Casa Cat Ba

Holbox lies at the northern tip of the peninsula, within the Yum Balam reserve, between the Gulf of Mexico and a lagoon of clear green water. Its streets are sand and there are hardly any cars: people get around by bicycle, golf cart or on foot. Flamingos and pelicans live in the lagoon; to the east, Cabo Catoche is a beach you can only reach by boat. The island is reached by ferry from Chiquilá.

Casa Cat Ba’s activities guide (opens the official website in a new tab)

Six rooms in a village villa right on the beach, a three-minute walk from restaurants and bars. Its owners remade it with local materials and natural colors, in a style they describe as wabi-sabi: antique furniture, regional craftsmanship and work by artists from different countries.

Every room faces the beach and has a balcony or terrace; on the roof, a suite under a pergola takes up the entire floor. The house’s terrace, with loungers facing the sea, is the place for sunset. Breakfast is included and the bar is open during the day.

Colette and Pierre-Marie, from France, left their corporate jobs in Bordeaux, traveled through southern Europe, Vietnam, Brazil and Florida, and stopped in Holbox. In 2017 they bought a beachfront villa in the village and renovated it themselves, drawing on their experience in interior decoration. They wanted a house where guests feel at home: they welcome them in person and offer one room, several or the whole house.

• Boat trips on the lagoon, home to flamingos and pelicans, and out to Cabo Catoche.
• Kayaking in the mangroves, kitesurfing or paddleboarding with operators recommended by the house.
• Cycling the sandy streets and along the beach.

• MICHELIN Guide: Selected (opens the source in a new tab)
• Condé Nast Traveler: New island hotels · 2019 (opens the source in a new tab)
• AD France: Feature · 2019 (opens the source in a new tab)

• Reached by ferry from Chiquilá; check schedules with the operator.
• Minimum stay of two nights; seven over Christmas and New Year.
• The main house does not accept children under 12; ask about family options through its website.
• Holbox is a protected natural area: the island charges an environmental fee per person per night, paid in cash on arrival.

Casa Cat Ba FAQ (opens the official website in a new tab)