Hotel Esencia

"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..."

"Dedicated wellness suites at Hotel Esencia, Quintana Roo, Mexico, each have a steam room and a private gym stocked with fitness gadgets upon request."

"A luxurious hideaway for the international jet set, Hotel Escencia is set 30 minutes north of Tulum and feels a world away from it all. Once the former home of an Italian duchess, it’s now a thoughtful boutique hotel with three restaurants, two pools, and a spa that overlooks a cenote. Set within a secluded 50-acre estate with flourishing tropical gardens, the property’s focal point is the main house, a three-story building known as Casa Grande, set just steps from 45 suites and three private villas, all with private terraces and some with plunge pools and ocean views. The property borders the Xpu-Ha cove to the south, a haven for the area’s sea turtles." - Michaela Trimble

"Often it’s easier for a property to serve the LGBTQ+ community beyond simple certification if the owner or GM identifies as LGBTQ+, Clifford adds. Take Kevin Wendle, the Hollywood exec turned hotelier who owns and runs Hotel Esencia in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, another favorite hotel among Clifford’s clients." - Mark Ellwood

"I even planned and executed my own three-day wedding at Hotel Esencia, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Oversize baggage and last-minute jewelry repairs notwithstanding, it was a dream come true—all of my nearest and dearest together in one place for multiple days of tequila-fueled fun to celebrate me and my high school sweetheart."