Xpu-ha Photos

Sayleaway · 07-11-2006

Here is a link to photos I took of Xpu-ha Palace the week of June 18. Palace has bent over backwards to get this resort back up and running, but unfortunately, it's not what it used to be. The parts they still own are beautiful, and in fact, better than before. But without a decent beach and the snorkeling lagoon, and no oceanfront rooms, sadly Xpu-ha is not what it used to be

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gunnarsmom · 07-11-2006

Thank you so much for posting these photos. We stayed at the Copa a couple of years ago, and snuck onto the Xpu-Ha grounds to sneak a look, and the place looked charming. More recently we've been at Barcelo a few times, and were always curious how the reconstruction next door was going, but could never get a good look. We were amazed last month standing on the Barcelo beach, and looking over at what Xpu-Ha was calling their beach... very sad. I'm sure it's even sadder for those like you who knew Xpu-Ha in it's finer days. Thanks again... your photos answered alot of my questions.

Sukidog · 07-12-2006

That fence thing really freaks me out. It's too bad such a nice resort. I couldn't see myself staying there, however.

Sayleaway · 07-12-2006

Yes, that fence is rather imposing. You simply have a hard time ignoring its presence. We were told by Palace people that there hope is that the company that won the land dispute will eventually decide to sell it back to Palace since it has no land access. We were told it was some sort of clothing company (not sure why a clothing company would want that land), but it's very obvious that the company is in no hurry to repair it. Certainly a waste of gorgeous land!

sunatty · 07-13-2006

Thanks for the pictures...and the advice about the beach shuttle from your earlier message. Karen and I really enjoyed staying there in May, 2001 (especially as it had just opened and it was at 17% occupancy.) We have returned there every year since for a day visit. You are right, the Palace organization did a remarkable job of fixing up the place, but it is a shell of its former self, literally and figuratively. It looks like they kept the snake hut construction leading from the entrance, and were able to save the Mayan universe mobile in the lobby. What about the deer park, aviary, alligators, tutrtles and the tigrillos, are they around? It looks as if the only water is in the pool, which is a terrible shame as the snorkeling lagoon, paddling lagoon and beach are all off limits or destroyed. The beach looks unusable. It appears you would have to have feet of iron to get over the rocks and coral. Well, perhaps with time the resort will be able to regain some of the lost charm and amenities.

Sayleaway · 07-13-2006

Actually the resort looks almost exactly as it did (actually better - cleaner and more landscaped) until you get to the flamingoes. At that point, there is a fence (with potted tropical plants covering it) blocking the bridge that went towards Ragazzi. You can only go to the left there. Everything from that point on is different. The long path towards the old Reef section is now fairly short and you quickly come to the new restaurant building and then the long, thin (and gorgeous) pool that eventually leads to the beach area. They actually are planning to open the estuary for kayaking using what used to be the wedding pavilion for an entry point. It wasn't open when we were there. All of the animal habitats are there, although the serpenterium appeared to be closed. The aviary looks like it was unscathed. The deer area is like it was, but the vegetation has been cleared out considerably. That's one of the most noticeable aspects of the new Xpu-ha, the jungle is much thinner and it's odd how you can see things you couldn't see before through the jungle.

As far as the beach, they made an underwater "bridge" of concrete bags that goes out about 30 yards over the rocky bottom, but you would not want to swim there because it's very rough. The beach isn't awful, it's just very small and depressing if you knew the old beach. The view there is actually quite spectacular, looking out over the bay in front of Barcelo Maya.

It's still a very desirable resort (if you can ignore the war zone around it), but you really have to look at it as something completely different. We decided that we wouldn't stay there because our memories of the old Xpu-ha invade our minds. For a first-timer, it probably would have it's own unique jungle charms! We will most likely opt for the new Maeva Palace or whatever they choose to call it - I think it will be spectacular when they finish it as it will have the finest beach of them all, including the old Xpu-ha. It's truly a perfect Caribbean beach!

**Shammy** · 07-14-2006

Just getting a good look at the pictures now. Not liking what I see, how very unfortunate. I personally can't see recommending this resort any more, just too many things about it that make other resorts seem like a better choice. Like I said, the whole situation is very unfortunate.

But thanks so much for posting the pictures.

sunatty · 07-15-2006

Your comment about the "clothing company" owning the other part of the resort you made in reference to the pictures of Xpu-Ha interested me. I tried a search for that topic and didn't see any threads but this one that seemed on point. There have been numerous hypotheses regarding the land dispute over the past year since the hurricanes. If you don't mind, what do you know about the situation. How did that company get the land? was it after the storms? were they the ones that owned it before? Just curious.

Thanks.

Sayleaway · 07-21-2006

I don't know how the company got the land. We did hear the story from several Palace people, though. They were baffled as to what a clothing company was going to do with a piece of land that had no land access to a road. The whole thing seems to be a mystery, but one thing is for sure... whoever owns that land isn't doing anything with it, but is concerned enough about it to employ a guard to keep people out.

Billie Sue · 07-21-2006

I guess i posted a reply about the clothing company buying the old Xpu-Ha Palace land under Club Maeva info. Anyway the clothing Co. I heard was Liverpool???. Jump to the Club Maeva report to see what I've gathered on the subject.
Billie Sue

07-11-2006	#1 (permalink)
Sayleaway toe in water Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 50	Xpu-ha Photos Here is a link to photos I took of Xpu-ha Palace the week of June 18. Palace has bent over backwards to get this resort back up and running, but unfortunately, it's not what it used to be. The parts they still own are beautiful, and in fact, better than before. But without a decent beach and the snorkeling lagoon, and no oceanfront rooms, sadly Xpu-ha is not what it used to be .

