Hotel Punta Caliza

"Why we love it: A family-run hotel with eye-catching design and sustainable architecture The Highlights: - Rustic wooden cabanas surrounded by water - Private plunge pools in each room - Tasty local food, including breakfast, snacks, and dinner upon request The Review: Holbox is becoming more and more popular, thanks to its chill vibe, powdery beaches, and relative privacy compared to Tulum. Among the island’s best places to stay is this family-run retreat, just a few blocks from the shore. Here, the unique geometric design features 12 whitewashed, thatch-roofed cabanas surrounding a flooded central deck-cum-pool. Each room opens directly onto a private plunge pool that connects to the main one, creating the feeling of an overwater bungalow. Guest room interiors are carved from sustainable cedar wood, lending a rustic air that melds perfectly with Holbox’s laid-back, eco-conscious atmosphere. There’s not much in the way of furniture beyond a few shelves and a bed clad in organic sheets, but that helps keep the focus on the fragrant cedar. Daily breakfast is included as are afternoon snacks. With advance notice, the chef will also cook you an authentic Mexican dinner using local ingredients. If you’re in need of a tipple, a tower adjacent to the lobby area has a bar with well-made cocktails and stunning ocean views. Just don’t expect fast Wi-Fi or much in the way of amenities—here, it’s all about island time."

"Set the scene.A whitewashed, thatch-roofed boutique hotel trying its hardest to keep a low profile despite the fact that it’s beautifully designed, on a peaceful corner just a block from the beach. What’s the story?Owned and run by a lovely family from Tabasco, Punta Caliza is a kind of slow-burn dream. The father had always wanted to own a home on Holbox. His cool-young-dude of a son, Cuauhtémoc, manages the hotel—his sister, Claudia, studied architecture at university and asked her professors to submit plans. Two very progressive designers from Guadalajara came up with a vision. The final result: a Mayan-style modern beach home. What can we expect from our room?Rooms are individual A-frame cabins done up almost entirely in sustainable red cedar wood—just rustic enough, and airy. One door leads to a private plunge pool, which in turn opens on to the hotel’s flooded patio. The burnished wooden walls and ceilings don’t require adornment, there’s an area for hanging clothes, a few built-in drawers and shelves, and a jug of purified water. You really don’t need or want much more on an island like Holbox. How about the food and drink?Breakfast is included and spotlights a daily special—chilaquiles or omelettes and toast. The restaurant does snacks rather than a lunch service, but talented Tabasco-born chef Ricardo cooks up memorable dinners when requested in advance—based around Mexican and Caribbean favorites (corn tortillas, sea bass, lobster, moles), with tropical fruits and exotic emulsions. The bar in the adjoining tower has some of the best views on Holbox, plus mean mezcal-based cocktails. Anything to say about the service?Laid-back and very friendly. No stiffness or stuffiness, which would never suit Holbox. Cuauhtémoc is keen to talk about the island’s natural wonders and its environmental challenges—and he can set guests up with kayaking guides and whale-watching trips. You feel well connected when you stay at Punta Caliza. Who comes here?In white, flowy tunics, in skinny jeans, in swimwear, or in not very much at all—the Punta Caliza crowd is small and a little bit secretive and ultra-civilized, but they like a discreet, intimate party, too. Talk is bookish and ecological, but come dusk, conversation lightens in step with the cocktails. How does it fit into the area?Holbox is growing outwards but for now Punta Caliza occupies a serene liminal zone between the protected reserve and the bustling little township. A few cool shops lie several blocks away and the beach is a block to the north. Birdsong is still louder here than golf carts. Is there anything you'd change?More substantial, proper Mexican lunches—this should be the go-to lunch retreat on the island. Maybe a little library in the tower? Anything we missed?No small kids allowed—with the flooded patio, little ones would have too much (noisy) fun. The pool is rightly a source of peace, as well as a place for a cool dip. Is it worth it—and why?It’s memorable—and that matters on Holbox. The island is changing and is at risk of losing its special vibe. Punta Caliza and a few other choice places enshrine the laid-back vibe and eco mission of the past." - Chris Moss

"Word may now be out about this tiny isle off the Yucatán Peninsula, but that has not compromised Holbox’s subtle charms. Along its northern edge, a string of taco shacks and palapa-style hotels with thatched roofs and adobe walls stretches across the uninterrupted sands. One block inland, this phenomenally well-designed hideaway stands out from the rest. Guadalajara-based Estudio Macías Peredo kept the thatch but placed it on top of 12 slick villas of red bark and limestone stucco, inspired by a Mayan building technique known as chukum, arranged in the shape of a triangle. The knockout element is what fills the open space between them. Instead of a traditional courtyard or terrace, Peredo created a swimming pool where the water, the same milky green as the Caribbean, laps right up against the villas’ cedarwood doors. Yet for all its style, Punta Caliza retains the island’s relaxed, flip-flops-at-dinner ease. The friendly owner, Cuauhtémoc Muñoz, is quick to share an icy Corona and a chat with guests after mornings spent on the hotel’s private beach. Breakfasts of fresh orange juice, chilaquiles, and tropical fruit are set up poolside, and insanely fresh octopus ceviche is served in coconut husks. FLASH POINT Head to the bar inside the adjacent tower at sunset for incredible views over the colorful sea. +52 99-8800-0119; puntacaliza.com. Doubles from about $210." - CNT Editors