58 Best Hotels in Yucatán and Campeche States, Mexico

Three miles north of town, this 1811 hacienda strikes a perfect balance between the old and the new in dramatic rooms and suites with contemporary paintings, antique mirrors, polished cement floors, handcrafted Mexican furnishings, and spacious bathrooms that feature vanity areas and walk-in showers built with local stones. Be sure to tour the sprawling grounds landscaped with bougainvillea, hibiscus, tamarind, and lime and orange trees. The patio hammocks are great for an afternoon nap after a dip in the pool. Meals are served on the veranda at a 14-person mahogany table, in a dining room with old murals, or in the original chapel.

The perfect base for exploring the Aké ruins and Izamal to the east, as well as Mérida, a short drive west, this restored cattle ranch transports you back in time with its hammock-adorned sitting areas, 18-foot ceilings, exposed beams, wooden double doors, canopy beds, and tile floors. For a truly unique stay, request Room 9, which has a massive ceiba tree growing through its ceiling, or one of the Maya-style palapa villas.

Just over 1½ km (1 mile) from Chichén Itzá in the town of Pisté, this two-story hotel surrounding a pool feels like a motel in a very unlikely setting—a large grassy area edged with banana plants and other tropical trees and flowers. The nicest rooms have contemporary rustic Mexican furnishings of iron and wood, larger bathrooms with tubs, and minibars; standard rooms have showers only. (Only $30 separates the best rooms from the basic rooms, so it's worth splurging here.) The restaurant is open from 7 am until 10 pm, but there's no room service. Request a courtyard-facing room away from the main road.

A dramatic pool—surrounded by pillared archways draped with white curtains—serves as a focal point at this urban oasis, where small but chic guest rooms have satellite TVs, air-conditioning, hardwood floors, and four-poster beds with silk pillows and 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. There are hints of royal red throughout the property, which matches the bright polished floors inlaid with river stones. Request Room 1 or 3 for a view of the pool. Next door, a sister property, Hacienda VIP, is very similar in style but slightly more expensive and worth upgrading to if you want larger rooms.

Attentive proprietors Daniel and Sofija Bosco have ensured that this lovely bed-and-breakfast, set on a quiet street seven blocks from the main plaza, has lots of thoughtful touches, from carefully chosen folk-art decor and fine cotton linens to remote-controlled air-conditioning and pressurized shower heads. The second-floor suite even has a well-stocked kitchen. You can pick up the Wi-Fi signal in some rooms but not others, so let the staff know if you're bringing a laptop or smartphone when you book.

Made up of brightly painted beachside bungalows, this small hotel has rooms that are cozy, simple, and tastefully decorated, featuring pops of color that contrast with the white linens and the exposed wooden beams of the palapa-style roofs. Each bed is draped with mosquito netting, so you'll be safe from nighttime critters. A few rooms have kitchens, and the most expensive ones have ocean-view balconies. A small beachside, thatched-roof restaurant serves food that couldn't be fresher. Breakfast is included—expect local fruit, homemade bread, and fresh jams. In summer, ask the owners about their whale shark tours.

While they get no points for creativity as far as their name is concerned, this hotel does have a convenient location about a block from the main plaza. Accommodations have clean bathrooms and firm mattresses, hammock hooks, telephones, fans, and TVs. A café serves breakfast, which at least gets you out of your extremely plain room.

Across from Plaza St. Martín, this ocher hotel is one of the largest and grandest in Campeche, and although the rooms lack some of the character found in more historic lodgings, they are clean, comfortable, and equipped with TVs, air-conditioning, phones, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Only suites have balconies, but all options have nice views overlooking the city or small pool. Marble floors and an elaborate lobby mark the entrance to two restaurants and a garden.

Just outside the entrance to Reserva de la Biósfera Calakmul, this ecological retreat has gravel pathways that wind through the jungle to 15 private cabanas, each rustic in design with palapa roofs, tree stump nightstands, and parchment paper lampshades inlaid with leaves and bits of bark. Although there is no air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cement floors, and windowless walls (screens enclose each cabana) keep things surprisingly cool. There's a small pool and a decent restaurant that's open until 10 pm, but guests are mostly drawn to the property for its proximity to wildlife and neighboring ruins. Couples traveling together might want to request Cabanas 9 and 10, which are built as a two-story bungalow.

