Isla Blanca: Family Eco Villa Vacation in Mexico

I have been lucky enough to experience many hotels and beaches throughout Quintana Roo, Mexico, and I can say confidently that Maya Luxe's Blanca Beach House in Playa Blanca is among the most beautiful. Although it’s not typically open to children, we were able to get special permission from the host to have three families—each with one preschool-aged child—convene for a five-day respite. They accommodated our staggered arrival times with ease, providing private airport transfers (with car seats!) and helping us arrange a customized welcome dinner with a personal chef.

Sunrise from the villa

The wow factor we experienced upon arrival was absolutely spectacular. A wide expanse of turquoise ocean is visible from the front door (and most of the downstairs common areas) and the interior design is absolutely impeccable. The beach itself was sunny, soft, and varied: One day there were tons of tiny waves and a bunch of sargassum for the kids to poke and inspect; the next day the rare waves were gently rolling and the sand was bare. If you’re like me and appreciate looking at the ocean more than being in it, the plunge pool was perfect for that—and even better, it was shaded starting around noon.

The home is completely off-grid, so air conditioning use is not permitted during the day, but at night we barely used it because the sea breeze was the perfect temperature. It is also quite remote, with patchy internet in most parts of the house (which is what we wanted so we could unplug). We opted out of getting a rental car because Maya Luxe offers fridge-stocking services, and the full-time housekeeper and her assistant were able to run out and grab us anything last-minute we needed.

The on-site service was really special. Each morning, the housekeeper set out fresh fruit, coffee, and the other breakfast items we had requested—a true game-changer for parents of young kids—and tidied up once the meal had disintegrated into chaos. She also treated us one afternoon to a giant pitcher of hibiscus iced tea, and another day to fresh quesadillas. She really went above and beyond to help us feel comfortable and welcomed, and it was noticed.

One of our two dinners prepared by Chef Judy

We were able to enjoy two excursions during our trip: one to Cenote Verde, and one to Isla Mujeres. The cenote was a beautiful, semi-private experience—everyone in our group was pleasantly surprised at how clear and tepid the water was (cenotes are known for having cold water). There were bathrooms, a snack bar, and a tiny tienda on site as well, and they even accepted ApplePay! Our private boat ride to Isla Mujeres was a little bit choppy, but we finally found a calm area and enjoyed lots of swimming before a sunset dinner (delivered to the boat from a local restaurant!) and a much-more-gentle ride back to the marina.

During our boat ride to Isla Mujeres

Though they were really fun, we really didn’t need the excursions to keep the kids entertained—we could have just sat at the house the whole time and rotated between the beach, pool, and digging in the sand. Overall, the house was lovely and just the right size for three couples and three kids who wanted to relax and take it easy.

The “neighborhood” is not walkable on the roads, but the beach is long and you could probably walk really far in each direction if you had the time and energy!

It’s advisable to have cash for things like tips, dock fees, and entrance fees, but most individuals will accept U.S. dollars if you don’t have pesos.

Avoid drinking tap water if you are not used to it—that includes water used for boiling pasta, making coffee, and washing fruits and vegetables. Ice from restaurants is typically made with filtered water, but choose your own level of comfort there.

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