Nomade Holbox

A tourism boom has changed Isla Holbox in recent years, bringing an influx of international visitors to the once-sleepy island just north of the Yucatán Peninsula. It’s still a tropical paradise — blissfully car-free and part of Mexico's largest nature reserve, which is famously a sanctuary for the world’s largest fish — but it’s harder these days to find peace and quiet on the sand. Enter Nomade Holbox, a luxurious and eco-conscious adults-only retreat that’s a 15-minute golf-cart ride from the ferry terminal, pleasantly removed from the busier parts of the island and set right on a secluded beach.

The focus here is on wellness: Mayan-inspired sound healing, breathwork, and yoga are offered inside a structure that’s unironically called the Gratitude Tent. And even outside the tent there’s plenty to be grateful for, starting with the airy, high-ceilinged beach bar that opens onto a palm tree-shaded lounge area on the sand, just steps away from a dream-like expanse of aquamarine-colored sea. A stone-lined pool on the beach is another venue for aquatic activities, including water-based healing ceremonies or just soaking while sipping a cocktail.

Rooms and suites feel like an extension of the natural environment, housed in low-lying buildings crafted from locally sourced materials like wood and straw. Inside, canvas walls, earth tones, and natural textures evoke the island’s rustic charm, and private patios come with stone or copper tubs. There’s no question, though, that Nomade Holbox’s standout feature is a series of modern treehouses, each with a queen-sized bed facing the water, an indoor-outdoor shower, and a rooftop terrace offering 360-degree views over the island scenery. Meanwhile the public spaces include a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant.