Hotels
The Ultimate Private Villa in Mexico's Riviera Maya
Inside Esencia Mansion — the 10,000-square-foot Spanish-revival villa, with three pools and a private helipad, putting Riviera Maya's original hideaway back in the spotlight.
This story originally appeared in OLTRE's Barefoot Issue, Internova's parent luxury travel magazine, in its comprehensive guide to the Yucatán Peninsula. Written by Brad A. Johnson.
Hotel Esencia helped define luxury in the region when it opened decades ago in Xpu-Ha. It's one of the area's original hideaways, with 52 rooms and villas sprawled across 50 acres of beachfront wilderness between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Refusing to be left behind by so much development up and down the coast, the property has leapfrogged back into the limelight with the fabulous new Esencia Mansion.
The 10,000-square-foot, Spanish-revival villa (which starts at $8,400 a night) boasts four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three pools, and a rooftop deck with wraparound views of the jungle (and sunset) to the beach (and sunrise). The entire third level is devoted to the master suite, which sports its own indoor/outdoor plunge pool and a private fitness studio. The other bedrooms aren't paltry. All are junior suites with private terraces.
You'll probably spend most of your time marveling at the owner's art collection, which includes multiple Picassos, or just hanging out at the villa's main pool that's tiled with meticulously hand-painted ceramics by contemporary artist/filmmaker Marcel Dzama. Another good option: lounging downstairs in the underground, fully stocked speakeasy, which can be staffed with a bartender or self-serviced.
Shrouded in a thicket of palms and mangroves behind the hotel, the mansion is an easy walk to the beach and other common facilities, including the new helicopter pad. Oh, yeah — forgot to mention: Esencia recently launched its own private helicopter service, which can come in handy, given all the construction on the highway of late.
The Details
Esencia Mansion — Riviera Maya, Mexico. Your ITKE advisor can secure exclusive perks, including a resort credit and breakfast for two.
Photography: Karla Lisker. Art Direction: Devin Duckworth. Styling: Ella Cepeda. Beauty: Malena Ibarra.
