Wanderlust Travel has teamed up with Golf Resort Architecture Specialist, Agustín Pizá, to provide a guide of the best golf courses, luxury resorts and suggested activities in Merida, Mexico.
To inspire travel for golfers and their companions, over four weeks we have been highlighting captivating regions of Mexico: Baja California Sur, Punta Mita, Quintana Roo and Merida. Each area offers a range of luxury accommodations, unique cultural immersion experiences, and let’s not forget great golf. We have also uncovered opportunities for less experienced golfers or younger family members to take part in golf activities.
In our final week we are focusing on Merida.
Vacation is a time when you want to relax and pursue your passions. But, when travelling with family and/or friends more often than not everyone has a different idea of what their ideal vacation looks like.
Avid golfers want to experience championship courses with beautiful views, a range of dining options and luxury accommodations. Those traveling with an avid golfer know that there will be a fair amount of time set aside for the links and they want to make sure the destination has activities to stay entertained.
Agustín Pizá, Golf Resort Architecture Specialist and owner of the award winning Pizá Golf, graciously provided his tips and local knowledge of this golf destination. For more than two decades Pizá has collaborated with legends of the game and world class golf developments. His designs are known for delivering quality, aesthetic and strategic golf courses. Involved in more than 60 projects in 3 continents, Agustín is a writer, tv commentator and director of The First Tee program in Mexico.
Agustín has been seeing a trend in golf courses that are providing amenities to include and attract family members to enjoy additional offerings at their courses. In our interview Agustín explained, “It took me 19 years to understand we should be designing for the non-golfer and create a more inclusive, family-oriented facility that welcomes and offers something for all. I hope you enjoy the list of golf courses I think offer a bit of change and originality and, hope you and your family will enjoy these facilities and fall in love with golf and the warm hospitality of Mexico.”
Wanderlust Travel Boutique has broken down our recommendations by region, course, hotel and local experiences. This guide provides a well-rounded luxury travel experience.
Merida Region:
Merida, the only land locked destination on our list, is the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán and a 3-hour drive from Quintana Roo. The colonial city has a strong Mayan cultural presence and is sometimes called the “White City,” because of its buildings made of white stone and also noting the city’s cleanliness. With a distinct feel from other colonial cities in Mexico, Merida is full of contrast amidst its colonial houses and Mayan ruins. There are cultural events almost every day of the week, and on Sundays, they close off the
streets to traffic allowing city plazas come to life with locals enjoying cultural events, folkloric dancing and tented markets. The gastronomy is also a big draw for tourists. Local markets, like the bustling Mercado Lucas De Galvéz and Mercado Santiago, are bursting with exotic fruits, vegetables and local fare. This is a great city to explore on foot or on bike to take in the architecture, museums, art and food scene.
Merida Course:
Chablé Yucatán Wellness Golf
This course is unlike any other on our list, or pretty much anywhere else in the world. Located within the Chablé Yucatán resort, it is surrounded by a Mayan forest. Designed to be played in 90 minutes so you can enjoy a range of activities and relaxation at Chablé, guests will enjoy a laid-back style of optional barefoot golf that allows you to begin and end a round at any point. The course features nine tee boxes spanning up to 200 yards in distance, four unique greens with two or three pins and multiple hazards. Distinct shot angles and values, in tandem with the serene
environment, will create a challenging, yet relaxing experience for all to enjoy. Wellness Golf at Chablé encourages guests to expand beyond the mental and physical aspects and connect to the game on a spiritual, emotional and environmental level. The idea is to re-learn golf not by following the rules of the sport, but by following the rules of nature and involve all the senses in order to be in the moment.
Augustín excitedly can’t say enough about Chablé Yucatán. “It’s where our Wellness Golf concept started. Enjoy one of the most unique golf experiences in the world, take your shoes off and connect with nature while enjoying the 360-degree experience. This award-winning concept by Piza Golf was showcased by the USGA (United States Golf Association) in their 2019 innovative symposium as an example of “redefining golf facilities”. A “rule-less” golf experience designed to the highest standards.”
Merida Hotel:
Chablé Yucatán
Modern aesthetics and ancient mysticism come together at Chablé Yucatán. Hidden within the Mayan rainforest, yet just half an hour from the city of Merida, the 750-acre resort repurposed the original 19th-century hacienda walls in its 38 casitas and villas, each minimally adorned and featuring an individual plunge pool. Chef Jorge Vallejo, whose restaurant, Quintonil, is regarded as one of the world’s best, creates the menus
sourced from the on-site gardens and pairs the dishes with the world’s largest private tequila collection. Native healing is found through authentic rituals in the spa, set within a natural cenote. Besides golf, this hotel offers a range of wellness activities. Guests can take classes, workshops and private sessions focusing on yoga, Pilates, meditation, tennis, cycling, and running.
Merida Local Experiences:
Historic Merida City
Wander the city on your own or we can arrange a private tour based on your interests. Learn about Merida’s history and contemporary importance with a guided tour of the Zócalo, the cathedral, and the Monument of the Homeland before heading down El Paseo de Montejo with its grand, colonial buildings. Foodies might enjoy a cooking class with a local chef, and art lovers would relish in a guided tour of art museums and galleries.
Uxmal
Journey into the ancient Maya world with a guided tour of Uxmal, home to the stunning and grand Pyramid of the Magician. Built around 700AD, Uxmal had around 25,000 inhabitants at its height and is now one of the most important ancient Maya sites in the Yucatan. This UNESCO site is celebrated for its precise construction and
ornate stone carvings. The towering Pyramid of the Magician is in remarkably good condition, as are the surrounding structures, which can be enjoyed with much less crowds than other ruins such as Chichén Itzá.
Celestún Biosphere Reserve
Home to 2,000 or more pink flamingos, Celestún Biosphere Reserve, is a great place for nature lovers. Take a boat ride through a salt-water lagoon to see the variety of flora and fauna that thrives there and enjoy a swim in the refreshing waters.
Cenote San Ignacio
San Ignacio or “Tuunich Ha”, which means “water on stone” in Mayan, is one of mother nature’s wonderful masterpieces.
Descend on a stairwell 20 feet underground to its fresh waters and swim in this young cenote, admiring the large vault and the light that falls into its turquoise crystal waters.
⛳⛳⛳⛳⛳
Golf was invented in Scotland and perfected in North America. Merida, Mexico is a destination for travelers to enjoy the game on a new level. With luxury accommodations and unique local experiences Wanderlust Travel can arrange a memorable vacation for golfers and their fellow travelers.
⛳⛳⛳⛳⛳
Contact Us:
Jamie Jackson: (336) 263-1977 or [email protected]
Luxury Travel Advisor and Virtuoso Wellness Travel community member at Wanderlust Travel Boutique
At Wanderlust Travel Boutique, we will create a truly personalized, hassle-free vacation with a comprehensive itinerary, so you can enjoy an unforgettable experience.
If not now, when?
https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/jamiejackson
*Make sure to sign up on our website (bottom left corner) to receive our bi-monthly newsletter where we highlight destinations and travel opportunities*
