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Come Explore Chichen Itza and Discover our Sustainable Maya World
SUSTAINABLE  TOURISM  IN ACTION
Hacienda Chichen, Green Spa Hotel in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

If you can not see the NBC news and interview video below, then click here.

Come enjoy fully the magical ambiance and Colonial beauty Hacienda Chichen is all about.  This sustainable tourism destination offers you eco-cultural activities such as birding and nature tours, Maya cooking classes, archaeological tours, and much more, all gear to enrich your understanding and enjoyment of the Mayan people, cultural traditions, herbal healings and Mother Nature.  Indeed, Hacienda Chichen is is a green Maya Sanctuary of Life, where you can create your "home away from home" as you experience a rare intimate contact with nature, explore ancient Maya sites, get to know the Mayan people's cultural traditions and the principals of giving and sharing if you choose to support or volunteer in helping the social needs of Maya communities near Chichen Itza sponsored by our non-profit civil volunteer society: the Maya Foundation In Laakeech NGO.

DID YOU KNOW? Each month our our Pet-Friendly and Green-Living hotel, celebrates a Cultural Traditional Fiesta with our guests invited to experience Mexico's living culture and traditions

HACIENDA CHICHEN  ECO-CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:
Some of the magic that awaits you at Hacienda Chichen includes:

JUNE   2013
* Summer Spa Offer:  Enjoy any Yaxkin Spa therapy with our summer 15% discount:  Maya Spa Menu here
* Maya Solstice: June 21st, come enjoy the summer solstice in Chichen Itza and experience the magic.

JULY  2013
* Nature Tours: take a Nature Guided and Birding  tour, enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature, please ask us.
   Birding private tours and Mayan Medicinal Plants workshops at an extra charge.
* Maya Ceremonies: Celebrate a Maya Full Moon ritual with us and learn about many Maya Cultural traditions with our Maya Expert and Guest-Director. Read about the Maya Cosmo-vision, Mythology, amazing multi-Calendar system, what Maya Senior Shamans continue to teach HERE. 

Ongoing In House Eco-Cultural Activities:

  Nature and Eco-Tours:
Bird Watching, Maya Herbal Medicine, Mother Nature and Maya Myths, Hacienda Colonial History, Organic crops.

  Cultural Workshops:
Authentic Mayan Cooking Classes, Maya Aromatherapy, Herbal Spa Oils and Soap Making, volunteer social work.

  Mayan Spa Rituals:  
Various Eco-Spa experiences based on genuine Maya holistic traditions at Yaxkin Spa.

Sacred Maya Ceremonial Site: Maya Rituals, Tzolkin, Equinox sacred ceremonies, Saka Ceremonies, Ya’ache Ritual, Nikte Ha Ritual, Purification Cave Ritual and other sacred Maya traditions are celebrated throughout the year by Maya Shamans,
J-Men and Senior Wiseman members of the Maya Elders Association of Yucatan.

 Monthly Mexican Traditional Fiestas and Festivals:
 Each month we celebrate a Colonial Mexican Tradition to bring our guests a cultural experience of our country family life and community festivals such as San Isidro Labrador, Dia de Reyes, Chocolate Kakaw Festival, Spring Fair, Easter Party, Day of the Dead Celebrations, Virgen of Guadalupe Fiesta, Christmas Gala, New Year Party.

  Art Museum:  Merle Greene Art Gallery and Museum. our private collection of her original Maya Rubbings detailing ancient Maya Pyramid facades and carvings. She created over 2000 rubbings for Tulane University during the 40 years she dedicated her life to the study and understanding of ancient Maya culture and architecture.

 Free Volunteer Programs: Hacienda Chichen and our civil volunteer association, Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. (pronounce in lak'ech), offer travelers who wish to volunteer, especial free volunteer vacation programs to help us support Maya communities needs.

  

    MAYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES & MAYAN  RUINS
Places to visit while staying at Hacienda Chichen, Chichen Itza, Yucatan

    Chichen Itza Archaeological Zone  (brief 2 minutes walk)
Just a brief walk from Hacienda Chichen will take you to the south entrance gate. Staying overnight at the hacienda allows you to visit Chichen Itza in the early morning light, ahead of the crowds and the heat, when the area is most magical. You can also easily enjoy the Light and Sound show in the evening, and then walk home to your Hacienda Chichen cottage under the moon and stars. Staying at Hacienda Chichen allows you to enjoy all the wonders of Chichen Itza as if it were in your own backyard.

 Chichen Viejo "Old Chichen"  (brief walk)
 Visits to this special area are restricted to the public for now. Special visits to academia may be approved by INAH since studies are still conducted by archaeologists.

 Balankanche Caves  (3 min. drive from the hotel).
Paid visit. Fabulous Maya Ceremonial caverns and underground waterways used by ancient Mayan as ceremonial site for Secret Initiation rituals. Stroll through narrow path leading to a sacred chamber.

Ek Balam  (30 - 40 min by car via Valladolid)
 A walled Mayan city restored in the 1990s. This Mayan archaeological site offers a fascinating encounter with ornate stucco sculptures and carved temple facades.

 Yaxuna    (15 min. by car via Yaxcaba)
 Yaxuna is a small and largely unexcavated Mayan site with the largest Sac-Be ever found ancient Maya, measuring about 101 km long and extending to Kabah.

