From lazy days by the lagoon, to underground cenote excursions and cozy lodging, this Wakax Hacienda assessment reveals all about this particular resort.
Wakax Hacienda was the ultimate cease on our three-week household highway journey round Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. We’d loved infinite seashore days, cenote dips, Mayan ruins and feasted on avenue tacos. After a number of transferring round we had been prepared for a couple of days of rest. It seems we’d chosen the right spot!
Part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and a holder of two prestigious Michelin ‘keys’ (much like the restaurant stars), Wakax Hacienda is a novel resort set inside a 160 hectare property. It’s bought the sensation of a small village, with hacienda-style structure, resort rooms dotted by the grounds, a palapa-style restaurant, a number of swimming swimming pools and even a church. These are positioned between cenotes (Mexican sinkholes with crystal clear water) and lagoons. Simply leaving our resort room appears like just a little journey, as you amble alongside sandy paths, recognizing giant lizards and listening to lovely birdsong.
Wakax Hacienda Resort Evaluation
We had been travelling as a household of 4, with our three-year-old son and 5-month-old daughter. On this resort assessment I’ll dive into the facilities, our room, the restaurant and actions on provide. In case you’re contemplating reserving a luxurious keep close to Tulum, my information to Wakax Hacienda ought to assist!
Staying at Wakax Hacienda
I ought to begin by saying that that is surely one of the distinctive accommodations I’ve ever stayed at. I’ve visited numerous resorts world wide, however they’re normally giant block accommodations, with a handful of swimming swimming pools and eating places on the grounds. That is very totally different!
When you’ve turned off the primary freeway between Cancun and Tulum, and pushed to the doorway of Wakax Hacienda, you are feeling such as you’ve arrived at a secret village. Golf buggies and bicycles are the modes of transport on provide. It’s rugged and rustic, and filled with appeal.
We checked in on the reception space; an enormous constructing with excessive ceilings and fairly views over the grounds. We had been then pushed to our room by golf buggy. The service was welcoming and attentive, with out being overly formal. Actually, that was the overall feeling of the resort. It’s high-end and opulent, however rustic and charming too.
Our Room at Wakax Hacienda
We stayed in a big room, which had loads of house for an excellent king mattress for us, plus a double for our toddler, and a cot for our child. This was arrange for our arrival. The room had polished limestone partitions and flooring, a dressing space, minimalist Mexican furnishings, and an enormous toilet with stroll in bathe and double basin. There was just a little seating space on the entrance, plus a terrace on the again door, with lush jungle views.
We liked how spacious it was, particularly as we had 4 of us staying in a single room. It was solely a 5-10 minute stroll to get to any of the areas on the property, such because the restaurant, lagoon or swimming swimming pools.
A couple of particulars I observed had been:
- The way in which the cot was completely arrange for our arrival, together with a mosquito web.
- The inclusion of a child bathtub within the toilet space, plus a bottle hotter by the espresso machine.
- The additional gown, an ideal dimension for our toddler! So lovable, and really considerate.
There are a selection of room choices to go well with varied wants, from customary double rooms, proper as much as lovely two-bedroom villas with plunge swimming pools.
Actions at Wakax Hacienda
Though I discussed we had been fairly drained from our busy three-week highway journey, we arrived at Wakax Hacienda and wished to benefit from the superb setting. It is a resort the place you possibly can laze by a pool all day, or you will get out and check out some adventurous actions! We did a little bit of each. In case you’re planning a go to, listed below are a couple of of the actions you are able to do.
Paddleboarding or kayaking: Head to the lagoon space and you will get out on the water and discover. These can be found on a complimentary foundation. There are lifejackets offered, in a variety of sizes (appropriate for youths too). The lagoon stretches fairly far, and it was pretty venturing out to see components that weren’t seen from the primary decked areas. We additionally visited the little waterfall too!
Cenote swims: There are a couple of cenotes throughout the resort’s grounds. We loved swimming and paddleboarding in certainly one of them. We’d visited a number of cenotes throughout our journey by Mexico, however to have the ability to wander to them from our resort room felt additional particular!
Underground river tour: I spent a couple of hours one morning with David, the on-site exercise chief, exploring the cenotes and underground river. That is a unprecedented expertise the place you descend by a small passage right into a cave space, following an underground river. As soon as inside, you utilize torches to see lovely stalagmites and stalactites, in addition to wildlife together with bats and cave mice. It’s a really particular exercise, and superb that that is positioned throughout the grounds of the resort.
Swimming swimming pools: We spent a number of time by the hacienda pool. It’s spectacular – one of the photogenic swimming swimming pools I’ve visited on my travels. It’s set throughout the basement of the hacienda, and even has a hammock hanging between the arches. There are two different smaller swimming pools on the resort, together with one which’s actually shallow (nice for little ones).
Biking: We didn’t get out on bikes because it was a bit sophisticated with two children! Nonetheless, most individuals had been exploring the resort on two wheels. There’s even a complimentary bike tour, which takes you to a number of the extra fascinating spots.
Yoga: There have been each day yoga lessons on the resort. The yoga house overlooks the lagoon in a shocking location. It’s undoubtedly an incredible spot for channelling the zen vibes!
Eating at Wakax Hacienda
The resort’s restaurant El Cocal is positioned steps from the lagoon. It’s the place breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. For a big resort, we felt it will have been good to have one other location to go to for meals too, though El Cocal was a beautiful house to dine at! It’s value noting that you could order meals to be taken to the Hacienda swimming pool.
