Hotel Esencia
Tulum, Mexico
https://hotelesencia.com/
One minute you are driving down the 307 highway south of Cancun, and out of nowhere you turn at a nondescript sign reading “Esencia.”
As your tires hit the dirt road and head into a jungle, one wonders exactly where he/she is headed.
A short drive leads you to a small building, where you are warmly welcomed, and immediately loaded onto a golf cart with dune buggies tires.
As you head through more jungle, you are greeted by iguanas, birds of all types, and coatis (like a raccoon).
But, the warmest greeting for us came from Haziel (affectionately known as “H”), our personal concierge for the stay.
With H, everything is possible, and no detail gets missed.
Hotel Esencia is a special place, but the most special part about it is the people.
After greeting us, Mr H took us on a tour of the main house of the property, a home once owned by an Italian Duchess.
The archictecture is simple and clean, and the colors are bright and inviting.
The layout is authentic, yet natural, foreign, yet it seems like it always belonged there.
And then, just when you think you’ve seen the best of the property, there it is…
There are beaches, and then there is this beach.
Clear, teal water, white, sugary sand, and an endless row of rustic, perfect beachside huts for guests.
A day at Hotel Esencia can be spent lounging in the shade of a hut, catching some rays on the sand, or swimming, snorkeling, or doing pretty much any activity you can think of.
Shortly after falling in the love the beach, we were taken to our 4-bedroom villa.
Unique, intricate, warm, and inviting…you immediately want this house to be your house.
If the property had nothing else but this house to enjoy, you would be satisfied.
But, there is more…and more…and more…
Every detail of Hotel Esencia is wonderful. From the art, to the furtniture, to the tables and chairs, to things as little as the door knobs, it all leaves you in awe.
All of that, and we haven’t even gotten to the food!
For those that want nothing but beach time, you can enjoy tuna tartare, ceviche, avocado fries, and guac beachside. And, for those trying to keep it lighter, don’t worry, all are served fresh veggies and taro and plantain chips for dipping.
If you want to sit down for a meal, 3 gourmet restaurants are on property, all outstanding, and with their unique character.
A Mexican restaurant where you can have the best fish tacos ever, custom quesadillas, and more guac and ceviche.
A Japanese restaurant that will rival any sushi/Japanese experience you’ve ever had.
A steakhouse (known as “Beef Bar”) as good as any big city chop house you’ve been to.
We had plans to go see Tulum, but with everything at this place, we couldn’t think of a good reason to leave.
And, if you need more things to do on your stay, don’t worry, you are in the right spot.
Walk over to a nearby lagoon and snorkel with the manatees…sure.
Relax at the spa while enjoying massages, saunas, cold tubs…it’s right there.
Watch baby sea turtles hatch and be a part of releasing them into the ocean…they have the nesting areas to show you.
Or, sit at a quaint, beachside bar, staring at the waves and sunset, enjoying the freshest margs you’ve ever had…have at it.
Esencia translates to “essence,” the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something.
Can’t say it better than that.
Gracias Hotel Esencia!
Te Amo!
