3 Best Hotels in Chichén Itzá, Yucatán and Campeche States

At this refurbished butter-yellow hacienda, cottages are all uniquely decorated with the owner's artwork and vintage furniture and are connected by pathways that wind through beautiful grounds complete with pool surrounded by palms. Rooms don't have TVs, Internet, or phones, but there's satellite TV and Wi-Fi in a common area. The property is filled with hidden treasures, including a small chapel, a sacred cave, and a gift shop that donates 100% of its profits to local communities. The on-site Yaxkin Spa, directed by a Maya healer, uses natural ingredients to cleanse the body from toxins and has won awards for its holistic approach to wellness.

A longtime favorite of international travelers, this family-run spot with a small motel feel is the best budget choice near the ruins. Spartan-ish rooms have hard beds and chunky, colonial-style furniture, but there are also two pools (one with palapas and hammocks) plus a family-style restaurant. The convivial vibe, along with cheap prices, is the big draw here. Free transportation to Chichén Itzá is provided daily. There's a small discount for reservations made online.

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.