This two-story, motel-style property is the nicest in Oxcutzcab. Rooms are plain but clean, with comfy beds, blond-wood furniture, and decoupage scenes of Puuc-area ruins; 21st-century perks include flat-screen TVs, strong air-conditioning, and high-speed Wi-Fi. All have a shower and toilet crammed into a tiny room around the corner from a sink (the upside is that there’s plenty of hot water). Noise from the street, front desk, and other rooms creeps in through thin walls. The property has a decent pool, a Ping-Pong table, and basketball court. The international food at Peregrino Restaurant is as simple as the accommodations, but portions are generous and the wait staff, like most of the town, is friendly.

Right on the plaza, this hotel has a bright center courtyard covered with skylights that allow light to shine on the tables where breakfast is served. The downside, however, is that all guest rooms face this atrium and noise carries all hours of the day. Although rooms are rather dated, they have comfy beds and a squeaky-clean paint job. Only a few rooms have balconies, but all have air-conditioning, fans, and cable TV; two rooms have kitchenettes for those who want to prepare their own meals. The water is only a few blocks away.

Rooms at the nicest hotel in Río Lagartos have private balconies, water views, colorful decor and stone walls and tile floors that keep them rather cool, though there are fans and air-conditioning as well. The property's rooftop bar and lookout tower are closed to children for safety reasons. The guests-only restaurant (open for breakfast and dinner) serves seafood, salads, and vegetarian dishes for guests only. Beach chairs and coolers are available free of charge at the front desk.

The city's first deluxe hotel is still one of its most elegant, with a beautiful marble lobby and contemporary rooms that are tastefully done in taupe color schemes set off by dark-wood furniture. Upper-crust Meridanos recommend Spasso Italian restaurant as a fine place to have a drink in the evening, and Sunday brunch at Peregrina Bistro is memorable.

With high ceilings, arched doorways, and checkered-tile floors, the elegant accommodations in this former convent retain their colonial charm, and tasteful ecclesiastical art and other items ensure they look divine. Suites have whirlpool tubs, domed ceilings, marble pillars, and a stairway leading up to the bed. Request a room on the third floor, since some of those on the lower floors tend to be dark. A wraparound balcony overlooks an open-air courtyard, which is filled with lush greenery and a pool that's illuminated at night. Web-only promotions are often available.

The outwardly rustic, thatched-roof buildings here have red-tile floors, hand-carved doors and rocking chairs, stained-glass windows, and local weavings—the effect is comfortable yet luxuriant, making the property feel like a peaceful ranch. All rooms have TVs, canopy beds, bathtubs, and screened windows; suites have king-size beds and Jacuzzi tubs. Most guests catch the sunset from the long balcony that wraps around the rooms. Request one in Block 1 (Rooms E–G) on the second floor; these offer great views of the pool and ruins in the distance.

Situated as it is at the eastern end of El Cuyo, LunArena offers a trade-off—on the one hand, the beach here is quiet, but, on the other hand, the location means that you'll have to walk a ways to reach other area amenities. Rooms have white plaster walls, understated furnishings, and small kitchenettes. The hotel restaurant serves breakfast and Mexican, Italian, and American favorites in the evening. The small pool is best for just a quick dip after a swim in the ocean. 

Each artsy bungalow here has its own themed decor—the Asian room has a Chinese checkers board and origami decorations, while the Safari room has artifacts from Mexico and Africa. Some have skylights or hammock chairs on a front porch; all have screened windows and are surrounded by gardens with bamboo, birds-of-paradise, and bougainvillea. As a result, the gated property feels like a hidden village, with bungalows spread throughout. The "hacienda building" at the back of the grounds has five rooms that can also be rented by the month. There is a cenotelike pool and a palapa restaurant offering salads and other healthy fare.

Owner Valerie Pickles has carved out a lovely little paradise with six bungalows, beautifully maintained gardens, and a wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Santa Elena. Decorated with her own paintings and topped with palapa roofs, the simply furnished Maya-style rooms are remarkably comfortable. They don’t have air-conditioning, but powerful fans, tile floors, and domed ceilings help keep them cool. A delicious breakfast of fruit, bread, mango yogurt, and coffee is included in the rate, which is hard to imagine considering how little Valerie charges. This is also the best place to stop for authentic Yucatecan cuisine en route to the ruins.

