6 Best Hotels in Isla Holbox, Yucatán and Campeche States

On the island's remote northeast side, this luxurious waterfront retreat has rooms in four white buildings, complete with tile floors, beamed ceilings, thatched roofs, and contemporary decor. There are three pools and plenty of hammocks and chairs, but the beach is virtually nonexistent unless you head slightly west of the property. There is, however, a small sandbar just offshore where candlelit dinners are served (guests are taken across by canoe). The unobstructed views from the rooftop terrace are stunning, and there is ample wildlife to keep you entertained, including flamingos, iguanas, and a pet raccoon that hangs out in common areas. Note that this is one of the only properties on the island to offer Wi-Fi in every room, turndown service, room service, and a full spa. Although a far walk from town, Las Nubes offers complimentary bikes; you can also catch a golf cart-taxi for MX$100.

Rustic meets five-star at this elegantly landscaped resort, where winding paths leading to thatched-roof, bougainvillea-draped, white-stucco casitas where accommodations have soothing white-and-beige color schemes, artwork done by the owner, wooden beam ceilings, and hand-painted lamps. Each room also has a lounge area, private balcony, and large bathroom equipped with conch shower heads and stocked with organic bath products. Request a room in one of the back casitas—those in the main building tend to pick up noise from the restaurant below. You can lounge at the small pool or head for a beach bed perched on the sand in front of the hotel. The restaurant serves Creole, Mexican, and Cuban dishes, and there's live music on Saturday nights.

Made up of brightly painted beachside bungalows, this small hotel has rooms that are cozy, simple, and tastefully decorated, featuring pops of color that contrast with the white linens and the exposed wooden beams of the palapa-style roofs. Each bed is draped with mosquito netting, so you'll be safe from nighttime critters. A few rooms have kitchens, and the most expensive ones have ocean-view balconies. A small beachside, thatched-roof restaurant serves food that couldn't be fresher. Breakfast is included—expect local fruit, homemade bread, and fresh jams. In summer, ask the owners about their whale shark tours.

If you follow design blogs or Instagram accounts, photos of Punta Caliza may have already caught your eye—its central pool is surrounded by three white-washed, thatched-roof buildings containing rooms that are elegantly minimalist, with cedar-planked walls and ceilings, concrete floors, crisp white linens, and private plunge pool areas that connect to the main one. Although the property is a block back from the beach, it has is a beach club with a bar for guests. The restaurant serves generous breakfasts and traditional Mexican dishes with an emphasis on seafood at other meals.

Rooms at this tranquil, eco-friendly hotel have ocean or garden views, extra large windows, and hammocks, making them perfect for those who want to feel the sea breeze or fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. Bathrooms have eco-toilets, and shower water is recycled into the garden. There are six categories of accommodations, including two-story cabañas with whirlpool tubs and a beach house that sleeps eight. The pool is directly in front of the ocean, making it difficult to know where one body of water ends and the other begins.

Not only is the island's largest property right on the beach, but it has everything you need to be comfortable—an open-air palapa lobby, a temazcal (Maya sweat lodge), a large pool, a buffet-style restaurant, manicured gardens laced with sandy paths leading to freestanding, bungalow-style accommodations. Standard rooms have private entrances and wooden floors; master suites have two floors, a bathtub, whirlpool, and ocean views. Rope handrails, wooden masks, and bright Mexican fabrics enhance the decor. Note that, in addition to all-inclusive rates, the resort offers  half-board and breakfast-only plans.