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HACIENDA CHICHEN RESORT AND YAXKIN SPA: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN ACTION! For four generations the owners of hotel Hacienda Chichen Resort have taken the utmost care to preserve the hacienda's own historical legacy as well as the Maya cultural traditions and values, while protecting the pristine natural environment of their Chichen Itza property. This green hotel owners and staff team, composed by 99% local indigenous Maya rural people, are committed to an eco-cultural vision and social mission that follows an innovating set of Sustainable Tourism programs, encourage sound ecological practices, and help improve the well-being of Maya rural people close to Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. Since the early 1990s, Long before Sustainable Responsible Tourism became a major trend worldwide, Hacienda Chichen Resort owners had committed to its principles and became to empower Maya rural adults hoping to have an opportunity for better jobs despide their lack of formal education and skills. Haci
Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxkin Spa's
Years Ago and Nowadays.

"We are a unique combination of history and innovation, of discovering new ways to better our work and preserving our past legacy and identity.  Hacienda Chichen Resort is more than a hotel: it is a soulful passion uniting energies, visions, and commitments that bring about a wonderful harmony between human enterprise, respect for Mother Nature and, heartfelt efforts for creating a soulful place, for you to embrace life and the wonders of the Maya culture."

 Hacienda Chichen Resort, Owners Statement

Since the early 2000s, Mr. Bruce Gordon has pledged to the United Nations Environmental Program to plant hundreds of endemic endanger tree species; you also can contribute to UNEP's "Plant for the Planet." Committed to improve our land, he installed a truly impressive waste management program, using a state-of-the-art eco-friendly bio-digestible septic system. Our waste water system purifies and recycles used water with the help of bio-digestible tanks and man-made wetlands. For that reason the hotel uses eco-friendly amenities, cleaning and laundry products; as our guest, we asks you to please uses biodegradable personal care products such as eco-friendly repellents and sun-block. Since 2008, Hacienda Chichen Resort has been annually included in National Geographic Editors' favorite green "Hotels we Love: Stay List," due to our sustainable commitment and soulful green living practices, friendly ambiance and commitment to serve with care traveler visiting Yucatan and Chichen Itza. A

"A beautiful hotel that conserve and give you a breath of history, culture and natural heritage of Chichen Itza. I fell in love with Hacienda Chichen the very moment I sat foot in this magical place. We enjoyed long walks, great food, and a relaxing spa treatment. Indeed, Hacienda Chichen's soulfulness took over my whole being; even now I am still in love with it, with its energy and deep respect by which the owners have preserved this breath-taking historic landmark."

BY Guadalupe Grimaldi

New York Travel Consultant

Hacienda Chichen was among the first of Yucatan's Haciendas. This Colonial hacienda was built by the Spaniards in the 16th Century (around 1540s). 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.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,

"It was a pleasure to visit Hacienda Chichen Resort, I am still in awe of what you have worked hard to achieve, particularly on preserving the history of the building and heritage..."

By John Hollingsworth, TUI GROUP.

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. 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

"The Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. is an NGO which Hacienda Chichen Resort workers and owners founded to support the rural Maya children’s welfare, through social volunteer programs that are gear to provide nutrition, education, health, etc."

By Abraham Blanco, Active MFIL volunteer

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.
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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.
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.
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. Driving to Chichen Itza - Diid you know: Hacienda Chichen is the first of Mexicos Haciendas to become a Sustainable Toursim Maya Destination and Maya Eco-Spa in YucatanIn 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 int
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