A Stay at the Casa Sandra Holbox: Exploring Isla Holbox and Beyond
The CasaSandra Boutique Hotel, or Ser Casasandra, is a hotel in Holbox that offers an incredibly memorable place to stay. It is an idyllic place to situate yourself, and offers many excursions and experiences to enjoy in and around the island.
There is nothing quite like finding the opportunity to get away and relax on a stunning tropical island brimming with crystal blue waters and pristine white sand beaches. This is what Bri and I found when we came to Isla Holbox, Mexico.
Holbox is a charming little island in the northeastern corner of the Yucatan Peninsula, and it’s the northernmost point in the state of Quintana Roo. Bri and I get a little giddy whenever we have the opportunity to revisit Mexico, and especially the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s a region with so many incredible places to go—like Tulum, Cancun, Merida and beyond—that we are overwhelmed with joy whenever we get to go back.
When we first came across pictures of Isla Holbox, I have to admit that we were swept away by how stunning the pictures looked. It seemed almost too beautiful to be real. On top of its beauty, it’s also a destination filled with plenty of activities to participate in, both in and around the island.
I have to admit that I spent an inordinate amount of time looking at hotel reviews on Holbox before booking a place to stay. The truth is, there's no shortage of hotels on the island, but there's only one CasaSandra Boutique Hotel. In this article I’ll dive into the full experience of staying at CasaSandra, and all of the exciting activities you can get up to when you visit the island, too.
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Getting to Holbox Island
Since Holbox is a small island with so much charm, this means that it’s going to take you a few steps to get here, and rightfully so.
When it comes to making your way to Holbox, it’s important to consider where you’re coming from. Most commonly people arrive to the Yucatan Peninsula by air to either Cancun or Tulum. (If you still need to book flights to either Cancun or Tulum, I’d recommend starting your search with Skyscanner here.)
Getting to Holbox from TUlum or Cancun
If you're coming from either Tulum or Cancun, the most common options are to come by bus (the ADO Bus route is good) or private airport shuttle. More buses tend to run from Thursday through Sunday, so check at the local bus station to see what makes the most sense.
Another option is to take the brand new Mayan Train from either Tulum or Cancun to Nuevo Xcán. This stop will not get you directly to Holbox, but it gets you to Highway 5, from which you’ll need to take a private shuttle or bus.
I personally enjoyed the convenience and peace of mind Bri and I had taking a private airport shuttle. This was because our travel day began in Toronto, and once we’d landed in Cancun we were already feeling a little tired.
The drive from Tulum or Cancun takes 2-3 hours to Chiquila, depending on traffic and road conditions. Chiquila is the town closest to Holbox, from which you can catch the ferry to Holbox.
Taking the Ferry from Chiquila to Holbox
Chiquila is the farthest you can get on land to Holbox. From there, you'll take the ferry to your final destination. The ferry is run by two companies, 9 Hermanos and the Holbox Express. Naturally, the Holbox Express tends to be just a touch quicker, but both are fine.
The cost for the ferry should be around 150 pesos (for both companies) and it runs daily from 6am-9:30pm, and leaves every half an hour. I'd say it's a reliable service.
If it’s a good weather day, I’d highly recommend that you sit on the top deck when you're taking the ferry to Holbox. The ferry is lovely and open up top when the sun is shining, and if it’s your first day in Mexico then it will put a big smile on your face after a long travel day. That being said, the ferry ride can also sometimes get you pretty wet, in which case you might want to sit inside.
Personally, I'd rather be outside, but that decision is up to you! By the way, if you’re looking for a place to stay on Holbox aside from Ser CasaSandra, I’d recommend using this map to help you choose the best accommodation for you.
How the Casa Sandra Holbox Came to Be
The CasaSandra came to being when Cuban artist Sandra Pérez Lozano came to Isla Holbox looking for solitude and a space to inspire her work. Not long after, in 2003, she was opening her home to guests as a way to share what she'd found. Before she knew it, she'd created a hotel that was a living piece of art that all visitors could relish in.
As noted on their website, "this hotel is filled with dreams and decorated with original works of art made by her and other Cuban artists such as Roberto Fabelo and Noel Morera and is appointed with handmade Mexican furniture and Cuban antiques."
There are a variety of rooms (all of which are unique and special) available at the hotel which represent a number of different price ranges, but the real joy is the unmatched beach access. The CasaSandra Boutique Hotel opens up onto a beautiful stretch of water with no shortage of beach chairs, beds, as well as a bar.
