"Right on Xpu-ha Beach, the best stretch of white sands on this part of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Esencia is one of those hotels that is spoken about in hushed tones by bohemians in the know, none of whom want to let this secret get out. But those who do make it here discover a small, natural beauty of place set on a palm-swaying estate on the edge of the tumbling sea. There are hammocks to laze in, and a dimly lit spa where bespoke blends—made from ingredients harvested from the waters of the Caribbean and the surrounding Mayan jungle—are crushed into poultices to help smooth out knots. For snorkeling among rainbow-colored fish, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is a five-minute hop on the hotel’s catamaran. Hungry? There are ceviches and tacos to try at Mistura, a restaurant with views of the moon-dappled sea, and a wooden beach bar housed under a two-story palapa that does the best margaritas in Mexico. And then, of course, there are the rooms: the interiors of the house, originally built as a hideaway for an Italian duchess, have splashes of 1950s art and huge bedrooms with generous terraces; Jungle Suites with plunge pools (some indoor, some outdoor) and beach suites are a study in white." - CNT Editors, Betsy Blumenthal
