Hotel Esencia

It’s always the chicest. It was our 10th time there and the service, food, accommodation - everything - has improved on an already perfect place. I just wish I could live there. It’s an easy getaway from all major cities and is always worth every cent.

In September 2023, my husband and I had an extraordinary stay at Hotel Esencia, which quickly became our favorite hotel. The experience was flawless, and we eagerly anticipated our return. Unfortunately, our second visit in 2024 fell short in several key areas. However, after sharing this feedback, hotel management graciously...

In September 2023, my husband and I had an extraordinary stay at Hotel Esencia, which quickly became our favorite hotel. The experience was flawless, and we eagerly anticipated our return. Unfortunately, our second visit in 2024 fell short in several key areas. However, after sharing this feedback, hotel management graciously offered us a complimentary stay to make things right, which we accepted during January 2025. I’m happy to report that the experience this time was much improved. The property remains unparalleled with lush, peaceful grounds. The beach is breathtaking - a nearly-private space with pristine sand and crystal-clear water. The rooms are beautifully designed, impeccably maintained, exude understated luxury, and include many well-thought out details and items one would want while on vacation (eg: flip flops, beach bags, certain toiletries like sunscreen, etc). The staff also recognized we were celebrating a birthday and did a very nice job welcoming us with birthday treats and a room upgrade. Our arrival was a fantastic experience. The spa was open during our stay and was every bit as lovely as we had remembered. During this complimentary stay, the service noticeably improved compared to our previous visit. While it didn’t quite reach the impeccable standard we experienced in 2023, it was clear the staff made an effort to ensure we were well taken care of. That said, the general service approach feels more relaxed than it once was — it is simply less polished and anticipatory, though it remains very friendly and accommodating. This attitude perhaps reflects the overall barefoot luxury vibe at Hotel Esencia, and I'm sure many guests appreciate this unobtrusive approach. Regardless, Hotel Esencia’s unique charm is undeniable. The beach, facilities, and serene atmosphere remain unmatched, creating a sense of effortless escape. Special touches like releasing baby sea turtles and swimming with manatees or seabobs continue to stand out. Overall, this recent visit reaffirmed why Hotel Esencia holds such a special place for us. While the service feels more laid-back than during our first stay, the incredible setting, well-appointed accommodations, and world-class beach make Esencia a rare gem. We are grateful to the management for their generosity and effort to improve our experience, and we look forward to seeing how the hotel continues to evolve.

Out of this world.......in every department. Great restaurants, wonderful staff and an incredible vibe. I don't usually write reviews, but this place definitely deserves its inclusion in the top 50 hotels in the world. Particular mention to the concierge department who really were fabulous.

We had such an amazing trip! As always our favorite destination! The newly renovated spa was soooooo great and very much needed! We had dinner at Beef Bar after a beautiful massage. Everything was top notch! The staff is always so welcoming and accommodating and we can't wait to return!

We had such an amazing trip! As always our favorite destination! The newly renovated spa was soooooo great and very much needed! We had dinner at Beef Bar after a beautiful massage. Everything was top notch! The staff is always so welcoming and accommodating and we can't wait to return!

Last September, my husband and I had an extraordinary stay at Hotel Esencia, quickly making it our favorite hotel. While certainly expensive, last year’s experience was flawless, and we eagerly anticipated our return. Unfortunately, this year’s visit fell short. What’s still great: The beach remains stunning, easily rivaling some of...

Last September, my husband and I had an extraordinary stay at Hotel Esencia, quickly making it our favorite hotel. While certainly expensive, last year’s experience was flawless, and we eagerly anticipated our return. Unfortunately, this year’s visit fell short. What’s still great: The beach remains stunning, easily rivaling some of our favorites around the world. The rooms are beautifully designed and well-maintained, and returning staff members like Omar and Augustine continue to provide excellent service. Unique experiences, such as the chance to swim with manatees or release baby sea turtles, still add a special touch to the stay. What fell short: Aside from the returning staff mentioned, we found that few others made much effort to ensure we had an exceptional stay. We arranged airport transportation, spa appointments, and confirmed amenities like the Seabob well in advance. After being informed that the Seabob was unavailable, we received an upsell email for a $1,000/night room upgrade, which seemed tactless. Our arrival at the property was rushed and impersonal, lacking the warm gestures we experienced last year, such as welcome drinks and cool towels. The spa’s closure due to ongoing renovation was communicated to us for the first time upon our arrival, despite our pre-booked treatments. We loved the previous spa's hydrotherapy experience, so even though villa-based services were offered with extended times, the experience was not very relaxing and it fell short of my expectations for a hotel of this caliber. We received a complimentary room upgrade after requesting it, but given the time of year and low occupancy rate, this was a missed opportunity for the hotel to proactively impress returning guests and recover from setbacks like the spa closure/communication issue. Service inconsistencies were apparent throughout. At Beefbar, servers struggled to answer basic questions about the wine list. One evening at the beach bar, our cocktails were incorrectly made, with no attempt to rectify the mistake, even after the mistake was acknowledged by a more experienced bartender. We received conflicting information from staff about restaurant hours and menu availability. Our first meal at Beefbar was disappointing, resembling the quality of a mid-tier all-inclusive resort, with unseasoned steak and gluey mashed potatoes. When we expressed that the meal was just okay, no follow-up occurred. We understand the hotel is still recovering from hurricane damage and therefore expected some changes. However, this stay did simply not meet last year’s exceptional standards, which is disappointing. Afterward, we spent a few nights at Belmond Maroma, where the service was consistently superior. Given Esencia’s high price point and reputation, there is room for improvement to return to the level of excellence we once experienced.

