It was nearly dusk, and after a day of driving our rental car from Cancun and exploring colonial towns and the countryside on our way to Chichen Itza Mexico, we were tired & anxious to arrive at our hotel. Finally, we started seeing the signs for the famous archaeological site, Chichen Itza, and then a sign for the Mayaland Resort. We pulled up to the gate and were greeted by a guard who gave us a pass for our dashboard, then we proceeded down the dark and bumpy unpaved road through the jungle. Eventually, the road opened up at a dead end, the parking lot. We had barely parked the rental car and opened our doors when we noticed a man who was already pulling up behind our car with a golf cart. He greeted us with a friendly smile and said “welcome to the Mayaland Resort!”
For our visit to Chichen Itza in Mexico, we chose to splurge a bit more than usual on our room here at the Mayaland Resort because of the convenience it provided to exploring the ruins. It is one of only 2 resorts owned by the same family company located on this archaeological site (including The Lodge at Chichen Itza). It even has it’s own private entrance to the site! We knew it would be a nice place to stay, but we had no idea that this hotel stay would give us an amazing experience that we would not soon forget.
The Most Unforgettable Journey from our Car to our Room
It was almost dark by now, so we quickly piled our luggage onto the golf cart, hopped on, and were swept away by our driver. As soon as we turned the corner onto the property path, we felt like we were transported into a Hemingway novel. Our driver explained the history of Mayaland Resort and pointed out bungalows where distinguished guests had stayed at the resort (such as Pavarotti, Jennifer Lopez, British Royalty, etc.).
Even as the daylight faded, we could see that the grounds of the resort were immaculate as we made our way down the winding path lined with torches. Thatched-roof bungalows were surrounded by lush greenery, and the scent of flowers in bloom circled around us with the light breeze. We could hear birds singing in the trees, and when we looked up, bright stars were beginning to shine through the jungle canopy above us. Eventually, through the trees we saw a large Hacienda-looking building with glowing lights and archways; the main house where we would check in.
Our driver stopped the cart, told us to leave our luggage, and escorted us inside the arched corridors to check in. We were greeted by more staff who gave us warm, herbal scented wet cloths to refresh our bodies and hands. The scent was incredible, and it immediately relaxed us! Then we were handed goblets of a dark red fruit juice; we weren’t sure exactly what flavor it was, but it was very tasty and refreshing. We drank it while our driver-turned-escort assisted with our check in and obtained our key. Then he walked us back to the cart, piled our luggage on his back (he refused our assistance), and continued to lead the way up to our room on the 3rd floor of the main building.
Mayaland Resort Rooms – Spacious, Luxurious, & Beautiful!
Once we arrived at the entrance to our room, we noticed that we could see the ancient Observatory on the grounds of Chichen Itza, quite a view to see from our room! When our guide opened the door, we walked into our room and were even more impressed by what we saw.
The room was enormous, with gorgeous woodwork on every piece of furniture and accent; even the doors were carved with amazing detail! There were colorful stained glass murals on some of the front windows & door, as well as a complete wall of clear windows along the back of the room.
This wall of windows looked out over the jungle canopy and included a door leading out to a spacious balcony where we could sit and enjoy the gardens too.
Liz was in charge of making this reservation, and this whole time I’ve been overwhelmed at what I’ve seen and experienced and the Mayaland Resort. With my jaw partially on the floor, I looked at Liz and asked “how much did we pay for this room?” Being that we traveled here in the low season, the price was incredibly affordable and well worth it!
History Buffs Will Love the the Planetarium Show – at the Mayaland Resort
Once we got settled, we ventured back outside and walked the grounds to their recently built planetarium on property. We had purchased tickets to the 7:30 pm show, so we made it just in time. This small planetarium played a custom show that explained a bit of the history of the Mayan people, and their religious & cultural beliefs. This enlightening and entertaining show really helped us to understand the meaning of Chichen Itza to the Mayan people. Liz and I love learning about other cultures and history, so this was a perfect way to set up our visit to Chichen Itza Mexico!
We Loved EVERYTHING About the Mayaland Resort
Even though we noticed a couple of small travel groups & families staying at the resort, it almost felt like we had the resort to ourselves! There were multiple swimming pools on property, some of them were tucked away in hidden corners – surely slices of heaven during the hot summer months! There were a few shops, including a Mexican chocolate shop (with yummy samples), as well as a serene Mayan Spa!
Dinner at the onsite restaurant was top notch quality, and the service was some of the best that we have experienced around the world. In fact, you could sit inside the restaurant and enjoy its Spanish Hacienda decor, or you could sit outside amongst the gardens. It was such a peaceful setting & we loved sitting outside during our meals to enjoy nature’s ambiance. Liz and I just couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful & tranquil the resort was!
The Mayaland Resort’s Private Entrance Makes it Easy to Visit Chichen Itza in Mexico
The next morning we woke up early to have some breakfast (outside among the birds and towering palms) before heading in to explore the Chichen Itza ruins. It was recommended by the staff that we go inside as soon as it opened so that we could beat the heat and the day-trippers from Cancun. It only took us a couple minutes to walk across the property to the private entrance and it was so nice not having to rush around or wait into line to get our tickets for the ruins.
Arriving early to the ruins also made it to where we could wander around peacefully and take pictures with hardly anyone there. We even beat some of the vendors there that were there setting up for the day and all the tour buses to arrive. Make sure to read our post on planning your visit to Chichen Itza.
After exploring the Chichen Itza ruins for several hours, it was nice to be able to take a short journey to our room and cool off from the heat and sun! Cooling off in one of the many swimming pools on property is convenient, but there are also a number of refreshing cenotes (sinkholes filled with crisp, fresh water) nearby.
After a full day of exploring the area and the ruins, it was time to have another delicious dinner at the resort. We enjoyed having dinner outside by candlelight and looking up at the stars peeking through the towering palm trees all around us. And when I say great food, it doesn’t do it justice, some of the best food we have ever had on the road!
After another amazing dinner, it was time to indulge in one of our other passions…massages! If you don’t know by now, we’re suckers for a good spa and massage, especially when we are traveling. The spa at the Mayaland Resort is top notch. The decor was so relaxing, very spiritual and natural with flowing white tapestries, natural wood and amazing herbal scents. Enjoying a relaxing massage at the spa was a perfect way to end a fun-filled day in Chichen Itza. With only a short walk back to our room, we slept wonderfully!
Can We Stay Here Forever? The Mayaland Resort
We hated waking up on our final day, because we knew that we had to leave this magical place. We felt like we were spoiled in every way by the service and scenery at the Mayaland Resort. We initially chose this location because of convenience, but we left so grateful to the staff for giving us such a relaxing and memorable experience; it will stay with us forever. One thing is for sure, we will be back again!
Are you ready to go? Click here to check out the rates & book your room today at the Mayaland Resort or The Lodge at Chichen Itza in Mexico!
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