Breakfast was a two-course affair, with a contemporary fruit plate delivered shortly after sitting down, accompanied by honey, granola and yogurt. There have been decisions of fundamental plates, together with eggs, pancakes, waffles and Mexican favourites akin to huevos rancheros. We actually loved the breakfasts right here, and the workers had been at all times prepared to customize dishes to go well with diets or appetites (nice when you will have children!)
The primary lunch and dinner menu featured a mixture of conventional Mexican dishes (tacos, ceviche and so on) and classics (burgers and pizzas). We tried a number of dishes throughout our keep. Our favourites had been the tuna tostadas, and the steak, which got here with charred spring onions, tortillas and sauces.
We additionally had a burger and pizza on the pool one afternoon, which had been each good. We felt the meals costs had been on the costly finish of the dimensions. After a number of weeks exploring Mexico, eating at quite a few eating places, it was straightforward to match high quality and worth throughout the journey!
Drinks at Wakax Hacienda
Whereas the meals may not be the primary speaking level, the cocktails had been at all times wonderful! We had a number of scrumptious drinks throughout our keep.
I liked the eagerness fruit mojitos and my associate loved a number of smoky mezcalitas (a margarita made with mezcal). The bartenders had been wonderful, crafting scrumptious combos day after day. The cocktails ranged from 200 – 300 MXN, and there was normally a cocktail of the day at a reduced worth.
As with the meals, you can additionally order drinks to the primary hacienda swimming pool.
Is Wakax Hacienda Good For Households?
We thought this was a superb resort for us as a household of 4, travelling with a toddler and a child. The resort offered all the infant necessities, akin to a cot, child bathtub, bottle hotter and excessive chair. We additionally favored the youngsters menu on the restaurant, which had plenty of dependable choices that our toddler favored (e.g. fish fingers and chips!)
The workers had been great with the youngsters too. One morning, one of many pretty girls working within the restaurant insisted on holding our child woman so we may eat our breakfast! It was so candy to see how engaged she was together with her.
It’s value noting, that that is the type of resort it is advisable watch little ones like a hawk. The lagoon and cenote areas have deep water, so we had been cautious to not let our son discover on his personal.
There was one other household staying with two children, age 4 and seven. It was nice to see how the resort match with their wants. They had been staying in a two-bedroom villa, which offered tons more room. The older youngster was ready to participate in much more actions, too.
Would I Suggest Wakax Hacienda?
We completely liked our keep at Wakax Hacienda. Waking up within the jungle, to the sounds of tropical birds, was so particular. I adored seeing my son interacting with this out of doors world, as he wandered round saying ‘hello Mr Lizard’ every day! It felt like we had been enriching his life by staying there.
As adults, there was a lot to do. We loved our adventurous water actions, exploring the cenotes and lagoons. However the setting was additionally very peaceable, and we additionally liked that we bought to relaxation correctly, lazing on solar loungers and watching the world go by.
Tulum is a really busy touristy city nowadays, however this property feels worlds away. How superb inside fifteen minutes’ drive of the city, you will be this immersed in nature.
The service on the resort was nice all through. We discovered it attentive, with out being intrusive. I’d undoubtedly suggest the resort to {couples} or households searching for a nature-filled escape. Whether or not you’re searching for adventures on the water, or wellness actions, you’ll discover all of it right here.
Want To Know: Sensible data for staying at Wakax Hacienda
Location
Wakax Hacienda is tucked away within the jungle simply off the primary freeway between Cancun and Tulum. It’s round a 15-minute drive from Tulum city and roughly 1 hour half-hour from Cancun Worldwide Airport (round 65 miles). Whereas it feels fully distant, it’s truly in an incredible location for day journeys to the Mayan ruins in Tulum, the seashore, the Riviera Maya’s journey parks, and a number of other cenotes. We had been completely happy we had a automotive, because it gave us flexibility to discover.
Costs
Rooms usually begin from round $220–$230 (£170–£180) per night time, rising to $500+ (£400+) for villas with plunge swimming pools relying on season and room sort . Costs fluctuate fairly a bit, so it’s value checking totally different dates. Meals and drinks can add up fairly shortly, so issue that in while you e book.
What are the very best room varieties at Wakax Hacienda?
- Junior Suite with Terrace – nice for {couples} wanting additional house and jungle views
- Two-Bed room Household Suite – perfect if you happen to’re travelling with children
- Grasp Villas with Plunge Swimming pools – finest for a extra luxurious keep, akin to a honeymoon.
All rooms include air conditioning, WiFi and out of doors house, however the suites and villas are higher for longer stays.
Who ought to e book Wakax Hacienda?
This resort is ideal for a variety of individuals, together with:
- {Couples} searching for a peaceable, nature-filled escape
- Households who need house and distinctive out of doors experiences
- Travellers who prioritise rest, wellness and journey, over nightlife
In case you’re searching for accommodations close to Tulum for seashore journeys or bars and eating places, I’d suggest trying in Tulum itself.
How lengthy must you keep at Wakax Hacienda?
We stayed two nights and it was nearly sufficient time, however we’d liked another! Three nights would enable sufficient time to benefit from the cenotes, lagoon, expertise extra of the actions.
I hope this assessment lets you determine if that is the precise resort for you. You’ll be able to test costs and availability here.
Let me know when you’ve got any questions. In case you’re planning a much bigger journey, don’t miss my different Mexico guides.
