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the end of a palm lined lane on the edge of a Mayan village
the Hacienda Sac Chich is hidden away. It
seems as if a fortified Norman castle was plucked from the
cliffs above the the Mediterranean sea and dropped into the
Yucatan jungle. In reality the estate is a renovated hennequen
factory that was once part of a larger 19c colonial plantation.
First rescued a dozen years ago by an artist couple it has
since been luxuriously renovated by a “gourmundo”
couple from San Francisco. Leaving the bohemian chic house
that was once the engine room intact they concentrated their
renovation on 3 suites in the old disfribradora building.
The two houses are joined in a U with an elevated arcade forming
an inner coutyard. This romantic vine covered portico is the
best place to dine alfresco or hang a hammock to avoid the
mid-day sun.
Salvador Reyes Rios designed the suites in the Disfribradora
and decorated them with help of his wife Josephina Larrain.
The master suite is one of his largest and most dramatic rooms.
In a private garden at one end is a Mayan chultun bath. The
bedroom has ceilings that soar 20 feet with a skylight and
a sunken lounge area with views onto the garden. The two guest
suites are equally sumptuous with their use of beautiful hardwoods,
limestone and custom designed furnishings.
Across the lawn in Casa Viejo, the former engine house, is
the famous kitchen published in “The New Hacienda”.
It has been updated but retains the antique tiled counters
and it’s rustic charm. It has an ample table where 12
can dine comfortably. Here also is the living room and two
guest rooms one with a bed designed by the former artist owner,
Paul Fullerton. In the kitchen garden stand the 80 foot stone
chimney that once served the hacienda. Through a grotto is
the tropical garden with over 20 varieties of palms and plants
that attract the butterflies, songbirds and parrots. Here
is the pool formed from the old irrigation tank and shaded
by tall coconut palms.
Sac Chich lies between Ticopo and Acanceh
30 minutes southeast of Merida. There are good regional restaurants
within 20 minutes at Hacienda Teya and Hacienda Tepich. The
Mayapan ruins and the working henequen plantation at Hacienda
Ake are 20 minutes drive. Within 45 minutes are the Hacienda
Temozon, Hacienda Sotuta de Peon and the Convent town of Mani.
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