Cristina Baker

Born in New York City in 1951, Cristina Baker was just a toddler when her family moved to Mexico. After high school, she returned to the United States and graduated from Smith College with a BA in Latin American Studies. “When they gave me the option to spend a year abroad, I chose UNAM, and immediately following my graduation, I moved permanently to Mexico City,” she says. “I spent 15 years there, in advertising, at Noble y Asociados DMB&B and at Proctor & Gamble.”

She married Jorge Ruz Buenfil, the son of a renowned French archaeologist, Alberto Ruz L’Hillier, the discoverer of King Pakal’s tomb in Palenque. Indeed, the couple’s affection for Yucatán runs so deep, they named their only daughter Maya.

In 1993, ties grew even closer when Jorge bought Hacienda X’canatun, or “stone house” in Maya. Cristina moved to Mérida, and personally supervised the reconstruction.

Over seven years, the sprawling, but dilapidated 18th-century estate was transformed into a luxurious hotel and spa. Today, Yucatán is famous for its hacienda resorts, but Cristina and Jorge were among the very first entrepreneurs to have such a vision.

Inaugurated on New Year’s Eve 2000, X’canatun soon became known as the most elegant destination in Yucatán. Cristina’s dedicated attention to every management and aesthetic detail is recognized as having raised the bar for the hospitality and tourism industry here.

“Originally, we intended to sell X’canatun to coincide with Jorge’s retirement in 2008,” Cristina recalls, “but political and financial situations in Mexico delayed the sale until August 2019.” She smiles, “And that’s when we sold our property to the Banyan Tree Group.”

The lockdown severely curtailed tourism and socializing, but the new owners took this period to add more amenities.

As well, during this time, Cristina was diagnosed with cancer. But she faced the illness with the same fortitude that had served her so well during her earlier challenges, and today, she is in full remission.

Cristina and her husband are now retired. “But we are consultants at X’canatun, so we get to stay involved with the tourism community of Yucatán,” she says. The two love traveling, and when not on a trip, they are surrounded by family and friends. 

BY MAGGIE ROSADO van der GRACHT PHOTO LAURA SÁNCHEZ

BY MAGGIE ROSADO van der GRACHT

PHOTO LAURA SÁNCHEZ