Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Mexico / Xpu-Ha / Hotel Esencia
Hotel Esencia
Xpu-Ha, Mexico · Independent · Apex Luxury
Once the private 50-acre Caribbean hideaway of Italian duchess Rosa de Ferrari, Hotel Esencia sits on Xpu-Ha Bay between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, one of the last quiet beaches on this coast. Reopened as a hotel in 2005 and recast by owner Kevin Wendle from 2014, the 42-room estate is the only MICHELIN Three Keys hotel in the Riviera Maya and a Forbes Five-Star, with the duchess's own rooms still bookable as the Rosa Suite.
- 42 rooms
- Opened 2005
- Neighborhood: Quintana Roo
About Hotel Esencia
- Built as the private Xpu-Ha estate of Italian duchess Rosa de Ferrari; her former rooms remain bookable as the Rosa Suite.
- The only MICHELIN Three Keys hotel in the Riviera Maya (2025), the guide's highest hotel rating, and a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star.
- Fifty acres of jungle meeting one of the last undeveloped beaches on the Maya coast, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
- Producer and art collector Kevin Wendle bought the estate in 2014 and filled corridors, jungle paths, and rooms with a contemporary collection.
History
On a 50-acre estate that was once Italian duchess Rosa de Ferrari's Mexican retreat. Reopened as a 42-room hotel in 2005 with a private beach on Xpu-Ha Bay.
The setting
Xpu-Ha, Riviera Maya — between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, on one of the Maya coast's quietest beaches. 2 km from natural pools at Kantun Chi park. 5 km from Xpu-Ha Beach.
Restaurants and bars
- Mistura — Restaurant
- Sal — Poolside · Seafood
Amenities
- Beach
- Two pools
- Spa
- Mayan rituals
- Private pool
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Three Keys (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2023)
Open Hotel Esencia in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.