The main restaurant and lobby is classy and updated, and the back area is perfect for relaxation by the pool, with ample space for yoga and the like. Both Bri and I actually did yoga one morning and I'll tell you from personal experience that yoga outdoors in paradise here is something special.
On one morning, I had some work to do and I literally just sat on the front patio, dined on breakfast and took in the cool breeze. Even while doing work, it was still enjoyable.
The Experience of Staying at CasaSandra: A Review
Bri and I stayed at the CasaSandra, or Ser CasaSandra, for three nights in a garden suite, and it was a completely magical experience.
I’m going to outline all of the amenities they offer, but let me first preface by saying that I couldn't imagine how they could have done anything better. I'm not even saying that as a turn of phrase, I literally can't imagine how anything could have been better.
Stunning Design and Cozy Lodging
Seeing as the hotel is referred to as a “casa”, this is exactly what the main building feels like. Every corner of this hotel has been carefully considered and artistically planned, making CasaSandra hotel feel like a design haven under its palapa roof.
I love how every corner of this hotel has been built with as locally sourced materials as possible, and nature feels like its been seamlessly integrated into its aesthetic. All rooms offer natural woods and neutral tones complimented by luxurious details like Egyptian cotton linens, vibrant patterns and textures and vintage local details.
Accommodation options range from ocean view or garden view, and there isn’t a bad view in the mix. Even their garden view rooms look onto the beautiful pool spa area, and if you stay in a room on a second floor you’ll be amongst the palm trees. The accommodations are equipped with everything you’ll need for your stay, including free toiletries and ample luxurious linens.
A Beach Location that Can’t Be Beat
CasaSandra is located directly on Playa Holbox, which is the main beach on Isla Holbox. It’s a stunning, flat white-sand beach, perfect for lounging on or dipping your toes into the ocean. The small road that runs along the beach, Av. Damero at Calle Igualdad, sits between the main hotel and the beach, but this sleepy island is so intimate and peaceful that it hardly feels like an inconvenience.
Their beach club offers luxurious and comfortable ways to relax by the ocean. Palapa umbrellas and structures are scattered throughout the beach, with luxurious lounge beds, chairs and hammocks along the water. You can also order food and drink service from the beach from one of their staff.
If the beach isn’t calling to you, their swimming pool located in the garden is a stunning oasis in its own right to enjoy during your stay.
Delicious in-House Cuisine at Ser Esencia RestaUrant
Ser Casasandra offers exceptional dining experiences for any time of the day during your stay. Their kitchen has created a fusion of regional delicacies, seafood, and catches of the day.
For breakfast, guests can dine in or outside. There is ample seating outside under the palm trees on the sand, and indoors offers an indoor-outdoor dining environment. During our stay we very much appreciated the freshly baked bread and hand-squeezed fruit juices, in addition to our main dishes at breakfast time.
They have a more than one beach bar on site. Lunch and snack options are available at Maiz Pool Bar and Mojito Beach Club. You can also order room service to your room at any time of day.
If you’re planning to indulge in dinner on the property, you’ll be delighted by its innovative Nouveau Yucatecan cuisine. Ser Esencia has collaborated with renowned chef Roberto Solís, to create a dynamic and exciting menu for guests.
Opportunities for Packages and Excursions
The beautifully painted stage in central Holbox
There are so many packages, excursions and experiences that Ser CasaSandra has available for guests to experience. During our stay, we experienced some of their wellness programming and classes, including yoga and guided meditation. We also had a tequila tasting for two on the beach, in addition to arranging several local tours through them to see places on the mainland and on the island by boat.
No matter what it is you’re looking to get out of a retreat to Holbox, you’ll find it at CasaSandra. Overall, we were incredibly impressed with CasaSandra during our stay, and we know you will be too.
The Cuisine at Ser CasaSandra Holbox
What you're looking at above is a delectable display of octopus carpaccio and grouper tiradito, and this was just the tip of the iceberg. Bri and I ate very well during our stay here.
With a restaurant ranging in dishes like Creole shrimp and filet mignon with a tequila barbecue sauce for dinner, delectable huevo ranchero and chilaquiles for breakfast, and fresh fish with all the fix-ins for lunch. That's not even to mention the mango mousse and homemade brownies for dessert.
