Angsana by Banyan Tree Group debuts a Heritage Collection brand extension of curated properties in Mexico and Morocco
To mark 23 years since its inception, Angsana, a brand under Banyan Tree Group, presents a curated portfolio of properties steeped in architectural heritage, history, and culture. Known as Angsana Heritage Collection, this brand extension offers intimate experiences and deep-seated stories that weave together past glory and present comforts.
Hacienda Xcanatun, Angsana Heritage Collection
The recently expanded Hacienda Xcanatun, Angsana Heritage Collection in Mexico is located just 15 minutes away from downtown Merida, the capital city of the Yucatan region known for its tropical rainforests and being the home of the ancient Mayans.
During Mexico’s colonial period, haciendas – large rural estates – were the epicentre of the country’s economic and social life. Named after the Mayan word for “tall stone house”, Hacienda Xcanatun was first built to house and operate livestock in 1789.
Soon, it became a prosperous henequén hacienda –henequén being the Spanish term for Yucatan sisal – the fiber of a maguey plant native to the region that became the main material for of fabrics, cords and textiles exported worldwide between the mid-19th to early-20th centuries.
In the 1990s, Jorge Ruz Buenfil, the son of a noted archaeologist, and his wife Cristina Baker, transformed Hacienda Xcanatun into a hotel by restoring the architecture to its 18th-century grandeur.
In 2020, Hacienda Xcanatun was acquired by Banyan Tree Group, under its Angsana brand, known for intertwining local chic with vibrant destinations. After two years of careful expansion with attention to detail, the resort unveils 36 brand new suites, in addition to the 18 historic suites that have been part of the original architecture for centuries.
Each of the new suites features a harmonious blend of natural wood, leather, regional limestone (which lent the city of Merida its nickname “the white city”), and native pasta tiles traditionally found in henequén haciendas.
