Hotel Villas Flamingos on Isla Holbox, Mexico [In-Depth Review]

^{The author stayed as an invited guest of Hotel Villas Flamingos. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither the hotel staff nor management had input in any part of this review.}

I stayed at the Hotel Villas Flamingos for 3 nights in February 2025. Combining an oceanfront location with a tranquil vibe and natural setting, the hotel had a lot to offer. Its numerous positives included service and a surprisingly great vegan menu. The best part, by far, was the “it’s just us here by the beach” feeling we got from our stay.

When checking out, we were surprised to learn that the hotel was sold out during our stay. My wife and I thought there were maybe 10 other guests, indicating the privacy we experienced at Hotel Villas Flamingos — and living up to the “villas” in the name.

Here’s what our stay was like at Hotel Villas Flamingos on Isla Holbox, part of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Booking Villas Flamingos

Hotel Villas Flamingos offers 13 room types with a capacity of 2 to 8 people, depending on the room. The cheapest room available on most dates is the Luminescence room, featuring a terrace with a bioluminescent pond. This room was available for $316 per night during our stay.

Rooms get more expensive the larger and closer to the beach they are. The bungalow rooms have a stacked layout, and the “Jardin” (garden) bungalow on the ground floor costs $420 per night. The 2-story “Cielo” (sky) bungalows closest to the ocean costs $500 per night.

Other room types include honeymoon suites, bungalows further from the beach, and a grand villa that holds 8 adults. During our visit, the grand villa was available for $1,000 per night.

The hotel has a calendar feature to help you find the cheapest dates if your schedule is flexible.

You can book Villas Flamingos with your credit card points on AmexTravel.com, Capital One Travel, and Chase Travel. Most prices match those available on Villas Flamingos’ site.

However, be cautious using your points in these portals, as not all values are equal. With American Express Membership Rewards, you’ll get just 0.7 cents per point using points toward prepaid hotel bookings. Compare that to the ability to get up to 1.5 cents per point using Chase Ultimate Rewards — though the base rate for the room may be higher.

You’ll redeem points at a value of 1 cent each if you only have a no-annual-fee card from Chase. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, you can use points at a value of 1.25 cents each. However, points are worth 1.5 cents apiece if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

Hot Tip:

If you save your points and pay directly with the hotel, use a credit card that offers bonus points on hotel reservations. Options include the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, American Express^® Green Card, and Citi Strata Premier℠ Card for 3x points or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card for 5x points per $1 spent on hotels.

*The information regarding the American Express^® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Location of Villas Flamingos

Villas Flamingos is on Isla Holbox, a carless island off the northern coast of Mexico’s Quintana Roo state — the state where you’ll find hotspots like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel. Within Holbox (pronounced “hol-bosh”), Villas Flamingos sits at the northeastern end of the town, giving it a private setting as the next-to-last hotel before the protected preserve that covers much of the island.

Reaching Isla Holbox requires a 30-minute ferry ride from Chiquilá, which costs MX$300 (roughly $15) per adult. Reaching Chiquilá takes about 2 hours by car from Cancún International Airport (CUN).

Checking In

Isla Holbox doesn’t have any cars. Instead, its taxis are golf carts, which we took to Villas Flamingos.

While the hotel is only 1.3 miles from the ferry point, anyone with rolling luggage should be aware that the road to the hotel wasn’t paved. This was the final stretch to the hotel’s front entrance.

There are unique hotel entrances, and then there’s this. The Villas Flamingos entrance had interesting geometric shapes made out of natural wood.

Across the street, a taxi waiting area also served as the hotel’s smoking area — far from the wood used in construction materials.

This seating area was next to a creek with a warning sign for crocodiles that staff said come out during periods of rain.

A handful of seats lined a wooden reception desk inside the geometric dome, but the floor was all sand. We were greeted by a friendly desk agent who smiled warmly.

As he scanned our passports and took a credit card for incidentals, we looked around the lobby and realized that mirrors above the reception desk made the dome look even bigger than it was.

We also received a choice of welcome drink: a watermelon punch with or without alcohol. These came in flamingo-shaped glasses, which was a nice touch.

The hotel used physical keys, which came with rose quartz stones.

After handing over our key, the desk agent said that someone would show us to our room — turning into a de facto tour of the property en route to our room. This was extremely helpful. We learned where the pools and restaurant were and the path from those to our room, and then we received an explanation of the features of our room. The employee who conducted this walk-through was super friendly, and when he saw us the next day, he remembered that we had just arrived the night before, asking if we had any lingering questions about our room’s features.

Bungalow Cielo

“Cielo” means “sky” in Spanish, an apt name for our top-floor room with excellent views.

A water bowl on the wooden steps helped us clean the sand off our feet before entering the room.

Immediately inside the door, we found hooks holding wooden signs for “do not disturb” and for requesting housekeeping service.

The hotel has accessible rooms on the ground floor. Our bungalow, however, had a spiral staircase up to the second floor.

Our spacious room had wooden features, creating a white and brown palette. In the center of the room was a ceiling fan with a light over the bed.