RECOMMENDED CENOTES IN YUCATAN:

    Yodzonot Cenote (10 min. drive from hotel passing Piste). We highly recommend guests to visit this impressive cenote and eco-park cater by few Maya female locals, great swimming & low admission fee. (Click here for a video tour of Yodzonot Cenote).

    Dzinup Cenote (18 min drive from hotel  to Valladolid)
A magical place to swim and enjoy Yucatan's geological formations: blue pristine underground cenote fresh water caved by in a  rock dome and tree roots.

         COLONIAL TOWNS TO VISIT:

    Yaxcaba (15 min by car via Libre Union)
This small town is known for its Native Medicine Center, Maya J-Men or native herbal healing local practitioners of Maya Medicine. Visit its Colonial Cathedral.

   Tabi (10 min. more, via Libre Union and Yaxcaba)
For lovers of colonial churches and altars. This town has an amazing masterpiece recently restored and dedicated to the Virgin of Ascension. The sacristy has a secret small chapel with antique murals worth the trip.

   Valladolid (30 min by car Hwy to Cancun)
The Capital of Yucatan in Colonial times before Merida was founded. The city's Historic Center has wonderful examples of Colonial architecture. Visit Toh Boutique at Cinco Calles, where you will find the best collection of Maya artcrafts and one of a kind fine jewelry in Yucatan. Then stroll to the San Bernardino de Siena Convent.

   Izamal (45 min by car Hwy to Merida)
A charming Colonial town. Do visit San Antonio de Padua Convent and its main plaza.

    Merida (1hr & 30 min by car)
The capital city of Yucatan; enjoy its Bella Époque facades, historic district and  Colonial architecture plus plazas, churches and museums. Restaurants, shopping, outdoor markets, theatre, music, dancing, free cultural events and other fun public activities are offer daily.

While at our Hotel: Enjoy the joyful sounds of hundred of tropical birds from your room or book a bird-watching tour with one of our trained local guides. Explore the natural beauty of our  private Maya Jungle Reserve and  Bird Refuge, home of more than 150 known species of birds.  Book a Mayan Nature Tour with Jim Conrad or a Bird Guided Tour with our local guides and enjoy Yucatan's wildlife.

Naturalist Jim Conrad at Hacienda Chichen Resort offers free Nature Guided Tours during his stay to
small groups upon request. Reading: Yucatan Adventure's Wildlife articles: Yucatan's Flora and Fauna.

Come experience our Maya traditions
 reserve our Green Maya Vacation Packages

HACIENDA CHICHEN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING THE MAYA PEOPLE

Geotourism Changemakers  featured Hacienda Chichen and the Maya Foundation In Laakeech  for our sustainable eco-cultural commitment and actions. Green project sponsored by National Geographic and Ashoka.

 

 

 

HACIENDA CHICHEN RESORT AND YAXKIN SPA are proud to be among Mexico's Five Top Sustainable Destination examples showcased at the 16th United Nations Climate Change Conference:
 

Our Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. Programs
Sustainable Responsible Tourism and Social Activities:

    Xcalacoop Elementary School - Mayan Child Care
Ongoing support to both schools needs. You may want to participate in our volunteer program as well;  if so, kindly email us at: info@yucatanadventure.com.mx

    Xcopoil and Xcalacoop:   Mayan Health Centers
The Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. provides weekly food supplies to the Nutrition Program held at both XHC. We also provide help for the upkeep of the buildings and to various community programs held at the XHC. Our donated new building serves boys and girls with new bathrooms, an eco-friendly septic system, a kitchen and a multi-purpose room large for 140 children during their healthy meal at the center. These children have been suffering from malnutrition and our support is helping them on their road to health.

    Yodzonot Cenote Community Project
Hacienda Chichen actively promotes this eco-park under the care of a local group of females with ongoing publicity and marketing strategies, including online ads.

    Maya Jungle Reforestation and Nature Reserve
The Maya Foundation In Laakeech engages in ongoing protection of flora and fauna. These "Green" activities include vast reforestation of hardwoods within the 300 hectares of private land dedicated to eco-friendly activities. We also offer volunteer work to educate and train local native people to care for the environment, endemic animals (fauna) and plants (flora) as well as to preserve the safety of our water resources. Naturalist Jim Conrad will be happy to show you around the area.

     Maya Volunteer Education Programs
As part of the commitment to help our staff broaden their opportunities and continue their education, our Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. Programs pay our staff's enrollment in various volunteer training workshops and educational programs such as Local Archaeologist Tour Guide and Local Bird-watching Certification, as well as other educational opportunities offered in Piste, Xcalacoop and Valladolid. Additional education opportunities, such as English ESL classes, computer and job related workshops, are available to our staff in our in-house training programs.

Book your two or three day stay at Hacienda Chichen Resort and Yaxkin Spa,
get pampered with our friendly hospitality and explore our many eco-cultural activities, Maya heritage,

Our Geo-Vision and Mission Statement: working together to serve guests with caring hearts, sharing our
Maya traditions and values... uniting hospitality, communities, conservation and sustainable travel choices.

Familiarize yourself with our green hotel services, rooms, and sustainable activities by browsing our site.  Begin by planning your Chichen Itza vacation days with our special vacation offers, and one night rates.