In the Mayan Riviera there is a place of privacy, an elegant hide-away that primes for a new kind of luxury: an understated, positive luxury. Hotel Esencia, a former palace for an Italian Duchess, was originally built as her private hideaway on a gorgeous beach of the Riviera. The majestic 50-acre state is at midpoint between Tulum and Playa del Carmen in Mexico. Don’t be deterred by the mention of Playa de Carmen or Cancun though- the hotel is consciously miles away from the energy of the infamous party vibe of those areas.
The property storied in ancestral local past, is a destination for those seeking privacy and the opportunity to dwell in Mexico’s culture, cuisine and hospitality. After all there are 400 meters of private beach at the guests’ reach, with the all known stunning turquoise seas of the Mexican Caribbean coast. Hotelier Kevin Wendle created a masterpiece of tranquillity and joy rewriting the mansion’s new chapter in all white washed minimalism and drawing from Mexico’s rich and colorful culture to accent the ‘curves’ and spaces of the property. The 38 rooms and 3 bungalows are a profusion of beautiful fabrics and rich views of the palm trees garden, also called ‘the hammock garden’, and guests have at their disposal personalized iPods with playlists curated by DJ Michel Gaubert – say no more.
The main house remains the centrepiece of the hotel and communal areas are beautifully decorated with communal areas populated with mid-century modern furniture including originals by Pierre Jeanneretand Serge Mouille. The hotel counts with onsite Peruvian-Japanese fusion restaurant Mistura by former El Bulli alum Dimitris Katrivesis. Hotel Esencia is a unique hotel in a new breed of luxury, simple yet sophisticated – one that primes on the rarity of being present, the joys of conscious non-indulgent happiness and the bliss of connecting to nature – the outer and the inner beautiful nature of us all.