Elite Traveler January-February 2016

EXPLORE MEXICO

Mérida: Relax in the stylish lounge of boutique hotel Casa Lecanda, rich with colonial furniture, antique French tiles and elegant stone archways

Uxmal: Explore this ancient Mayan city in Yucatán, which is considered one of the most important archeological sites of Mayan culture

A weekend in… Yucatán For a short and sweet stay you can’t beat the Yucatán peninsula. The crowds congregate on the Caribbean coast but if you need a break it’s far wiser to head inland. Mérida Airport – the region’s main airport until Cancún boomed in the 1980s – has an excellent runway with plenty of parking space for private jets. Better yet, it’s near its namesake city, a once-important and still-grand old place full of French and Italian style from which the so-called casta divina used to run their vast henequén (sisal) estates. Spend a day in the city to see the convivial plaza, the immense cathedral and the museums. The Italian-owned Casa Lecanda is a beautiful hotel in a

Mérida Airport has plenty of parking space for private jets, plus it’s near the city, a once-important and still-grand old place

is a top-end option for those who want unadulterated luxury. Stay in the King Palapa suite, which has a stunning deep cement-cast bathtub. Your final day is best spent exploring the three awe-inspiring Mayan sites nearby – Dzibilchaltún, Edzná and Uxmal. Though arguably more interesting is Izamal, a perfect illustration of how Mayan buildings were incorporated into Hispanic towns. If you’d like a structured visit, book a private day tour with Journey Mexico, which has a fleet of vehicles at its disposal, including yachts and jets. Though you may prefer exploring (and getting lost) on foot – all part of the beauty of adventuring.

colonial-style edifice and, at only seven rooms, is ideal for booking out for exclusive use for you and your party. Be sure to take one of the garden suites for yourself – they have romantic four-poster beds and oil paintings by renowned local artist Malena Peón. While you’re there arrange a cooking class with chef Christian Bravo. Spend your second night in the Starwood-run Hacienda San José Cholul, located a little further out in Tixkobob. This luxury estate – a former sisal ranch – has huge guestrooms, an extraordinary restaurant, plus a beautiful pool, chapel and glorious subtropical gardens. Alternatively, the Coqui Coqui Coba Residence and Spa