Oregon YPO Gold

We recommend joining us in Mexico City for a ‘pre-night’ celebration of ancient culture and the unforgettable flavors of this mighty metropolis! Mexico City is the air hub for all destinations in the country; from Portland, there is a wide selection of flights to Mexico City, and multiple options the following morning to our trip’s starting point in Mérida.

Mexico City is the largest city in the Western Hemisphere, and a food lover’s paradise. After settling into our hip, luxurious accommodations, we’ll have a private group dinner — just for us! — at one of Mexico City’s iconic, globally renown kitchens.

The following morning, we will organize transfers to Mexico City’s airport to catch connecting flights to Mérida.

Bienvenidos a Yucatán. Upon arrival at Mérida’s international airport, we’ll arrange a private transfer to our luxurious and historic basecamp in the heart of the jungle. As colonial bungalows give way to windier roads and  flowering meadows vanish into verdant forests, you’ll start to feel the warmth of the true Yucatán.

Once you’re settled into our hacienda, the afternoon is yours to embellish. Just don’t wander too far though as a pre-dinner cocktail hour poolside among the palms will officially kick-off our retreat.

Dinner tonight is a slow, exquisite introduction to the Yucatán. Think a tasting menu peppered with down-the-road-fresh, seasonal dishes like suckling pig marinated in citrus and spiced with achiote paste, or pavo en relleno negro, simmering in a rich sauce of black recado and cabbage and hard boiled eggs. It’s the perfect way to celebrate this incredible place and the restorative few days ahead. 

Today, we search beyond the blossoming oleander and our jungle sanctuary to witness the work of some extraordinary humans. We start in the village of Maní by marveling at the architecture of the 16th-century Church of San Michael Arcangel. Soon thereafter, we’ll visit the home and studio of the most renowned potter in the Yucatán; not only will be granted a tour of his workshop, but we’ll get a hands-on demo and history lesson too. 

Next up is a visit to a centuries-old apiary. We’ll meet Father Luis, a caretaker of an incredible community of Melipona bees. These stingless bees are sacred to the Maya and produce some of the finest honey in the world.

Lunch today is a serious treat. We dine at humble, legendary El Príncipe Tutul Xiu in Maní, one of the region’s most storied kitchens, for their signature poc chuc: charcoal fired with grill-roasted onions, a sharp marinade, a dash of roasted habanero salsa.

After lunch, we’ll take a dip in a pristine cenote, where ancient tree roots and imposing stalactites hang like an upside-down world. When we return to our hacienda, we’ll be full of inspiration and ready to relax for the evening.

Today is a day for introspection and slowing down. We’ve deliberately put nothing specific on the agenda, so you can do quite literally whatever you wish. Lounge by the pool with the perfect book or stroll the grounds and philosophize.

Or better yet, use your complimentary spa credit to melt under the magic of a Mayan healing massage. What exactly does that entail?  Imagine massage beds inside a candlelit cenote, flecked with flower petals and stocked with indigenous oils and moisturizers.

Just make sure you come back to Earth by the early evening. We’ll be treated to a tasting  of local mezcals, with an expert guide who will introduce us to the origins of artisanal mezcal, the cousin-spirit of tequila and one of Mexico’s famed exports. Once the mezcal starts to summon our appetites, we’ll roll up our sleeves and don our aprons for or a full-on Mayan cooking workshop, which will culminate in a collaborative and exquisite private dinner.  

The beauty is in the details. And today we’re getting up close and historical with Yucatan heritage, beginning with arguably the region’s best Mayan site, Uxmal. Here we see the ornate Puuc-style carvings adorning the gated temple walkways and bulbous pyramids that inspired Frank Lloyd Wright. After this profound experience, we’ll stop for a rustic roadhouse lunch. 

We’ll return for a peaceful afternoon at our hacienda, but hopefully not too full! This evening, dinner is an equal treat—alongside local chefs, we’ll help to prepare cochinita pibil—pit-roasted, smoky and succulent pork with fresh tortillas. Both a farewell feast and a love letter to the Yucatán, this dinner is the perfect way to end such a glorious and meaningful experience. 

Alas, our time together is done. After a final breakfast we pack up and say K’a’ak’ate to the wonderful hacienda, to all of our YPO friends. We’ll transfer you to the Mérida airport for flights home. Till next time!