Casa Almaviva, Sian Ka'an

Casa Almaviva is for a small group of up to eleven who want the reserve itself, not a villa near it. The house sits on the beach inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, roughly 22 kilometres south of Tulum beach down a dirt access road, and it runs off-grid on solar power: fifty panels, a battery system and a generator behind them.

The stay is fully staffed. A caretaker and chef David cook every meal from local ingredients, including the daily catch a local fisherman brings to the door; ceviche and lobster paella are his specialities, breakfast eggs are made to order, and vegetarian or pescatarian alternatives are available with notice. A full-board or half-board meal plan covering meals and drinks is required for every stay.

The living room is an open palapa, cooled by the sea breeze rather than air-conditioning, with covered space for dining and lounging. The four bedrooms are air-conditioned and set apart from it, so the nights are cool. A pool gives an alternative to the sea on days when sargassum reaches the shore, and the Mesoamerican Reef lies about 400 metres out, a 25-minute swim with fins.

Getting there is part of the decision: about 2 hours 45 minutes from Cancún airport or 1 hour 45 from Tulum airport, most guests by rental car. Check-in runs 3 to 10 pm, and because the reserve road is unlit and empty after dark, first-time guests are asked to arrive before sundown.

For a group that wants the wild coast with the cooking handled, this is the house. Enquire for availability.