Hotel Esencia
Retreat to the Beach in Style: A Chic Little Gem on Mexico's Riviera Maya by Ronda Carman 
Written 04/13/2016
Updated December 6, 2017
Looking to escape the ordinary experience of an all-inclusive chain hotel? Look no further than Hotel Esencia. Roughly forty miles south of Cancun, and a world away from Playa Del Carmen, you will find a serene and secluded section of the Riviera Maya.
The 50-acre private estate, once the holiday retreat of an Italian Duchess, is a favorite for those who want to escape and those who crave privacy, luxury and exclusivity. Just this past week, fashion designer Jason Wu selected the fashionable resort to wed his longtime partner Gustavo Rangel.
With just 29 rooms, the property feels both intimate and private. The sheltered oasis sits just where the Yucatán jungle dissolves into the pristine sands of Xpu-ha beach, one of the only remaining undeveloped shores of the Mayan Riviera
The main structure at the Esencia houses a handful of guest rooms, while the majority of the guest quarters are situated in free-standing beach cottages. Rooms feature high ceilings, pristine white walls and floors with large picture windows that frame lush gardens or serene sea views.
Start the day with morning yoga, indulge in an aromatic body wrap, swim with sea turtles just a few feet from the shore of the hotel beach or sip margaritas from acid yellow mid-century-modern chairs.
How to get there: 50-minute drive south of Cancun International airport
Address: Carretera Cancún-Tulum, Xpu-Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Telephone: +52 984 873 4830
Website: www.hotelesencia.com