Hotel CIGNO

Right in the center of the city of Mérida a 19th-century mansion has been put to new use as a luxury boutique hotel whose design pays the maximum possible tribute to local tradition. Hotel CIGNO is not a strictly historically correct recreation of the grand Yucatecan residential style, but a contemporary interpretation, full of details inspired by both the colonial and indigenous traditions.

Its French-style façade remains as ornate as ever, but once inside it’s clear this house is a perfect example of a Spanish-inspired courtyard house. Many suites come with balconies, some come with plunge pools, and a couple of them open directly onto the rooftop terrace. And the interiors are roughly equal parts antique and contemporary, with timbered ceilings, tile floors, and modern built-in storage that feels cut from the same cloth as the colonial-style décor.

Life here is slow, in the best possible way, but that doesn’t mean dull; Cigno offers a multitude of activities to guests, from yoga and massage to cooking classes, kayak tours, and even cenote dives. Of particular note is the hotel’s restaurant, where chef Ángel Peláez crafts modern dishes from traditional local flavors.