Jaguar Club & Casitas

If you are looking for an authentic, sleepy Mexican fishing village getaway, this place is a great find. The resort and facilities were built by the host (a talented architect and contractor) and sit right on a gorgeous and secluded stretch of beach. The outdoor pool area is fantastic—complete with a water slide and a relaxing jacuzzi. The property is brilliantly designed with different spaces to gather or relax, including palapas, hammocks, and elevated seating areas that offer prime sunset viewing. If you love to cook, there is a full kitchen and indoor/outdoor cooking facilities, including both a gas and charcoal grill, and they are fully stocked with everything you could possibly need in terms of cooking supplies, utensils, and gear to whip up a feast. Extra perks include kayaks and paddle boards to explore the coast or nearby mangrove areas, and the groundskeeper deserves a call out for taking time out of his busy day to cut us fresh coconuts to sip on. But the real value of the place overwhelmingly comes down to the amazingly accommodating hosts, Anne and Quincy. They have gone way above and beyond to make sure the place feels like a second home rather than a generic vacation rental, and we cant thank them enough for the help they gave us (they really were lifesavers, from checkin/checkout flexibility to connecting us with local fishermen to buy fresh seafood, and even helping us clean the fish we bought!). Whether you are solo, a couple, or travelling in a big group, you should definitely give this place a try!

There is nothing not to like, but it is worth noting that Santa Clara itself is a TINY fishing village with just a convenience store or two and a couple of very small local restaurants, so stocking up on supplies before you go is definitely worth it. I also note that while the beaches are free of the sargasum plaguing the Caribbean coast, seasonal algae blooms and weather patterns can cause sea grass to accumulate in places along the northern Yucatan coast, which just means you may need to move up or down the shore a bit to find a nice sandy spot depending on the tides and weather during that time of year.