When it comes to colonial Mexico, there is no place quite like Campeche's Centro Historico. Vibrantly colored buildings flank cobblestone streets tucked within the confines of the Old City Wall. A white cathedral overlooks the romantic zocalo, and just beyond is the malecon promenade that hugs the Gulf of Mexico. It's a quiet, sleepy corner of an otherwise urban Mexican city.
To experience the true colonial splendor of Campeche, there is no better place to stay than the Hacienda Puerta Campeche. The restored hacienda is a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection, one of five such properties within the Yucatan area.
Built into a restored 17th century mansion, stepping inside is like stepping into another world. The rooms and public spaces all center around a gorgeous courtyard with towering trees, hanging vines and an indoor/outdoor pool with lazily dangling hammocks.
There are 15 elegant rooms in the hotel, each decorated in dark wood and light linens, with brightly colored walls to reflect the colonial heritage of Campeche. Most rooms have 18-foot ceilings with exposed wooden beams, woven hammocks and marble bathrooms.
The hotel's main restaurant is the La Guardia, which overlooks the garden and the swimming pool. Breakfast is included, offering eggs cooked in a variety of styles, fresh fruit, breads and a host of other typical Mexican options. The lunch and dinner menus focus on traditional seafood dishes.
Cocktails and snacks are served in the elegant lobby bar, reminiscent of something out of an Ernest Hemingway novel with its long wooden bar, chandeliers and exposed ceiling beams. The focal point of the hotel is undoubtedly its gorgeously designed pool, which seamlessly flows from inside out, tucked between the historical stone walls of the original hacienda structure. The hotel also has a dedicated spa and a roof deck from which to take in a cocktail and the sunset.
The Hacienda Puerta Campeche's location is another major selling point. Just behind the walls of the Old City, the hotel is a few short blocks to everything in the Centro Historico. It's an easy walk to the zocalo for a drink at Casa Vieja, which overlooks the main cathedral. The Museo de Arquitectura Maya offers an in-depth overview of the Mayan sites in Campeche, and the Museo Arqueologico de Campeche has findings from the nearby archaeological sites of Calakmul and Edzna.
Rates for the Hacienda Puerta Campeche begin at $292 per night. Visit www.puertacampeche.com.