Villa Blanca sits low and set back among the palms on Tankah Bay, a quiet bay just north of Tulum, facing a soft-sand beach with calm water. Casa Cenote, a freshwater cenote that runs out to meet the sea, is close by and makes an easy morning swim or snorkel. Kayaks and paddleboards are provided for the bay.
The house has four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms on a ground floor and a first floor. Each of the four bedrooms has a king bed, and bedroom four also has a sofa bed for two children. The manager sets it up for groups of eight, with a maximum of ten when two of the guests are children on the sofa bed, so it suits a family or four couples best.
Chef service is included from 8 AM to 8 PM for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with extra hours billed separately. Groceries are charged at cost with no markup. Daily housekeeping and concierge support before and during the stay are part of the rate.
Outside there is a heated pool and a heated plunge pool facing the beach, with shade under the palms. The villa is pet friendly, so the family dog can come too.
Points to weigh: with all four rooms set up as kings, groups of friends who prefer separate beds will need to share. Tankah Bay asks for quiet after 10 PM, so it is a house for long lunches and early nights rather than parties. Tulum town and its restaurants are a short drive south. Check-in is 3 PM and check-out 11 AM.