Casa Trece

Global Getaway in Tropical Tulum with Rooftop Pool

Designed by architects Jose Manuel Martin Amate and Margarita Lopez Cruz, and built using traditional Mexican techniques and materials, this 400-square-meter home offers a one-of-a-kind retreat in Tulum.

This unique home was inspired by the architecture of diverse places, from its classically subdued chukum plaster to its cream-colored Mayan stone floors and toh stone accents, plus its mosaic-like rock walls and smooth concrete lattice work. It’s a warm, soulful retreat that offers a hushed atmosphere created for easy unwinding. Walls are clad in a soft, salmon-hued chukum plaster. Tropical Tzalam wood furnishings and architectural accents match the rosy sand tone, and furnishings are organic and natural, with a spare, minimalist style. A deliberate interplay of textures is found in the home’s multiple stone and rock walls and structural partitions, both indoors and out, and these unique touches add to the home’s understated styling, setting the villa apart from louder, more tropically-themed Tulum standards.

Layout

Three levels hold four unique bedrooms. One is a king room with an en-suite bathroom and outdoor tub in its private garden. The second is the primary king, with its walk-in closet, terrace lounge and luxurious en-suite bathroom. The third is a queen room with a bathroom and private terrace. The fourth is an overflow queen room (sofa bed), with its own bathroom and access to the delicious rooftop space with its plunge pool and cushy seating, set above the treetrops.

Common areas feel intimate and secluded. The living room, dining room and kitchen space have curvaceous walls that open to the outdoors via floor-to-ceiling glass sliders. Outdoor spaces are fringed with lush jungle vegetation and, up top, a fully furnished rooftop living room has a plunge pool and cozy, pillow-topped seating. A second pool fills a rock-walled garden that's tucked into the leafy jungle landscaping.

Around

The villa is located in Tulum’s Region 15, the ever-expanding town’s newest district, and although it feels remote, it’s just a short car ride from the town’s famous beach road. Areas of Region 15 are undergoing major expansion, so expect unpaved roads and construction sites in addition to the newer residences. A 10-minute drive leads to La Veleta, a highly sought-after residential enclave that also offers dozens of vibrant restaurants and cafes and open, jungle-lined pathways to explore. Tulum’s pulsating center is a quick drive, too, with its hip shops, yoga and alternative health practitioner’s studios, and open beachfront.

Tulum’s Hotel Zone is known for its white sand beach and crystal clear waters, a section of the Rivera Maya loved for its manicured boho vibe. Dozens of boutique resorts and beachfront bars keep the scene alive, and yet the area remains lush and natural, with UNESCO-protected areas like Sian Ka’an and Parque Nacional Tulum, home to remarkable Mayan archeological ruins. Nestled into the jungle, the area around Tulum is also known for its underground cenotes, some underwater caves, others deep blue-green holes, and all inland waters revered by the ancient Mayans as portals to the underworld. The Mesoamerican Reef, the northern hemisphere’s largest, runs along the Tulum coast, making for great scuba diving and snorkeling, and the Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka’an offers cenotes and a celebrated diversity of flora and fauna unique to the area.

Location

Region 15, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Nearest airport: Cancun International (1.5-2 hours)

Best time to visit

November to April

Photography: Leandro Bulzzano