The ultimate (at least for me) was the fact that on the last day before we left, they had learned how much I loved ceviche, and we were offered a ceviche-making class with the chef, which we dined on before we took off.
Their wine cellar and list at Ser CasaSandra is also exclusively Mexican, meaning you’ll be able to sample from a wide variety of incredible wines—Mexico has some truly amazing wines, if you didn’t already know this—which will further compliment every meal.
Exploring Isla Holbox and the Surrounding Area During Your Stay
The island of Holbox is absolutely stunning, and it's important that you get off the resort to discover that for yourself, no matter how nice your Holbox hotel is.
The list of tours at the Casa Sandra Holbox was top-notch, and Bri and I have done tours aplenty. We wanted to take a few of the tours in order to be able to talk with confidence when we talk about how to tour Holbox and the surrounding area.
To me, that was the biggest perk of the hotel, they really knew how to show you around. Antonio really spearheaded this, and he bent over backwards for us on a number of occasions. At the beginning, he was just guiding us around, but by the end I would call him a good friend. He's somebody I would be happy to host at our place in Toronto just based on what a genuine soul he is.
Literally, if you need anything, he'll make it happen for you. I can rarely recall meeting hotel staff in the past that so deeply cared about us finding the true Holbox, and enjoying every minute of our stay. The staff at the CasaSandra Boutique Hotel were a huge, huge plus, and a major reason that Bri and I would stay there again, and again, and again.
Nativa Natural Park
You've got to take the Holbox ferry back across to the mainland, but not far from Chiquila (where the port is) is Solferino. We had Arturo meet us in his trusty Nativa truck and take us over to Nativa Natural Park. The park is 130 hectares in total, and the sections which are built up (only 3 or 4 percent) took 150 people 4 years to build!
Nativa Natural Park is the perfect place to dive deeper into the natural history of the land, while having a fair bit of fun along the way. It depends on the tour which you choose, but, generally speaking, it's a great opportunity to learn about the natural history of the Mayans. You go for long hikes through the forest to learn about Mayan history, as well as climbing up a tower to get a vantage point of the surrounding forests that the Mayans made such good use of!
Beyond that, the real fun part is that you get to add a little adventure to the exploration of the forests. We had a trusty off roader from Nativa Natural Park to tackle the forests.
We also took out canoes into the middle of the lake to do some bird watching, which was particularly alluring to me. All that to say, a trip to the Nativa Natural Park is going to be all kinds of enlightening and fun, especially if you've got Arturo or Isa as your guide!
Fishing and Island Hopping from Holbox
You can see here how intently I've got my string held out there. Newsflash, I didn't catch a thing, but it wasn't for lack of trying. That being said, everyone else did indeed catch something, and it made for some incredible fresh ceviche later in the afternoon!
If you have the option, I would strongly recommend this tour. Even if you aren't staying at the Casa Sandra on Holbox, think about coming over to the hotel just to inquire about the tour.
It's a nice mixture of deep sea fishing with relaxation and exploration. We swam in a cenote (a deep nature spring or well), and visited islands which were as picturesque as any I'd seen. The last island we actually visited, known as "bird island," had this platform from which you could view the island, and I fell in love with it. You can see my post on Instagram of just that phenomenon.
Talk about paradise.
Punta Coco for the Sunset
As the sun was setting one night, Antonio pulled up in his trusty golf cart and we headed off for Punta Coco. No matter which of the Holbox hotels you're staying at, it's safe to say that you should find a way to Punta Coco.
Thanks to Casa Sandra, we sipped on champagne as the sun went down. If that isn't paradise, I don't know what is. It's about a ten minute ride on a golf cart to get there!
Reflecting on Our Stay at the CasaSandra Boutique Hotel in Holbox, Mexico
Bri and I at Punta Coco for sunset, enjoying the moment together.
As far as hotels go, Bri and I have been lucky to stay in a number of gorgeous spaces. We're all about looking for spaces that do things differently. We've never sought out places that couldn't provide a memorable experience, and this is exactly what Ser CasaSandra Holbox did for us.
Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I would unequivocally recommend the Casa Sandra Holbox because I legitimately cannot fathom how they could have done better. Everything was on point.
Bri and I are already formulating plans to head back because Ser CasaSandra is a place that truly does feel like home.
I want to thank CasaSandra Boutique Hotel for hosting Bri and I as media. All opinions are completely my own.