Time and Place travels: A luxurious oasis among the trees, in Mérida, Mexico
A refreshing chukum pool under the shady canopy of poplar trees, at the Treehouse Boutique hotel in Mérida, Mexico.
For those who love cuisine and culture and sun in equal measures, I can’t think of a better getaway destination than colonial Mexico. This Winter, I ventured to Mérida, capital of the hot and sunny Yucatán Peninsula, discovering its pastel colored buildings, Belle Epoque mansions, leafy plazas, and fantastic restaurants.
Mérida has seen a surge of recent development, with historic homes converted into hotels, art galleries, restaurants, and renovated homes. Yet Mayan heritage runs strong in the town, whose colonial churches were constructed of Mayan relics destroyed during the Spanish conquest. Restaurants serve traditional Mayan cuisine, boutiques carry crafts made of local henequen sisal, and the heavily indigenous population speaks the local Yucatecan Mayan language.
Although there’s plenty to discover in Mérida, you’d be tempted to linger in place if you stay at The Treehouse Boutique, a luxurious oasis of nature and serenity near the town center. The 15-room, adults-only hotel is a destination of its own, offering stunning Yucatecan-flared architecture, artisan-crafted designs, and a refreshing chukum pool — ideal environs for a couples getaway, or a rejuvenation of the senses.
What truly sets the boutique apart are the trees growing inside. They were lovingly saved by the hotel’s owners who recently purchased the property: the American expat Sunita Martin, who followed her husband Patrick Martin, a diving enthusiast, to Mérida. Together with their daughter Selena Martin, who co-runs the hotel, Sunita and her staff offer guests the ideal level of hospitality: the balance of attentive warmth, with the privacy to enjoy the luxurious setting in peaceful relaxation.
Come in for a tour.
Patrick Martin designed the hotel, working with local engineers to execute the project. To complement the Yucatecan aesthetic, Patrick introduced Danish Modern-style lounge chairs to reference his family’s Scandinavian roots.
The tall, airy lobby opens to the courtyard. Here, Sunita and Selena host guests over a glass of wine or mezcal.
The hotel is respectful of Yucatecan architectural style. Its structure is centered around a lush courtyard with a chukum pool, an ancient Mayan stucco feature rooted in the history of the Yucatán that pairs modern design with nature’s simplicity.
The refreshing chukum pool, a typical Yucatecan architectural feature, is the hotel’s central draw. It’s shaded by poplar trees whose tropical roots hang down from its branches. Chukum pools are named after their main ingredient: a limestone-based stucco mixed with resin from the Yucatecan chukum tree species.
Light fixtures throughout the property are fabricated from natural Mexican onyx, each one revealing variations in the natural stone. The aquamarine tiles, one of the few pops of color on the property, mimic the tint of the pool.
Second floor rooms, accessed by semi-private outdoor staircases, are practically in the trees, giving the boutique its appropriate name.
Sunita and Patrick found lovingly clever ways to incorporate the trees into the design, making nature the focal point of the hotel. Here, one tree pops out of a hole in the floor. In other spots, the stucco roof has openings for a tree branch to grow through it.
The chic rooms are in keeping with the hotel’s minimal style. Artisan-fabricated furniture is made of local Tzalam wood, also known as Mayan walnut.
Showering among the trees, with the sound of birdsong coming through an opened window, is the ultimate luxury experience of the stay. A refreshing dip in the pool, followed by a rinse with bath essentials decanted into clay bottles, makes an ideal afternoon antidote to the Yucatan’s heat.
A view from an upstairs guest room of the chukum pool, whose edges wrap around the salvaged trees.
The hotel celebrates the local craft tradition of henequen, a sisal fiber derived from agave plants. At the turn of the 20th Century, the Yucatán witnessed an immense level of wealth from production of henequen, giving rise to Mérida landowners’ Belle Epoque mansions that line the town’s main boulevard.
Mérida makes a great base from which to explore the Yucatán Peninsula. Travelers can climb the ancient Mayan temple at Uxmal, swim in natural water cenote sink holes, or visit the all-yellow colonial city of Izamal. A private excursion with a car and driver can be arranged.
Breakfast of fresh bread, pastries, yogurt, and eggs to order is served on local henequen placemats and coasters. Leave room for lunch at Ramiro Cocina around the corner.
The hotel’s bar is decorated with curated Mérida crafts, some of which can be purchased as souvenirs.
For a refreshing pick-me-up, guests and locals are welcomed at the equally beautifully designed coffee shop next door, Pan & Køf.feé, also run by the Martins. Selena is in the process of setting up a coffee exporting business from the adjacent building, where Fair Trade coffee from Mexican women growers will be prepared for the U.S. market.
Sunita divides her time between The Treehouse and its sister property, Boutique by the Museo, just down the block on a beautiful Mérida street.
The flavors of Mérida, transported to your home
I’ve put together a curated shopping list of handmade decor inspired by my trip to Mérida: products using natural fibers, subtle neutrals, carved stone, and warm woods. Click the images for links to shop my handpicked selections.
Showing off your passions with global design.
Time & Place Interiors is a New York-based design studio specializing in mixing modern, vintage, and global artisan decor. Founder Ksenya Malina introduces handmade global designs to her clients’ homes, lending their spaces sophisticated vibes that reflect their elevated lifestyle. Use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with Ksenya about your design goals:
