Ríaluz: Secluded Villa and Beach in Bird Sanctuary

Entire villa in Río Lagartos, Mexico

  1. 8 guests
  2. 3 bedrooms
  3. 6 beds
  4. 3.5 baths
Hosted by Ana Maria
  1. 11 years hosting

Listing highlights

Unbeatable location

100% of guests in the past year gave this location a 5-star rating.

Park for free

This is one of the few places in the area with free parking.

Dedicated workspace

A common area with wifi that’s well-suited for working.
Ríaluz is an intimate luxury hideaway beside the ocean with a secluded ten-mile stretch of beach. Nestled within the federally protected biosphere of Rio Lagartos, you will share the land with birds, beautiful seasonal flowers, and a breathtaking coastline, while 100mbps Starlink internet will allow you to continue to work and study from the beach as needed. Enjoy 15% off for weekly stays and 30% off for visits of a month or longer.

The space
Please note that our nightly rate increases for each additional guest after the first two guests. To view the accurate price for your dates, please make sure that you've filled out the correct number of guests.

Ríaluz is bright and airy, with windows facing the sea and the abundant flora and fauna of the reserve. The space is open, comfortable and connected to the sea, the sky, the stars and the birds. Our villa is perfect for adventuring lovers, naturalists, and families looking for a unique place to explore. The secluded location offers a wonderful opportunity to unplug from our busy lives.

The house is comprised of two buildings, carefully designed to give our guests ample space and privacy. In the main structure is the living room with a fully equipped kitchen and a master suite with a king bed. The living room has two sofas that can be converted into twin beds. Outside, a bridge connects the deck of the main structure with the adjacent one, where the second bedroom suite can be set up with either a king bed or two twin beds. The beach is accessible from all rooms by sandy footpaths leading 65m to the shore. Above the main building is a lounging terrace with an outdoor stargazing bed and a bar. From everywhere in the house, there are spectacular views of the sea.

There are numerous activities in the nearby area that we recommend. Guided nature, fishing and birding tours, paddle boarding, kitesurfing and kayaking, and nearby Mayan ruins with a cenote are all easy to arrange and we provide detailed information to all guests. Over 395 species of birds call the reserve home, one of the highest species densities in the world. The village of Rio Lagartos is lovely to visit, and the fresh fish caught by its residents feed all of Yucatan. Miles of open beach and a warm ocean are magical to explore, and you can wrap up your day by star-gazing at night from the terrace and taking in the brilliantly clear night sky.

Our wonderful caretakers will be on hand 24/7 to welcome you to the beach and assist you with any needs.

Our villa is completely solar powered and is recognized as the most environmentally friendly coastal development in the Yucatan. The villa is deep within the national park, and it is important to keep in mind that you will be sharing the area with mother nature. During your stay you may see dolphins, foxes, eagles, flamingoes, snakes, turtles, butterflies, and many species of exotic birds. Detailed information on the local wildlife is sent to all travelers to ensure a safe and pleasant stay. If you treat the surroundings with respect, Ríaluz is calm sanctuary.

Guest access
The entire house is available for guests.

Other things to note
• Please note that our villa is not child proof and is in a wild nature reserve, so toddlers (age 12-36 months) should be supervised at all times during your stay.
• Our villa is in a remote location and has elevated walkways and balconies, and so may not be suitable for elderly or handicapped guests.
• We only accept pets from guests with 5-star ratings; please check with us before booking to confirm that your animal is well-trained and will not try to explore the nature reserve, as this can be dangerous. We provide a pet bed and bowls for food and water.
• Smoking is only permitted outside. Butts must be disposed of afterwards.
• We can pick up your laundry, wash it, and drop it back off for a small fee.

Frequently asked questions:

✦ Is there wifi and cell reception at the villa?
We have high-speed 100 mbps Starlink satellite internet. There is cell reception on the beach, with 3G if not 4G speeds generally available.

✦ Can I hire a local cook?
Absolutely! In our guest documents we include contact information for an experienced local cook who can come out to the beach and cook meals for you.

✦ Which airport should I fly to?
You can fly to either Cancun or Merida. Cancun is a 3.5 hour drive, and Merida is a 3 hour drive. In our guest documents we provide recommendations for local car rentals, as well as contact information for trusted taxi drivers who can drive you from the airport for $2,000 mxn each way

✦ How far away is the nearest town?
Rio Lagartos is a 10-minute boat taxi ride from the villa or a 40-minute drive. Las Coloradas is a 25-minute drive from the villa.

✦ Are there grocery stores or restaurants nearby?
We recommend passing by a supermarket on your drive in from the airport. There is also a small dry goods supermarket in Rio Lagartos along with a number of excellent family-run restaurants. The seafood caught and sold in Rio Lagartos feed most of the Yucatan Peninsula, so it’s very fresh. We can also provide a contact who can do grocery shopping and delivery for you.

✦ What local activities are available?
The area is rich with activities to enjoy. We recommend the local birdwatching, nature, and fishing tours, the nearby Ek Balam ruins and cenotes, and Las Coloradas pink lakes. The area is also known as one of the best kitesurfing spots in the world, with the season running from November to June. We can help arrange kitesurf, kayak, or paddle board rentals and lessons.

✦ When is the best kitesurfing season?
The best kitesurfing season is between November and June. From November to February, strong colder winds blow from the north averaging speeds of 14-18 knots, for which we recommend kite sizes of 7-8 meters. From March to mid-July warmer thermals blow from the north-east typically averaging 12-16 knots, and we recommend kite sizes between 9-12 meters. The wind speeds drop between mid-July and October to 8-12 knots, which makes it a great time for kite foiling.

✦ Is the area safe?
The Yucatan has the lowest crime rate in all of Mexico and is considered safe to travel in. The ocean is placid and shallow, and because of the position of the beach, the wind and waves usually pull you towards the coast. The reserve has several species of poisonous snakes which are extremely rare to see, and for which we keep an antidote kit. We include detailed safety information in our guest documents. Our experienced caretakers are nearby and on call 24/7 in case of any need.

✦ Anything else to note?
The tides will occasionally bring in light seaweed, but we never get anything like the red tide of the Riviera Maya. While the beach is virgin and ungroomed, we do our best to clean it during guests' stays. Depending on the season, mosquitos may be present in the reserve when the sea breeze dies down, and we provide insect repellent sprays and incense to ensure you have a pleasant stay.

✦ More questions?
Send us a message and we'd be happy to talk more!

Where you’ll sleep

1 of 2 pages

What this place offers

Beach access – Beachfront
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Free driveway parking on premises – 4 spaces

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Rated 4.92 out of 5 from 75 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is a guest favorite based on ratings, reviews, and reliability

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 95% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 3% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 3% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico
This listing's location is verified.

Meet your host

Host
205 reviews
4.87 out of 5 average rating
11 years of hosting
My work: Ana Maria Hernando
Speaks English and Spanish
I'm an artist and poet who fell in love with the raw beauty of the Yucatan landscape. It brings me great joy to share it with others.

Co-hosts

  • Elena
  • Martha Cristal

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 4:00 PM
Checkout before 10:00 AM
8 guests maximum
Safety & property
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm