We share Chablé’s passion for creating travel experiences that go beyond the ordinary while making a positive impact on local people and nature. Their properties embody a sense of place, forging genuine connections with the local culture and environment. Chablé’s three properties are united by their authenticity and attention to detail, but each offers a unique flavor reflective of its surroundings.
Whether it’s the historical charm of Chablé Yucatán, the beachfront serenity of Chablé Maroma, or the secluded paradise of Casa Chablé, you’ll be talking about that festive break for years to come. Let’s dive into how Chablé’s locations, special touches, and exceptional culinary offerings create the ideal setting for a holiday filled with love, warmth, and great food.
Chablé Yucatán
Nestled within the Maya forest, the hotel sits just 45 minutes south of Mérida, yet it feels worlds away from the city. Chablé properties are crafted for an immersive experience in local nature, culture, and history, and it all started with Yucatán. This hotel taps into the region’s rich hacienda heritage and Maya legacy, offering a level of luxury and design unmatched in the area. Set on the grounds of a 19th-century henequén hacienda, the hotel integrates the original walls into its design (see the Presidential Villa’s pool!) — protected by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). Ideal for those seeking a unique escape away from the crowds, Chablé Yucatán’s semi-rural location near Chocholá places you close to the lesser-visited archaeological sites along the Puuc Route. Enjoy waking up in a luxurious casita amidst lush jungle, exploring ancient Maya cities like Uxmal and Kabah, and then unwinding with a relaxing massage at Chablé’s spa.
Our Favorite Features
The hotel offers distinctive features that enhance comfort and joy, perfect for the holiday season. At the heart of the resort lies a magical cenote—a rare highlight to find in any grounds. This natural sinkhole sets the stage for the renowned spa and wellness offerings, including a purifying temazcal ceremony rooted in Mesoamerican tradition. Each guest villa boasts a private heated plunge pool and rain and moon showers, allowing you to bathe under the open sky with complete privacy surrounded by greenery. The hotel’s 9-hole golf course sets the stage for a little healthy competition, kept casual with the course’s relaxed etiquette – feel free to go barefoot or dress up in a festive theme! Don’t miss a visit to the meliponarium, home to the native stingless bees crucial to the local ecosystem and Maya culture. Complete your visit with a Melipona honey tasting – a sweet reminder of Chablé’s environmental initiatives.
Culinary Highlights
You know you’re in for a treat at any of Chablé’s restaurants, spearheaded by double Michelin-star chef Jorge Vallejo of Mexico City’s Quintonil. Even better, on the 24th and 31st December, guests are invited to dinner, a special gift courtesy of the hotel. At Chablé Yucatan, Ixi’im restaurant is a standout. You’re received by an eternal flame burning in the center of the pond and enter what was once the hacienda’s old machine room, beautifully restored as a fine dining venue and wine cellar, decorated with monochrome pasta tiles, floor-to -ceiling windows framing the gardens, and an atmospheric bar with original wood and stone accents.
In line with its sustainable ethos, Chablé’s restaurants cultivate, harvest and gather fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables from their own “ka’anches”. These traditional agricultural structures, used by the ancient Maya, feature raised beds typically made from a wooden frame filled with organic materials like soil, compost, and stones – a design that maximizes agricultural productivity in the Yucatán Peninsula’s challenging limestone-rich terrain. We love how this preserves indigenous knowledge while promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices.
Just across the garden lies Sikar bar, where you can sip single malt distillates and enjoy signature cigars while watching fireflies illuminate the lawn and stars light up the night sky. For a touch of local flavor, Casita Maya is a guest favorite, run by three women from the neighboring town of Chocholá, affectionately known as “las tres tias” (“the three aunts”). Their authentic Maya recipes and fresh tortillas made on the comal, offer a warm, familial dining experience that’s full of festive cheer.
Chablé Maroma
Chablé Maroma beckons those who crave the tranquility of a pristine beach without the tourist crowds of the Riviera Maya. Tucked between the vibrant hubs of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, this tropical beachfront retreat offers a slice of paradise that feels wonderfully secluded. The resort has held on to its Mexican identity, designed with character that contrasts the high-rise hotels and modern towers often seen on the coastline. You’ll feel like you’ve discovered a hidden gem, a place where you can truly disconnect and bask in the natural beauty around you, yet still be close enough to explore local attractions if the mood strikes. Guests are welcomed with a Maya harmonization ceremony, a sensory experience with copal, traditional drums, and recitations that envelop you in the warmth and spirituality of the land.
These highlights are just right to deeply enjoy the festive season:
- Casitas with private plunge pools, floor-to-ceiling windows, and moon showers, surrounded by lush vegetation
- Curated wellness program based on nature and Maya healing practices; indulge in a massage or simply unwind in the pool, jacuzzis, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna
- Cooking classes to learn recipes from the “Chi Chis” (Mexican grandmothers!)
- Tastings: tequila, mezcal, wine, or Mexican craft beer
- Bu’ul restaurant for dinner-only fine dining and a great wine list
- Raw Bar: this upper-level spot has endless views of sea and sand – enjoy a long lazy lunch (a “sobremesa”) with a glass of champagne in one hand and standout seafood bites in the other
- Complimentary bicycles, standup paddleboards and kayaks
- Yoga and meditation for adults and kids
Casa Chablé
Taking intimacy one step further. Perched at the edge of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve – a UNESCO World Heritage site – this property is a true anomaly. The main building began as a private house in the 90s, built by a Mexican family who grew palm trees to harvest coconuts. Later, a U.S. investment fund bought the property and added five bungalows to open it as a nature retreat, before it came into the hands of Chablé. Today, no new construction is permitted in Sian Ka’an, meaning the entire property was a renovation project that had to closely adhere to the laws of the reserve. We love that this means the incredible natural area will be protected from the grip and challenges of rapid development as seen in much of the Riviera Maya. The journey to Casa Chablé is part of the adventure—you can arrive via a sand path that winds through cenotes and archaeological remnants, or by boat through the reserve’s stunning waterways, where you might spot birds and crocodiles, or even dolphins and manatees!
Here’s why we think this rare property is ideal to spend the holidays off-grid:
- The main house and five bungalows feel super intimate; you can book out the whole property for ultimate privacy
- Nature immersion: one-of-a-kind pristine beach location between freshwater lagoons and Caribbean Sea with nothing else around
- The five bungalows offer direct beach access, with two facing the ocean
- Learn Maya astronomy with a telescope under an unpolluted sky
- Beachside yoga and sound healing sessions
- Mezcal tasting and hands-on cooking class to make Mexican salsas
- Spa: massages and cleansing rituals
- K’uum restaurant: dine al fresco in a secluded paradise, surrounded by swaying palm trees, or on the dock overlooking Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Lagoon
BOOK IN WITH CHABLÉ THIS FESTIVE SEASON
We love complementing the authenticity of Chablé properties with Journey Mexico’s curated travel experiences across the Yucatán Peninsula. See how to best combine the hotels into one trip or get in touch with one of our expert travel planners to begin designing an itinerary tailored to your festive wishes. We’re here to completely customize your trip! Prices start at $1,800 USD per day for two travelers.
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Author: Sally Wells
The British-born writer first fell for Mexico’s magic while studying Spanish in Guadalajara. A decade later, she’s taken her time getting to know the country’s multifaceted personality, and now calls Puerto Vallarta home. Sally has always had a soft spot for the written word and finds inspiration in life’s subtleties as much as the big moments. She loves stepping into someone’s world, listening to their experiences, and making connections. A firm advocate for candid communication, Sally believes storytelling has the ability to empower, enlighten, and spark empathy. |
