Casa Lecanda Boutique Hotel
A town house from the late 19th century, just a few minutes from Paseo de Montejo: Casa Lecanda has not altered the old substance but has exposed it. Seven rooms and suites are spread around several courtyards, between them lies a narrow garden with a pool and the famous patio de las hamacas. The floors are still the original mosaic tiles, above you stretch ceilings with wooden beams, and the furniture was commissioned from local craftsmen. Because the house is so small, the team knows your preferences after the first evening and gives you recommendations that are not found in any travel guide. As a member of Tesoros de México, Casa Lecanda belongs to the houses that stand for the preservation of historical architecture in Mexico. In front of the gate lies Mérida, behind the gate it becomes quiet.
Rooms
Seven rooms, four categories, and none are alike. The Patio Rooms face the courtyards and gardens, with the king-size variant in the fully restored part of the original house located directly at the patio de las hamacas, with minibar, safe, and a rain shower that lets in daylight. One floor higher, the Balcony Rooms open onto a wooden deck with a seating area, from which you can look over the entire house and the gardens, the best spot in the evening for the incoming breeze. The most elaborate are the Garden Suites: three arches as an entrance, a king-size bed, a natural stone bathtub, and oil paintings by the artist Malena Peón. Closets, desks, and beds are all custom-made from local workshops.
Culinary
Culinary experiences revolve around Anata, the house's wine bar and aperitivo on Calle 47. The idea behind it is the Sobremesa, which means staying seated after the meal: a carefully curated wine list, cocktails with a personal touch, and a kitchen that takes the product as a starting point and takes the origin of the ingredients seriously. Anata is reserved for guests aged 18 and older, which explains the calm character of the place. The morning begins with a continental breakfast in the house. Everything else is within walking distance, as the restaurants and bars of the neighborhood begin just behind the front door.
Activities
At the house itself, the program consists of a pool in the garden, a rooftop terrace, and massages that can also be booked for two. More interesting are the excursions that the team arranges for you: Chichén Itzá in combination with the Tsukán nature park and a cenote, or Uxmal with a stop at the Choco Story cocoa museum on a cocoa plantation. Celestún is 96 kilometers to the west, where you can take a boat into the Ría and observe pink flamingos in one of their few breeding areas worldwide. Closer is the city walk along Paseo de Montejo to Casa Museo Montes Molina, the only mansion on the grand avenue that has been preserved in its original state. Those who prefer to taste rather than walk can choose a mezcal tasting or a tasting of Yucatecan honeys, the varieties of which the Maya have appreciated since ancient times.
Location
Casa Lecanda is located at Calle 47 in the historic center of Mérida, in the neighborhood around Paseo de Montejo. The grand avenue, inspired by French boulevards, with its city palaces from the sisal era begins just a few minutes' walk away; it takes about a quarter of an hour to walk to Plaza Grande and the Cathedral of San Ildefonso. From Mérida Airport (MID), it takes about 20 minutes by car, and the house organizes private transfers upon request. As a base for Yucatán, the hotel is conveniently located: You can reach Uxmal in just over an hour, Celestún after 96 kilometers heading west, and Chichén Itzá in about two hours. You can reach the Riviera Maya in about four hours, making Mérida a convenient first stop on a tour.
