As you stand looking out from Jess and Nicolas Meyer’s Playa 55 Boutique Guesthouse in Yucatán, Mexico, past the warm sandy beaches, overlooking the vast waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you find what you have been looking for . . . your breath.
A few years ago, Jess and Nicolas, long-time residents of Roberts Creek, set out to find a quiet spot in Mexico to buy a “fixer-upper” and create a place to relax and return year after year. They discovered Mérida, Mexico. The beautiful, cultural capital of the Americas appealed to them. They decided to take a five-day trip to see what this area was about and look at properties, including beach communities. Nothing was jumping out at them until, as fate would have it, they happened to stumble across an empty place in nearby Celestún, right on the beach.
With a sideways glance at each other, it was love at first sight—with the building, that is. The surprise was, it was an empty ten-room hotel, not the small fixer-upper they initially had in mind. But they loved everything about it. It took another two years to sort out the legalities and multiple discussions about whether they should just abandon everything, but they stayed the course and created an enchanting guesthouse that has just opened for its first full season.
An hour’s drive from the airport in Mérida, you arrive at this small fishing village where you can do as much or as little as you like. This place isn’t overrun with tourists like other Mexican destinations. And therein lies its magic. Celestún exudes the authentic feeling of the people, a place that invites you to slow down and be present in each moment, a place that whispers to yoursoul, “It’s okay, let it all go, I’ve got you.”
While enjoying the pleasures of slowing down, the area still moves to its own beat. You can explore the unique UNESCO-designated bio-reserve around Celestún. Spend the day fishing, explore the mangroves, watch flamingos close up. Also on the list of outings not to miss: the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal, a refreshing swim in one of the many cenotes, a visit to Isla Arena, haciendas, and don’t forget to ask for Jess and Nicolas’s favourite place for amazing Mexican food.
With all this beauty and tranquility, Playa 55 and the Yucatán may leave you searching for a new home too.
Words | Natalie Findlay Photography | Nicolas Meyer
