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A  BRIEF  HISTORY  OF   HACIENDA  CHICHEN  
Yucatan Haciendas Best Green Hotel and Wellness Spa Destination
within the majestic Mayan site of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
 

INTRODUCTION:

Hacienda Chichen was among the first of Yucatan's Haciendas. This Colonial hacienda was built by the Spaniards in 1523. Hacienda Chichen is uniquely famous among Mexico's haciendas due to its intimate link with Mayan archaeology discoveries within Chichen Itza and for its current green vision and sustainable tourism activities making this boutique Eco-Spa Resort, the most committed green hotel in Yucatan, Mexico.   Today, this Chichen Itza hotel ranks among Mexico's best green spa resorts, and it is recognized internationally among the ten best Eco-Spa Destinations in the World, and among the top Eco-Wellness Destinations in North America.  (You may wish to learn more about our sustainable responsible awards here)
 

16TH CENTURY:  COLONIAL PERIOD

MEXICO CONQUEST AND COLONIAL TIMES MURAL -  YUCATAN HACIENDAS BUILT AS FEUDAL POWER CENTERS FOR THE SPANISH CROWN

All Colonial haciendas in Yucatan were designed operate within the Spanish Conquistadors' feudal power structure, so was the case of Hacienda Chichen in Chichen Itza. The Main house or “Casco” belonged to the hacienda "Lord", in the 16th Century it was appointed by the Spanish Crown to oversee the monarch’s economical gain, religious interests and political power. The Casco was built near the main well or “Noria” to control the region's water supply. Cattle-raising was the main business of the hacienda for centuries. Hacienda Chichen structures were built by recycling Maya stones; some still can be seen at the main building's west facade and Morley's Cottage.
 

20TH CENTURY:  PIONEERING MAYA STUDIES AND CHICHEN ITZA TEMPLES  RESTORATION

    
 YUCATAN HACIENDAS HAD SISAL PRODUCTION WHILE HACIENDA CHICHEN WAS HEADQUARTERS TO MAYA STUDIES

In early 20th Century, Hacienda Chichen was bought by Mr. Edward Herbert Thompson, a US Vice-Consul who was enthralled with Chichen Itza. Through Mr. Thompson, the Carnegie Institute established its first Maya Archaeological Expedition head-quarters at Hacienda Chichen in 1923. Rustic cottages were built to house the archaeologists and their research teams. Chichen Itza's Mayan temples excavating and reconstructing began that same year.  They pioneer Maya Studies and Maya temple restoration in Mexico.

     
RESTORING YUCATAN COLONIAL SITES, EXPLORING CHICHEN ITZA, PIONEERING MEXICO TOURISM,  

During the 1920s, Mr. Fernando Barbachano Peon, the Pioneer of Tourism in Mexico, began promoting visits to Chichen Itza to a few Ward Line cruise passengers stopping at Progreso, Yucatan. From then on, he devoted his life to the worldwide promotion of the Maya Culture and created his first travel company and many custom tours to the Yucatan. During the 1930s, Mr. Barbachano Peon bought the Hacienda Chichen from the Thompson family. He and his wife, Carmen G.R de Barbachano, built lodges and hotels near the Maya archaeological sites of Chichen-Itza and Uxmal.

In the 1940s, the couple restored the Hacienda Chichen as a part time hotel. Mrs. Carmen trained and selected staff for the couples' hotel ventures. Her loving patience, strong spirit, and hard work helped her husband's company gain a solid position within the international travel industry.

In the 1950s, Mr. Barbachano Peon turned his attention to Mexico's Caribbean islands: Isla Mujeres and Cozumel; where he built his last hotel before his death in 1964. His legacy, vision, and business drive helped the development of tourism as an industry in Mexico.

In the 1960s, after his death, his daughter Carmen Barbachano Gomez Rul became the first business woman in Yucatan to own six major hotels, including the Hacienda Chichen hotel.  After a very successful and fulfilling business life, in the 1990s, Ms. Carmen Barbachano bestowed her family’s next generation the responsibility to continue with her hotelier tradition of providing excellent service to those visiting Yucatan.

21TH CENTURY:  INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AT ITS BEST

A WORLD OF BEAUTY AND RESPECT FOR LIVE: HACIENDA CHICHEN RESORT IS TODAY DEDICATED TO HARMONY AND GREEN LIVING

In the 1990s,  Mrs. Belisa Barbachano became the innovating head behind Hacienda Chichen new green vision and sustainable tourism era.  She created a sustainable hospitality operation ran by 99% local Maya workers, dedicating her time to administrate, operate, and implement new green living hospitality practices, teaching local rural Maya hospitality working skills with the help of MFIL volunteers.  Mr. Bruce Gordon became the Environmental Manager of the property, implementing many eco-friendly programs and creating a private Maya Jungle Reserve, Bird Refuge, and a Wildlife Sanctuary.  She continues implementing new services and innovating responsible travel programs to enhance the guests' stay and visit.

Nowadays, the younger generation of her family oversee every detail of Hacienda Chichen, the first Mayan Eco-Spa and Wellness hotel in the Yucatan.  Strongly committed to Green living practices and Sustainable Responsible Tourism, the owners constantly remodel the hotel facilities to include earth-friendly features such as LED lights, waste management programs,  implementing a septic and water treatment system, recycling building materials, reclaiming furniture, creating jobs for the local rural Maya people, and dedicating their hospitality services to healthy responsible choices as well as to help travelers experience genuine Maya traditions and a true communion with Mother Nature. 

 
HACIENDA CHICHEN AND YAXKIN SPA COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND PRESERVING LIVING MAYA TRADITIONS

As a family, this fourth Barbachano generation actively supports the rural Maya people with strong social volunteer work programs sponsored by The Maya Foundation In Laakeech NGO. This eco-social sustainable organization is dedicated to rural Mayan Communities welfare, offering job-related training programs for adult Maya people, plus health care and education for young Mayan children.  The foundation dedicates most of its efforts to the Maya Children Nutrition program and to the preservation of the hotel's private Maya Jungle Reserve's fauna and flora, their care for Yucatan's wildlife has brought a safe place to dwell to many endemic animals as well as many bird species and endangered fauna. 

HACIENDA CHICHEN HISTORY CONTINUES TO UNFOLD WITH INNOVATING CARE FOR LIFE TREASURES AND A DESIRE TO SERVE YOU.

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.

If you wish to help in our social volunteer caring projects, please review the Volunteer Program FAQs and visit Yucatan Adventure Eco-Travel Guide online  or email: info@yucatanadventure.com.mx

Hacienda Chichen among five of Mexico sustainable tourism initiatives
showcased at the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference

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

In the News Hacienda Chichen and Yaxkin Spa: Comments and Reviews

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