Luxury Resort: CasaSandra On Isla Holbox

Rapidly becoming the destination of choice for those who once flocked to Tulum which is no longer the quiet escape it once was, as Travel + Leisure put it, you go to the Luxury Resort at Holbox not for trendy boutiques or nightlife but to “wade in milky, jade water and shuffle through fine coral sand, spend days on empty beaches accessible only by foot or bicycle, watch pink flamingos teeter in shallow lagoons, and snorkel with whale sharks” as the mood strikes you.

While much of the rest of Mexico is experiencing some turmoil to a greater or lesser degree, life continues apace on the idyllic island of Holbox, one of the safest and most peaceful places in the country if not the entire Caribbean.

While going barefoot on the beach is, of course, the main attraction, those who don’t want to completely abandon a life of luxury, and indeed anyone who truly appreciates art, design and good taste, books in at Ser CasaSandra, the island’s only upscale boutique resort.

With only 18 rooms and suites as well as a private villa, the organically-minded retreat set directly on a white sand beach was designed by artist, collector, and writer Sandra Pérez Lozano and used to be her private residence. Also home to the best restaurant on the island of Holbox, there are no TVs or telephones in the guest rooms, and many come here for a digital detox.

At once rustic and contemporary, with handmade Mexican and Cuban interior furnishings along with works of art both collected and created by Pérez Lozano and an emphasis on wellness, Ser CasaSandra retains the feeling of a welcoming family vacation house. Pérez Lozano conceived of it as a “canvas that keeps evolving and transforming through her creative inspiration,” stemming from both her Cuban upbringing and Holbox’s stunning natural surroundings.

Recently refurbished, the Luxury Resort has been enhanced with Bluetooth speakers in the guest rooms, handwoven linens and a revamped pool area, front garden and beach club.