3 Best Hotels in Isla Holbox, Yucatán and Campeche States

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.

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.