I have stayed at some of the fanciest hotels (e.g., the Aman) but this one is definitely on the top of favorite list. Everything was so great. The experience I had at this hotel will ruin all future hotel experience. I love the fact that they do not nickel and...

I have stayed at some of the fanciest hotels (e.g., the Aman) but this one is definitely on the top of favorite list. Everything was so great. The experience I had at this hotel will ruin all future hotel experience. I love the fact that they do not nickel and dime you. Pool person always bring water and ice gratis. In addition, there are some complimentary activities available as well. Like some other reviewers have mentioned, the food is dismal for the hotel of this category. The food at the Beef Bar was a let down. Hopefully the food will be better the next time we come back.

We stayed here twice before the new owner, Kevin Wendle, bought it in 2014 and invested millions to transform it from an exclusive hideaway with 29 rooms to an exclusive playground with 49 rooms including six beautiful beachfront suites. Along with rates that more than doubled, he also added an...

We stayed here twice before the new owner, Kevin Wendle, bought it in 2014 and invested millions to transform it from an exclusive hideaway with 29 rooms to an exclusive playground with 49 rooms including six beautiful beachfront suites. Along with rates that more than doubled, he also added an upscale gym, exquisite steakhouse with wood-burning oven for meats, veggies and very tasty pizzas, and a sushi restaurant. We booked the beachfront suite at $2900++ per night. We wanted the master beachfront suite instead but was $900 more. Why? Same suite but with a small plunge pool and patio. The food served at the restaurants is best-in-class. However so are the prices. Salads are $35, ahi tartare $75 and breakfast for two averaged $160. We booked through Virtuoso which includes breakfast so if you do book, make sure to use them. Figure on $500-$600 daily for lunch and dinner. Plus wine. I had the opportunity to talk to Kevin about a few issues at the resort, cost of food being one of them and he told me that he imports a lot of the food and the costs keep going up. Perhaps that is one reason why the food is so good. Now mind you we knew the rates up front and loved the property before. Now that it was rated 5-star by Forbes, we splurged. We were there during spring break and there were a lot of families with babies and kids. I asked Kevin about this since I always remembered the property as an adult hide-away and not for kids. He told me that for two weeks during spring break and Thanksgiving holiday, kids rule. I will make sure to come back in February or April next year. Our beachfront suite was literally 20 steps to the ocean. The suite itself is white, white and white that features a dual shower, plenty of closet space and small patio. There are no drawers but Kevin assured me they were available on request. You have an option of beach level or second level. We had the beach level but it's close to the main sidewalk where the workers come and go. The second level offers better views and two lounge chairs but then there are the steps. The beach huts remain the same as before and hopefully they will offer an adult section on our next visit. Service on the beach was spotty. Another nicety added was afternoon tea with pastries at 4:00-6:00 which is served in the main house which also features the library filled with books and board games. Overall, it's nice to have an individual owner like Kevin invested in the property that can make updates as needed to bring the best guest experience. I view Hotel Esencia like a fine bottle of Cab, it will only get better as it matures. I'm looking forward to my return trip next year and popping open the cork.

Mayan spa is the absolute BEST. Worth staying here for that alone. Afternoon tea with the iguanas on the veranda is also a great touch. Lots of privacy. The outdoor showers and hot tubs are great...not a fan of the hot tubs in room, but I think kids would appreciate....

Mayan spa is the absolute BEST. Worth staying here for that alone. Afternoon tea with the iguanas on the veranda is also a great touch. Lots of privacy. The outdoor showers and hot tubs are great...not a fan of the hot tubs in room, but I think kids would appreciate. Great bath products/book selections in rooms too. Sushi and tacos are wonderful, but I think that Beef Bar need to improve...we ate several dishes that missed the mark. The food overall is also unbelievably expensive....however the service is well done.

This place is flat out amazing. Relaxing, peaceful and if you are looking for luxurious accommodations and top-notch service, this is place. We visited in mid-February for the second time and our experience was even better than our first visit, which I didn't think was possible. We had a wellness...

This place is flat out amazing. Relaxing, peaceful and if you are looking for luxurious accommodations and top-notch service, this is place. We visited in mid-February for the second time and our experience was even better than our first visit, which I didn't think was possible. We had a wellness suite with a rooftop plunge pool and the room was more than we expected. As for the resort itself, it is run like a well-oiled machine, and you can tell the staff really want to make this an unforgettable experience for the guests. Big thank you to Kennedy and Omar for their amazing beach service. These guys worked so hard and always had a smile on their faces. Food and restaurants were great, and we had two amazing spa treatments. We will return again! Thank you Esencia.

Absolute Paradise! From the moment you arrive you are transported into another world. Alexa our concierge was fantastic with nothing too much trouble. The food here is the best we have ever experienced in Mexico. We even had our own Peloton in our suite. Definitely coming back. This place deserves...

Absolute Paradise! From the moment you arrive you are transported into another world. Alexa our concierge was fantastic with nothing too much trouble. The food here is the best we have ever experienced in Mexico. We even had our own Peloton in our suite. Definitely coming back. This place deserves all the awards. We were even lucky enough to see the elusive wild Manatees.