Best Boutique Hotels in Isla Mujeres, Mexico

The upscale Zoetry Villa Rolandi Isla Mujeres Cancun may be an all-inclusive, but it is nonetheless a true boutique hotel, with 35 oceanfront suites, second-to-none service, and boutique-sized features. The lovely ocean-view guests rooms have sunken living rooms, king-sized beds, stocked minibars, and large bathrooms with steam showers. Most of the personal terraces have two-person whirlpools. Housekeeping visits three times a day, and welcome gifts include a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, plus a bottle of tequila and a beach bag made by a socially conscious organization. The hotel has excellent wellness facilities and a private beach, but its best feature is its restaurant Casa Rolandi, which has had a celebrity following for decades. The restaurant's oversea pavilion has fantastic sunset views, open-air seating, and up-close ocean views. The other food option is the open-kitchen Le Metissage, which has an extensive wine selection and gourmet Mexican-French fusion menu that changes each night. Freebies include admission to the dolphinarium, sunset cruises, and boat transfers from Cancun.

Like Zoetry, this 62-room hotel is an all-inclusive featuring all the standards of larger resorts, but on a smaller scale and with a more intimate vibe. The couples-only property has a quiet white-sand beach, a big outdoor pool with swim-up bar and volleyball net, a spa with four treatment rooms with ocean views, and an ocean-facing restaurant (albeit one without the celebrity cache of Casa Rolandi). The airy rooms are luxurious and elegant with hot tubs for two, furnished balconies, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi.

Casa de los Suenos is an intimate boutique hotel geared toward guests seeking romance and privacy. On the opposite end of the island from busy downtown, this hotel is made for lingering over waterfront dinners or sipping wine on private terraces while listening to the gentle surf. There are no TVs in most of the 10 guest rooms, a purposeful choice that leaves the focus on socializing and admiring the spectacular property. Thoughtful extras include fresh welcome pastries, free nonalcoholic minibar drinks, and organic toiletries in the bathrooms. The on-site restaurant, infinity pool, and water park all offer views of the pier and turquoise waters off the coast. Although the hotel earns top marks for its atmosphere and amenities, there's no direct beach access. Isla Mujeres Palace is also located in the island's southern part, but it is located on a pretty white-sand beach with water sports.

This beachfront boutique on the northern tip of Isla Mujeres attracts travelers who shy away from large resorts and instead prefer a more intimate and personable stay -- and with just 12 rooms, the property offers just that. The highlight here is the attractive outdoor pool, which features an attractive sundeck lined with plush seating, as well as beautiful views over the North Beach and sea beyond. Though there's no restaurant, there is a stylish lobby bar, plus free croissants and fruit are delivered to rooms in the morning. Other features include a fitness center and a small spa. Guest rooms have living areas and large balconies with daybeds (overlooking pool and beach), plus they're equipped with plenty of mod cons -- though the interiors are starting to show their age. For something with more features, check out Isla Mujeres Palace, but rates can be double.

With an open-air lobby and a palapa-roofed restaurant overlooking idyllic Playa Norte, Na Balam Beach Hotel exudes an unfussy, serene ambiance. Whitewashed walls, wooden accents, and stone flooring are a common theme throughout the public spaces. The hotel’s 31 rooms feature have a crisp, clean atmosphere, thanks to white-on-white decor that attractively contrasts with dark-wood furniture and Mayan-inspired carved artwork. All rooms have furnished private balconies or patios, but notably lack TVs or Wi-Fi. Some suites have private whirlpool or plunge pools. Spa facilities face Playa Norte’s sugary sands and clear waters, and both continental breakfasts and lobby Wi-Fi are free. (For in-room flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, consider Hotel Secreto.) Na Balam hotel is a five-minute walk from downtown’s dining and entertainment options.

Set on a private, narrow stretch of white-sand beach, Maria's Kan-kin is a intimate and casual nine-suite boutique. Its secluded location and quaint rooms are pros for most guests, but the staff's laissez-faire service can make Maria's a real love-it-or-hate-it hotel. Rooms are distinctly decorated, and all include air-conditioning, personal safes, mini-fridges, and small sitting areas. Some include TVs (though they're older tube-style models) and sofa beds, while a few feature small garden-view patios or ocean-view balconies. Stones inlaid in swirling patterns on shower floors add character to the bathrooms. The hotel's restaurant and outdoor pool offer picturesque views over the coast. Travelers looking for more amenities (like free breakfast and spa and yoga facilities), plus a more central location, could try Na Balam Beach Hotel.

The upper-middle-range Casa Sirena Hotel is a charming six-room property, a 10-minute walk from iconic Playa Norte. The hotel’s peaceful location on the edge of the island’s downtown area is under a five-minute walk away from numerous buzzing restaurants, bars, and shops. Guest rooms are thoughtfully decorated with colorful furnishings and distinctive artwork. Free happy hour cocktails at an impressive rooftop bar as well as free freshly prepared breakfasts are excellent perks, especially considering the hotel’s reasonable rates. But this petite hotel has few of the typical features of its pearl category -- there's no restaurant, gym, or business center. That doesn't stop the hotel from being popular, and it's often fully booked for months at a time. Those wanting direct beach access will prefer Na Balam or Maria's Kan-kin.