These are the best hotels to stay in now in and around Izamal: Yucatán’s sultry, storied and sun-kissed Yellow City.
Last updated: July 2023
Typically penciled in as a day trip or quick stop while en route to the Yucatán Peninsula’s bigger to-do’s (Mérida, Valladolid, Chichen Itzá), the sun-kissed Yellow City of Izamal is rapidly emerging as an anchor destination in its own right.
Perhaps fueled by the forthcoming Tren Maya – Izamal will have its own stop when the ambitious train arrives in 2024 – a rising crop of contemporary cafés, galleries and boutiques from bohemian visionaries have been breathing newfound life into the unhurried pueblo mágico (magical town). Coupled with the town’s layered past – one of indigenous Maya roots blended with Spanish colonization – not to mention fabulous cuisine, spectacular archaeological sights and a blossoming boutique hotel scene, this enigmatic enclave is proving it’s worth far more than its stopover reputation of yore.
For those looking to dive deeper into storied Izamal, spending at least one night – if not two or more – is a given. And to ensure a seamless sojourn, we’ve rounded up the best places to stay in and around Izamal: casual boutique hotels to beautifully restored haciendas to a lavish one-suite residence.
Related: Your Definitive Travel Guide to Izamal: Yucatán’s Sun-Kissed Yellow City
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Best Boutique Hotels in Izamal, Yucatán: Hotel Izamal Plaza and Hotel San Miguel Arcángel
In town, Hotel Izamal Plaza and Hotel San Miguel Arcángel offer casual boutique accommodations at under $100.00 USD/night. The former boasts spacious rooms, a swimming pool and rooftop with convent views; the latter an idyllic courtyard, on-site coffee shop and select rooms with plaza-view balconies.
Both are located in the heart of Izamal just steps from San Antonio de Padua Convent, Kinich Kakmó Pyramid and the town’s best restaurants, galleries and shops.
Related: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Mérida, Mexico: Yucatán’s Vibrant Capital
Best Boutique Hotels in Izamal, Yucatán: Casa de los Santos by Coqui Coqui
On a quiet street one block behind the convent, you can check-in as the only guest of Casa de los Santos. This exclusive one-suite stay comes from cult-following hotelier and apothecary Coqui Coqui, counting double clawfoot bathtubs, a private plunge pool and spacious terrace overlooking the faded stone walls of the convent’s posterior. Luxuriant details abound, like antique tapestries, ornate floor tiles and a beautifully arched open kitchen.
Plus: an on-site spa where you can book such restorative rituals as the Under the Yucatán Sun Facial or Healing Stone Massage. All treatments infuse Coqui Coqui’s artisanal line of transportive scents and botanicals.
Related: This Bohemian Hideaway is Giving Tulum Vibes on Yucatán’s Under-the-Radar Gulf Coast
Best Boutique Hotels in Izamal, Yucatán: Casa de Madera
If you’re traveling with a group or just want to splurge, Casa de Madera resides just two blocks off the main plaza and mere steps from Izamal’s enigmatic Kinich Kakmó Pyramid. This beautifully restored historic residence features four bedrooms, five bathrooms and a richly paneled dining room. In the lush outdoor garden, you’ll find an idyllic lily pond leading to a tranquil, lounger-lined swimming pool.
Related: This Pretty Seaside City is Mexico’s Newest It-Destination
Best Boutique Hotels near Izamal, Yucatán: Hacienda Sacnicte
A 10 minute drive from town, Hacienda Sacnicte (meaning “white flower” in Maya) exudes enchantment in a gracefully restored 17th-century Spanish hacienda. Leafy grounds count a picturesque swimming pool with umbrella-shaded loungers, porticoed terraces housing tables from the on-site restaurant and a flower petal-scattered pond framed by original stone walls.
Ten gorgeous rooms and suites feature such details as original wood-beamed ceilings, distressed ochre walls, king beds and organic bath amenities, plus contemporary mod-cons like A/C and wifi – all at under $100.00 USD/night.
Related: Tulum’s Best Boutique Hotels & Resorts by Neighborhood: Beach Road to Downtown to Beyond
Best Boutique Hotels near Izamal, Yucatán: Hacienda San José
The furthest from Izamal yet easily deserving of a spot on this list, a 40 minute drive from town brings you to the luxuriant grounds of Hacienda San José. This hidden jungle oasis boasts a restorative on-site spa, fabulous restaurant serving garden-to-table cuisine and a glistening swimming pool lined with sun-loungers and swaying hammocks.
After entering through the 10-foot wooden double doors to your spacious suite (one of only 15 on the property), expect soaring 18 foot ceilings with exposed wood beams, rich tropical hardwood furnishings and cool tile floors. Plus, luxe amenities like bathrobes and slippers, organic toiletries and in some rooms – arched walls leading to separate sitting areas, private terraces and outdoor soaking tubs.
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