Where The Jungle Meets The Sea - Caribbean Living Magazine

Each year, our tight-knit circle of five escapes the daily grind for one long weekend—our annual ritual of reconnection, laughter, and indulgence. Last year, we cruised through the crystalline waters of the British Virgin Islands on a sleek yacht. This year, we traded sails for sand and found ourselves in the lush, barefoot-luxury embrace of Tulum’s Casa Xixim. This time, our little tribe grew by one. Fiona, Cameron’s impossibly charming five-year-old daughter, came along—and somehow made paradise even sweeter.

From the moment we stepped through the hand-carved wooden doors of Casa Xixim, we knew this was no ordinary beachfront villa. Nestled within the protected biosphere of Sian Ka’an, the home seems to breathe with the land. Palms swayed, waves whispered, and the very air felt sacred. The design was a harmonious blend of modern eco-luxury and warm, rooted authenticity. Open-air spaces, artisan textiles, and the rhythmic sound of the surf made it clear: we had found our sanctuary.

Our days unfolded with a delicious lack of urgency. Mornings began with fresh juice and the smell of homemade tortillas wafting from the kitchen. Guillermo and Nestor, our private chefs and culinary magicians, crafted meals that danced on our palates—layers of heat and heart, tang and tenderness. Every dish was a love letter to Mexico: chilaquiles bathed in smoky salsa verde, grilled fish kissed with lime and chilies, and silky mole that seemed to hold centuries of tradition in each bite. There was no need—or desire—to dine anywhere else.

We spent our afternoons lounging by the pool or barefoot on the beach in our private cabana, watching Fiona chase crabs and build castles in the sand. Her laughter, unfiltered and contagious, stitched us even closer together. Watching David gently teach her how to float on her back while Cameron beamed from a distance—that image is tattooed on my heart.

Though it was tempting to remain in our villa cocoon, we ventured out one morning to the ethereal wonder of the Dos Ojos Cenote. It felt like stepping into a dream—cool, crystal-clear waters beneath limestone arches, sunlight streaming through openings in the jungle canopy. We floated in reverent silence, the only sounds our soft gasps of awe and the distant drip of water echoing like whispers from the past. Fiona swam between us like a tiny mermaid, her wide eyes reflecting the otherworldly blue below.

Back at Casa Xixim, evenings were for stories and stars. We gathered in the living room, sipping smoky mezcal and recounting old memories, making new ones with every shared glance and laugh. Dina and I stayed up late talking about life and parenting, love and purpose. Even Graeme, usually reserved, opened up in the gentle rhythm of our tropical nights, sharing his music with us, and painting a backdrop to our conversations.

The villa didn’t just house us—it held us.

By the end of the trip, it was hard to imagine ever leaving. The ladies who came and gave us 90 minute massages, we thought were the reason for our floating through the day, it turns out that Casa Xixim had blurred the lines between family and friends, between travel and home. It reminded us that luxury isn’t always loud—it’s often quiet, heartfelt, and deeply connected to place.