Looking for a luxury getaway near Merida, Mexico? Here’s my Chable Yucatan review.
Chable Yucatan is an award-winning resort and spa focusing on wellness and relaxation. Located near Merida, the resort is built around a renovated hacienda and its style mixes traditional and modern. With its incredible spa, gorgeous rooms and outstanding restaurant, Chable Yucatan is one of the most luxurious hotels on the Yucatan peninsula (and Mexico for that matter!).
Here’s my experience at Chable Yucatan near Merida, Mexico!
About Chable Yucatan Hotel
Chable hotels has several locations: Chable Maroma (located in Riviera Maya), Chable Yucatan and Chable Sea of Cortez (opening in 2023).
Chable Yucatan is unique in that it’s the only luxury hotel of its kind in the area. The hotel is somewhat remotely set in the Mayan jungle giving it a total hidden gem feel. The closest town, Chócola, is a tiny village with a few small, casual shops and eateries. And Merida, the capital city of Yucatan, is just 25 miles away.
Located in the center of the hotel is a 19th century hacienda that was formerly used to produce sisal rope. Yucatan was once well-known for its production of sisal rope which is made from a fiber derived from the agave plant.
With more than 750 acres, Chable Yucatan has an expansive property that expands well beyond the imposing hacienda. Guests can enjoy the pool, golf course, tennis courts, spa, restaurants, chapel, cigar bar, cenote and much more.
Wondering how to get to Chable Yucatan?
The best Chable Yucatan airport to fly into is Merida International Airport, about 30 minutes away. From the US, there are direct flight from Dallas, Houston and Miami to Merida’s airport. Another option is to fly into Cancun International Airport which is approximately a 4-hour drive from the hotel. With this option, I would suggest including a few other stops in your itinerary like Riveria Maya or Chichen Itza and Valladolid.
Chable Yucatan Rooms
With 36 casitas and 4 multi-bedroom villas, no matter where you stay at Chable Yucatan you’re in for a treat.
One of my favorite parts about the resort is that the stand-alone casitas feel very private and luxurious. Each has a spacious bedroom, indoor / outdoor shower, and private pool. Plus, the casitas and villas come with bicycles for guests to explore the resort with!
I loved that a hammock was strategically placed above the dipping pool at our casita for maximum relaxation. I had one of the absolute best naps in that hammock!
While much of the resort has a traditional Mexican-Mayan aesthetic, the rooms are modern with a light, airy feeling. And they’re outfitted with all the luxury amenities you could want including a smart TV, surround-sound Bluetooth system (which we enjoyed listening to by the pool!) as well as freshly made snacks and complimentary beer and soft drinks.
Chable Yucatan Restaurant
There are actually three restaurants at Chable Yucatan!
IXI’IM is the fine dining concept with modern Mayan-Mexican cuisine and an incredible menu created by famed chef Jorge Vallejo. Formerly the engine room of the hacienda, IXI’IM blends traditional stone architecture with modern elements like glass and iron — which has created a truly unique and stunning aesthetic!
I had an unforgettable dinner experience at IXI’IM. We were seated outside with a view overlooking the majestic lawn. We opted to try one of the chef’s tasting menus and were delighted that each course seemed to be even better than the last!
Many of the ingredients are grown on the property in the traditional Mayan way. And the flavors of the dishes speak to the care in which they are prepared.
We were also given a tour of their tequila collection which is, incredibly, one of the largest private tequila collections in the world!
Definitely don’t miss dining at IXI’IM and make sure to book a reservation in advance as it can fill up quickly.
In addition, there is the Wellness Restaurant located in the spa which serves healthy, organic vegan dishes designed to energize and nourish your body after relaxing by the spa pool or enjoying a treatment.
Finally, KI’OL is the restaurant by the main pool that we enjoyed for lunch. Although, it’s also open for breakfast and dinner. KI’OL is Mayan and translates to “healthy.” We were so impressed by how fresh and delicious all of the dishes here tasted. It was the perfect light lunch break while relaxing under the sun!
Chable Yucatan Spa
At the heart of this wellness resort is a world-class spa that has won countless awards. The Chable Yucatan Spa is centered around a cenote.
Cenotes are freshwater sinkholes that were commonly used by Mayans for ceremonial offerings. And the Chable Yucatan spa menu features treatments using Mayan herbs and influences.
Plus, the treatment rooms look more like treehouses floating above the Chable Yucatan cenote. It’s such an incredible place to relax!
I enjoyed one of the most relaxing massages in one of the treehouse treatment rooms that was complete with a private dipping pool, bath tub and champagne service. It was absolute bliss!
Activities
Along with its wonderful restaurants and spa, Chable Yucatan is also known for its wellness golf. Featuring a 9-hole course that is designed to allow guests to connect with nature, Chable Yucatan golf is certainly a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.
The resort also offers many wonderful Mayan centric experiences. For instance, there is a cooking class taught using traditional Mayan ingredients and techniques. As well as a class in learning how to make chocolate from Mayan cacao. Yum!
Outside of the resort, the Yucatan peninsula is home to many incredible cities, Mayan ruins, cenotes, beaches and more. Take a day trip to Merida, Chichen Itza or one of the nearby cenotes!
→ Read Next: How to Spend 3 Days in Merida, Mexico
My Experience
Having visited and loved so many places on the Yucatan peninsula — Tulum, Valladolid, Bacalar, Coba, Cozumel and Mayakoba — I was eager to explore more. Merida was at the top of my Yucatan bucket list and after hearing about Chable Yucatan, I decided it sounded like the perfect luxury getaway to celebrate a birthday.
From southern California, we flew to Miami and then took a direct flight to Merida. Since we broke up the trip by spending a few nights in Miami, it felt like an easy travel day!
After driving through the dense jungle and small villages, the resort feels like a hidden paradise. We checked into our room and were delighted by how spacious and luxurious it felt — a private pool just for us?!
Hopping on our bicycles, we explored the resort and took in all the beauty. Lush jungles, sunbathing iguanas, impressive gardens, a peaceful cenote, and centuries old architecture. And at night, thousands of fireflies lit up the lawns around the resort… Talk about romantic!
We spent the next few days taking full advantage of the pool, delectable restaurants and heavenly spa. Plus, we did a few day trips to Merida and some of the incredible cenotes in the area.
My final thoughts on Chable Yucatan? This resort is something special and is truly a destination in itself. Absolutely worth the trip!
→ Make a Chable Yucatan Reservation
Hi! How did you arrange transportation to a from your day trips?
Chable Yucatan set up all the transportation for the day trips we did while staying at the resort!
Hi!!! i was wondering how you got from the airport to the hotel? were there shuttle options?
We arranged an airport pickup through the hotel! It’s about 30 minutes from the airport 🙂