THE FACTS ABOUT RANCHO EL MESTIZO

Mexico Yucatan

November to May is the best time to book this dreamy, three-bedroom cabaña, near Cancún on the eastern side of the Yucatán peninsula. The house is shielded from a long strip of white-sand beach by coconut palms and there is a plunge pool and a small bungalow in the grounds. The main house is simply furnished; one of the double beds is actually a mattress on a painted concrete base, with vivid colours used to dramatic effect. Louvred shutters keep out the midday sun and there are lofty beams beneath the papapa-palm roof. Take a siesta in the small beach shelter, complete with two hammocks, then explore the reef with snorkels before a dinner of sopa de lima (chicken and lime broth) or poc-chuc (pork fillet marinaded in sour orange), both staples of Yucatecan cuisine. The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are a two-hour drive away. SLEEPS Eight COST US$5,000 per week, including garden bungalow and housekeeper CONTACT Compass Locations (020 7750 6912; www.compasslocations.com)