The comfortable king-size bed had a night light underneath, and we had many pillows with different firmness levels. When we arrived, we also found a welcome snack of cookies on the bed.

Each side of the bed had switches to control the lights, a pair of 3-prong outlets, and a circular nightstand. Interestingly, the potted plants on the nightstands were bolted down.

Above the steps, there was an air conditioning unit. Looking around, we realized there was no TV — something the employee told us was only available in the grand villa.

Across from the bed, we found a wooden desk and a wicker chair. A Nespresso machine, bottled water, and glasses were on the desk.

Next to the desk was a wooden cabin with shelves and a minifridge inside with drinks for sale. On the desk, we had a phone, a box of tissues, a marshmallow dessert, and a bottle of wine.

Bathroom

The bathroom ran the width of the bedroom and was accessible through a doorless entry in the corner. Its long, skinny layout meant 2 people could easily use it at the same time — unless we needed to pass each other.

Near the bathroom’s entry was a screened window, an umbrella, and a coat hook.

A sliding door revealed a closet with shelves, hangers, towels, and a small safe. Pushing this door to the other end also provided privacy when using the toilet.

The sink was set in a wooden counter and had a tiled pattern that evoked the colors of the ocean. There was a mirror on the wall, and the wooden faucet was unlike any other hotel bathroom I’ve visited.

We found pump bottles of hand lotion and soap on the counter, washcloths, drinking glasses, and a wicker basket with amenities, including a shower cap.

Near the shower, there was a small toilet area with a window above. This area could be closed off using the sliding door from the closet.

At the far end of the bathroom, we had 2 showers. The first was inside, accessible through a clear glass door. It was lined with green tiles, and the water could get extremely hot when turned up.

The shower had a handheld wand and a rainfall setting from a wooden beam overhead. We had trouble switching this on during the first day and had to call someone for help.

Pump bottles on the wall provided body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. The soap had a coconut scent, while the hair products had a honey scent.

A frosted glass door from the indoor shower led outside to a walled-off outdoor shower. The water flowed from metal buckets overhead.

Balcony

Our room had a large balcony, accessible from a door past the bed. We also had a window to the balcony (and the Caribbean beyond), and daylight and blackout curtains were available here.

The balcony had a pair of wooden chairs and a hammock on one side and lounge chairs with cushions on the other. Birds hung out around the property and sometimes defecated on these, so we flipped the cushions over when we wanted to use the loungers.

From our balcony, we had views over the Mangle Beach Bar and palm trees toward the beach and the Caribbean Sea.

Upper Floor

Our bungalow also had an upper floor with a whirlpool tub in a space that felt like the inside of a teepee.

Behind the tub, netting was stretched across wooden posts, creating a space to relax while watching the sunset from the room’s window.

Robes and a phone were on top of the minifridge, which held drinks and snacks.

Beers and Coca-Cola products were available, and a price list was inside.

Amenities

Beach Access

The hotel sat along the beach, and the sea beyond was extremely calm. However, its shallow nature also meant there wasn’t much to see if you wanted to snorkel in front of the hotel.

The beach was easily accessible via steps at the sea wall.

A sand bar in front of the hotel was exposed several times during the day. After crossing some water in front of the hotel, we could walk on dry ground for several miles in either direction. In addition to the numerous people walking along the sand, we regularly saw birds hanging out on the sand bar, people having picnics, and others riding bicycles.

Pools

The hotel had 3 pools. The largest was the family pool in front of the Mangle restaurant, sitting in the middle of the property.

The pool, which was shaped like a figure 8, had a wooden deck with several reclining wooden chairs. This was another popular spot at sunset.

At the front end of the pool deck, there were nets for seating and a few pillows for comfort.

At the far end of the property, near the spa, there were 2 adults-only pools.

There were multiple lounge chairs at thatched stands providing shade.

A stand was nearby with towels and a menu for ordering food and drinks.

The pools here weren’t set into the ground. Instead, you had to climb a few steps to get in.

Each pool had a ledge inside, providing a shallow end for sitting and a deeper end to get further into the water.

Poolside Entertainment

Live entertainment was available near the family pool. On multiple afternoons, a singer with a guitar was present.

At sunset every evening, El Hombre Pájaro (“the bird man”) performed a traditional Mayan ceremony for the end of the day, including blowing a conch and drumming.

Seating

Villas Flamingos had ample seating spread across the property, so no one had to fight for loungers near the pool — or rudely wake up early to claim them hours before actually using them. There were plenty of adjustable loungers near the adults-only pools.

But there was seating and space for relaxation in multiple other areas — and multiple forms. Take this day bed, for example, surrounded by bushes.

There were swinging day beds as well.

At the opposite end of the property, away from the adult pools, there were more loungers in various layouts.

There also were cushions directly on the ground, with the backs propped up on a wooden backrest.

Not all of the seating areas were focused on laying down. There were groupings of tables and chairs around the property.

And many of these seating areas were nestled among bushes for a private setting.

Nyuh Spa

Past the adult pools, a small spa (called “Nyuh”) offered massages, facials, haircuts, and other treatments. We booked a couple’s massage here on our final day, and it was fantastic — complete with the lapping sounds of the water nearby. Bookings could be made with the spa’s staff or at the front desk. A menu of services is available here.