Renovated for maximum comfort without compromising historical charm, this hotel in an 1840s mansion features a striking antique-meets-contemporary decor, including in guest rooms, which have tile floors, high ceilings, period details, and sleek modern furnishings and amenities. There's a lovely pool with a designated hammock area, and the location, one block from Plaza Grande and the cathedral, means you might wake up to the sound of church bells. If you plan on dining here, request the romantic cave for two; it's part of what was a secret passageway connecting several Mérida mansions to the church. 

Located directly across from the beach, the Playa Linda not only has great views but also rooms that look like something straight out of an IKEA catalog, with recessed lighting, modern furnishings, and sleek kitchens. Suites have an added dining area and balcony, but not all have ocean views. Room 2 is the largest, and discounted rates are available for long-term stays. Although there's no restaurant or bar here, the hotel has arrangements with local properties for food delivery upon request.

This small hotel is across from the water and close to all the restaurants along the malecón. Standard rooms are very sparse, with headboards that are simply painted on the walls and mattresses on cement platforms; there are also several rooms with basic kitchens designed for long-term stays. The small pool in front provides a place to relax when the beach is packed. The hotel doesn't have an on-site restaurant, but you can order a Continental breakfast (at extra charge) and snacks later in the day.

If you follow design blogs or Instagram accounts, photos of Punta Caliza may have already caught your eye—its central pool is surrounded by three white-washed, thatched-roof buildings containing rooms that are elegantly minimalist, with cedar-planked walls and ceilings, concrete floors, crisp white linens, and private plunge pool areas that connect to the main one. Although the property is a block back from the beach, it has is a beach club with a bar for guests. The restaurant serves generous breakfasts and traditional Mexican dishes with an emphasis on seafood at other meals.

The moment you arrive at this jungle hotel, you'll be invited to pull up a chair at the bar, flip through literature about the area, and swap stories with the owners and other guests before retiring to your freestanding "jungalow" or palapa cabana. The jungalows are separated by winding paths and have tin roofs, cozy beds with mosquito nets, ceiling fans, and either a shared or private bathroom. The roomier cabanas have one or two bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. Both types of accommodations have a private terrace and 24-hour hot water and electricity. Reserve in advance if you're interested in visiting local ruins—the owners lead tour groups and are happy to slot you in if they have notice. Stays of more than a single night are discounted.

Designed with romance in mind, this boutique hotel has a roses-and-chocolate theme that carries from the pink exterior through to the Belgian truffles sold in the gift shop and the chocolate soaps provided in the bathrooms. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, Bose stereos, private outdoor shower-tubs, and espresso machines; three luxury suites in a private tower have spacious terraces. Common spaces are stunning, featuring clean, modern lines with antique ceramic tiles and pops of bright color. In addition to an acclaimed restaurant, there's also a courtyard terrace, a patio terrace with views of Paseo de Montejo, and an open-air rooftop lounge that often features live jazz. The spa specializes in holistic treatments, using chocolate in many of them.

In contrast to the traditional-looking, blue-and-white exterior of this hotel, which is part of Hilton's Curio Collection, its lobby is austerely modern, and its guest rooms are contemporary, though with little to remind you that you're in Mexico. On-site amenities include the Asai Japanese restaurant, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center.

Rooms at this tranquil, eco-friendly hotel have ocean or garden views, extra large windows, and hammocks, making them perfect for those who want to feel the sea breeze or fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. Bathrooms have eco-toilets, and shower water is recycled into the garden. There are six categories of accommodations, including two-story cabañas with whirlpool tubs and a beach house that sleeps eight. The pool is directly in front of the ocean, making it difficult to know where one body of water ends and the other begins.

Not only is the island's largest property right on the beach, but it has everything you need to be comfortable—an open-air palapa lobby, a temazcal (Maya sweat lodge), a large pool, a buffet-style restaurant, manicured gardens laced with sandy paths leading to freestanding, bungalow-style accommodations. Standard rooms have private entrances and wooden floors; master suites have two floors, a bathtub, whirlpool, and ocean views. Rope handrails, wooden masks, and bright Mexican fabrics enhance the decor. Note that, in addition to all-inclusive rates, the resort offers  half-board and breakfast-only plans.

This all-suites hotel in García Ginerés blurs the line between indoors and outdoors—after checking into a mid-20th-century house, you'll pass through lush gardens with seating areas, fountains, and contemporary sculptures on the way to your accommodations. In lieu of dark hallways, open-air paths above the gardens connect the different new additions that house the guest rooms. Cuna, the hotel's restaurant, is a culinary destination in its own right.