Hidden Mexican Gem for the Holidays

It's not easy finding an impressive resort in the Riviera Maya, Mexico that agents and operators haven't already discovered. But Travel Agent stumbled upon a great pitch for both families and couples heading to Playa del Carmen this holiday season.

We recently chatted with Bruce Stone, owner of Rancho el Porvenir, a private oceanfront villa. The two-bedroom villa can sleep up to eight people, making it a great holiday getaway for multiple couples or families.

The property is located on a 100-acre nature preserve near Playa del Carmen, in the Riviera Maya adjacent to Mayakoba, just south of Cancun. It is located on a white sand beach and is home to ecological walking and biking trails, passing through diverse eco-systems: forest, jungle, and mangrove.

Each suite has a king size bed and private full bathroom with separate shower and toilet rooms. One suite also has a large marble tub, while the other suite has a sleeping loft with two singles, which works well for those with children.

The adjacent fresh water spring-fed rivers are great for snorkeling, swimming against the current or rowing a half mile upriver and floating back down.


For exercise and family fun, the property stocks a stand-up paddle board, a hand-crafted rowing skiff, a 14-foot dinghy RIB with motor, a larger fishing boat, table tennis (ping-pong) on the beach, and board games. It also has a sailing school every Saturday.

The ranch is just 30 minutes south of Cancun airport. Rancho el Porvenir offers agents a 10-percent commission. Agents looking to contact Stone, should e-mail [email protected].