offers three different a la carte menus: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Hacienda Chichen caters to the most exclusive gala parties and incentive groups as well as private elegant wedding dinner galas; Chef Cime creates special menu recipes for such events and also caters to vegetarian, diabetic, and low carbohydrate diet needs of guests.

This is a fine gourmet restaurant. It is not for travelers that are looking for cheap meals and low budget choices, menu prices are similar to a fine restaurant in USA and less expensive than an equal quality restaurant in Cancun.
Location: At Hacienda Chichen Itza Hotel near the south entrance to the archaeological zone of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. Served: A la Carte Menu Selections. Organic and Gourmet Cuisine: Premium

As a chef, I am very critical of what I eat and seldom I feel fortunate to meet the quality and exquisite taste found at the Hacienda Chichen; my respects to Chef Cime, he does serve elegantly his delicious recipes. No wonder he is one of the best Chef's in Mexico." Chef G. Stein, UK

"Fine food at its best, we had three divine dinners that we will be remember as the best gourmet organic food we have had in Mexico." Congratulations to the chef at Hacienda Chichen! C. Peterson, LA, USA

Worst Chichen Itza Restaurants' Reviews:
The following Chichen Itza hotels and Restaurants were found to offer the worst food choices and overall vacation experiences by our free lance travel advisors and former guests interviewed for this article. Be careful during summer months when choosing where to eat as you visit the Maya Riviera and the Yucatan; avoid open-air buffet style lunch meals as the heat of the day will spoil or ferment food rapid increasing potential food poisoning sagas specially in restaurants and hotels where food is set for Day Trip Tour Groups by the hundreds.

Mayaland Hotel: Low budget travelers will find this hotel offers plenty of food buffet style but you will get what you pay for. When looking for gourmet fine restaurant experience this is not the hotel to go eat. Food price matches quality.
Price: $$ and $$$ Quality: Low to average quality Service: Buffet / A la Carte

Be careful when you choose to eat at low budget hotel buffets and local Mexican rural restaurants.

The Mayaland main restaurant is located in the central building; it has an old charm, light airy ambiance overlooking the gardens and swimming pool. several palapa restaurants which open for lunch. A nice touch is to see Mayan local children perform regional dances at lunch time. The Mayaland hotels compound offer several large "palapa" eating areas, mainly used by dozen of Chichen Itza Day-Tour Groups driving by bus and going to the Mayaland property to eat a buffet lunch meal, included in their day tour deal. Remember, Mayaland kitchen focus its attention more in serving bulk quantity rather than top quality food, so be careful choosing your meal. Mayaland Resorts offer International and Regional cuisine in most of their "A la Carte" menu selections, but our free lance travel advisors did not find such food to be of better quality than the one served in their many 'buffet style meals" set for day-tour bus groups.

The hotel is nice, beautiful gardens next to Chichen Itza. Beware of the food served here... "We" will remember it for the next 5 days...!! Reaction from the management: your poor European systems are not used to Mexican cuisine." Swiss Couple

"We just spent the night on Oct. 28th, 2009 at the Mayaland. We ate at the restaurant and got severely ill from food poisoning. I think it was the salad; for sure I was up all night-in the bathroom." Jill from CA

Itzaes Restaurant at Villas Arqueologicas: "Prepaid Meal Plans Offered"
Price: $$ Food Quality: Budget Average Service: Meal Plans / A la Carte

Itzaes Restaurant offers prepaid "Meal Plans" and "A la Carte" service to guests with a fair variety of Regional, Mexican, and International cuisine. Quality of food produces and meals served has gone down a bit since the hotel no longer belongs to the Club Med hotel chain. Service can be slow but friendly so be patience if you need to wait. If you prefer budget meals, this is a good restaurant to eat, less crowded than "Day Tour Group Eating Spots such as Mayaland hotels." Indoor restaurant ambiance is cozy; their pool terrace area is a nicer dinning area.

"Great location, comfortable affordable hotel rooms, but skip their restaurant. We opted for a leisurely dinner by the pool after the evening show. Service was indifferent; some tables got served quickly and efficiently while others (ours included) waited almost forever... the beef eventually arrived overcooked and tough. Not especially recommended." Boris Gooden MI

Also, beware of prepaying your meals as there is a different menu for people on the meal plan -- much of the same fare, but not as many options. So...buyer beware. You might want to look at the regular menu before opting for the meal plan. This is not the place for food lovers looking for fine meal service. US Couple

Coming Soon: More reviews about other places to eat in the nearby towns of Piste, Xcalacoop, Kahua.