07-12-2006	#4 (permalink)
Sayleaway toe in water Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 50	Xpu-ha Yes, that fence is rather imposing. You simply have a hard time ignoring its presence. We were told by Palace people that there hope is that the company that won the land dispute will eventually decide to sell it back to Palace since it has no land access. We were told it was some sort of clothing company (not sure why a clothing company would want that land), but it's very obvious that the company is in no hurry to repair it. Certainly a waste of gorgeous land!

07-13-2006	#6 (permalink)
Sayleaway toe in water Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 50	Actually the resort looks almost exactly as it did (actually better - cleaner and more landscaped) until you get to the flamingoes. At that point, there is a fence (with potted tropical plants covering it) blocking the bridge that went towards Ragazzi. You can only go to the left there. Everything from that point on is different. The long path towards the old Reef section is now fairly short and you quickly come to the new restaurant building and then the long, thin (and gorgeous) pool that eventually leads to the beach area. They actually are planning to open the estuary for kayaking using what used to be the wedding pavilion for an entry point. It wasn't open when we were there. All of the animal habitats are there, although the serpenterium appeared to be closed. The aviary looks like it was unscathed. The deer area is like it was, but the vegetation has been cleared out considerably. That's one of the most noticeable aspects of the new Xpu-ha, the jungle is much thinner and it's odd how you can see things you couldn't see before through the jungle. As far as the beach, they made an underwater "bridge" of concrete bags that goes out about 30 yards over the rocky bottom, but you would not want to swim there because it's very rough. The beach isn't awful, it's just very small and depressing if you knew the old beach. The view there is actually quite spectacular, looking out over the bay in front of Barcelo Maya. It's still a very desirable resort (if you can ignore the war zone around it), but you really have to look at it as something completely different. We decided that we wouldn't stay there because our memories of the old Xpu-ha invade our minds. For a first-timer, it probably would have it's own unique jungle charms! We will most likely opt for the new Maeva Palace or whatever they choose to call it - I think it will be spectacular when they finish it as it will have the finest beach of them all, including the old Xpu-ha. It's truly a perfect Caribbean beach! Last edited by Sayleaway; 07-13-2006 at 10:06 PM.

07-15-2006	#8 (permalink)
sunatty way into it Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weddington NC Posts: 164	Q for Sayleaway Your comment about the "clothing company" owning the other part of the resort you made in reference to the pictures of Xpu-Ha interested me. I tried a search for that topic and didn't see any threads but this one that seemed on point. There have been numerous hypotheses regarding the land dispute over the past year since the hurricanes. If you don't mind, what do you know about the situation. How did that company get the land? was it after the storms? were they the ones that owned it before? Just curious. Thanks.

07-21-2006	#10 (permalink)
Billie Sue sandflea Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Iberia, La. Posts: 6	Land Deal I guess i posted a reply about the clothing company buying the old Xpu-Ha Palace land under Club Maeva info. Anyway the clothing Co. I heard was Liverpool???. Jump to the Club Maeva report to see what I've gathered on the subject. Billie Sue

07-11-2006	#2 (permalink)
gunnarsmom very sparkly Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Enid, Oklahoma Posts: 28	Thank you so much for posting these photos. We stayed at the Copa a couple of years ago, and snuck onto the Xpu-Ha grounds to sneak a look, and the place looked charming. More recently we've been at Barcelo a few times, and were always curious how the reconstruction next door was going, but could never get a good look. We were amazed last month standing on the Barcelo beach, and looking over at what Xpu-Ha was calling their beach... very sad. I'm sure it's even sadder for those like you who knew Xpu-Ha in it's finer days. Thanks again... your photos answered alot of my questions.

07-12-2006	#3 (permalink)
Sukidog reposado Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: ON, Canada Posts: 1,384	That fence thing really freaks me out. It's too bad such a nice resort. I couldn't see myself staying there, however.

07-13-2006	#5 (permalink)
sunatty way into it Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weddington NC Posts: 164	Thanks for the pictures...and the advice about the beach shuttle from your earlier message. Karen and I really enjoyed staying there in May, 2001 (especially as it had just opened and it was at 17% occupancy.) We have returned there every year since for a day visit. You are right, the Palace organization did a remarkable job of fixing up the place, but it is a shell of its former self, literally and figuratively. It looks like they kept the snake hut construction leading from the entrance, and were able to save the Mayan universe mobile in the lobby. What about the deer park, aviary, alligators, tutrtles and the tigrillos, are they around? It looks as if the only water is in the pool, which is a terrible shame as the snorkeling lagoon, paddling lagoon and beach are all off limits or destroyed. The beach looks unusable. It appears you would have to have feet of iron to get over the rocks and coral. Well, perhaps with time the resort will be able to regain some of the lost charm and amenities.

07-14-2006	#7 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 10,522	Just getting a good look at the pictures now. Not liking what I see, how very unfortunate. I personally can't see recommending this resort any more, just too many things about it that make other resorts seem like a better choice. Like I said, the whole situation is very unfortunate. But thanks so much for posting the pictures.

07-21-2006	#9 (permalink)
Sayleaway toe in water Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 50	I don't know how the company got the land. We did hear the story from several Palace people, though. They were baffled as to what a clothing company was going to do with a piece of land that had no land access to a road. The whole thing seems to be a mystery, but one thing is for sure... whoever owns that land isn't doing anything with it, but is concerned enough about it to employ a guard to keep people out.

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