From US$425 including breakfast
– Upgrade to an Eden room with an outdoor private Jacuzzi perched on the clifftop
– No free bottled water in the rooms and often slow wifi
Hotel Hacienda Na Xamena is all about style. Perfectly designed in the 1960s by the architect owner, every line maximises the magnificent view, every feature has been carefully considered to enhance the stunning landscape and reflect the different moods of the sea and sky.
Reception is on the 5th floor; you descend to the bedrooms located off echoing tunnels hewn into the cliffs. It’s a cross between a millionaire’s playground and an underground lair. The rooms are simple and modern, white with curved lines and expansive windows. With features such as a steam shower and hot-tub balanced on a window ledge overlooking the ocean you don’t really need any other frills. Sunset from the tub is essential.
The main hotel terrace wraps round a free-form pool which has gentle water features and the gradual slope of a tropical shore at one end. The beautifully landscaped space is shaded by olive and palms trees and flanked by meandering herb borders, giving it a wonderfully natural feel. The terrace extends to an upper level, with plenty more day beds and secluded spaces to absorb the view which is nothing but a vast expanse of sky, sea and sheer cliff face. As sun descends into the ocean in spectacular fashion the pool is lit beautifully, with tiny blue LEDs in the pathways glittering like star constellations.
As the first 5 star hotel on the island La Hacienda has been sharing its vision for decades. Perhaps though there is a slight complacency when it comes to service, which could do more to complement the sublime view and surroundings.