Wellness Offerings

The hotel had a rooftop wellness space that offered yoga classes and sound therapy several times weekly.

This space was above the front desk and accessible by stairs only.

The views from this space were top-notch, looking over the family pool and out to the sea.

Work Space

Overlooking the reception area was a coworking space with multiple chairs and outlets at a long desk.

Internet

Wi-Fi was consistent throughout our stay. While it wasn’t the fastest at 16.6 Mbps, the connection was reliable around the property.

Book Exchange

Next to the lobby’s water refill station, there was a small book exchange. You could leave or take a book on these shelves.

Bicycles and Paddleboards

The hotel provided paddleboards and bicycles for complimentary use by guests. Bicycles were available near the front entrance, while paddleboards could be requested at reception and given to guests on the beach.

Lobby Store

The lobby had a small corner store selling clothing and swimsuits. In addition to dresses, hats, and wraps, there were several pieces of jewelry, one-pieces, and bikinis.

Food and Beverage

Mangle Restaurant

Mangle was the hotel’s main restaurant, located in the center of the property near the family pool. It served breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m., and dinner from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Breakfast was included with all room rates.

Mangle offered outdoor (more popular) and indoor (with air conditioning) seating, and tables could easily be pushed together or separated to accommodate groups.

Breakfast offerings included typical American and Mexican fare, including omelets, chilaquiles, French toast, and avocado toast.

It was also possible to reserve a beachfront table next to the family pool for dinner. The table was illuminated with tiki torches.

At dinner, Mangle took a fine dining approach. Food was presented beautifully, like this roasted carrot with parsnip sauce as a starter.

And we enjoyed this fruit compote with matcha cream as a dessert.

My wife and I are vegans and were thoroughly impressed with the restaurant’s vegan menu.

Along with items like soy ceviche and stuffed peppers, the menu offered cannelloni, which I had to try. It was incredible!

Desserts rotated, and we inquired each evening about the options. One evening, we had a vegan chocolate tart.

And this banana bread with fruit topping was another item we liked.

We arrived at Villas Flamingos on February 14, Valentine’s Day, and Mangle had a reservations-required, couples-only dinner with a set menu. Tables were decorated with flowers, candles, and figs.

Pieces of lingerie, candles, and even fuzzy handcuffs were scattered around the dining room as decorations.

Each couple also left the dinner with a gift bag, including a small whip, handcuffs, and a blindfold.

Mangle Beach Bar

While it also had “Mangle” in the name, the beach bar was in a different location. Conveniently, it was directly in front of our bungalow.

Mangle Beach Bar offered lunch and drinks from noon to 6 p.m. daily.

There were tables for 2, 4, or 6 people, all set in the sand. At the rear of the restaurant, there were also a few sofas for relaxing.

Food was prepared in the main kitchen at the Mangle restaurant, but the beach bar had a full-service bar — including swings instead of bar stools.

Several tables were immediately next to the sea wall, providing excellent views.

The beach bar was also popular for drinks at sunset.

Mangle Beach Bar’s menu focused on salads, light bites, smoothies, and juices. The fresh guacamole here was excellent.

We also tried the vegan arroz con leche (rice with milk) dessert one day. The flavor was good, with just enough cinnamon, but it could’ve been creamier.

Bar

Behind the reception desk, there was a small bar. It was only open from 7:30 to 11 p.m. in the evenings.

Service

The warm smiles we received upon arrival at the hotel set the tone for our interactions with staff. We found the employees courteous and friendly throughout our stay. We were always greeted with smiles when arriving at the restaurants or heading to the front desk to ask a question — or even just to refill our water bottles.

The staff did a great job keeping the walkways clean from falling palm fronds and leaves from the bushes.

We appreciated that the staff left the birds and iguanas alone while roaming the property. There were signs reminding guests not to feed the animals, and we appreciated seeing the wildlife during our visit.

We liked the hotel’s effort to make guests feel like they were in nature. Rather than seeing air conditioning units and refrigerators around the property, wooden enclosures kept these out of sight and provided a more natural feel.

Housekeeping also kept our steps clean and the water dish full for cleaning our feet — tasks that weren’t easy when combining the amount of sand around the property with our numerous comings and goings as we went to eat, to the pool, back to the room, and to the beach. Housekeeping also provided fresh drinking water in our room during these visits.

One employee at Mangle stood out: Ignacio, or Nacho. He was our waiter at dinner on the first night and remembered that we’re vegan. Going forward, when we saw him at the beach bar or other meals at the restaurant, he would tell us if any vegan options had changed and highlight the vegan dessert option for the day.

Final Thoughts

We had never been to Isla Holbox before, and we enjoyed the relaxed vibe — a major contrast from other parts of Quintana Roo we’ve visited. The hotel lived up to the “villas” part of its name, providing what felt like a secluded, private stay despite being sold out every night during our visit.

Service was friendly and authentic, and the hotel’s eco-luxury vibe combined well with its beachfront setting to create a relaxing, fun stay. I would return for another visit.