In short… Nômade is a quiet, wellness-focused retreat offering mystically themed workshops (think lucid dreaming and tarot card reading) in a luxurious, jungle-like setting.
The surroundings…. The car-free island of Holbox is reached via ferry from Chiquilá, a two and a half hour drive from the Cancun airport. Upon arrival, I found my ATV taxi driver and we traversed the bumpy dirt roads, first passing the town square crowded with shops and restaurants (omakase, anyone?), onto the beach past a parade of oceanfront hotels, and finally to the property’s entrance – an overgrown dirt path under a canopy of trees. Compared to the rest of the island’s bustling activity and numerous construction sites, Nômade was remarkably quiet and serene. I was greeted at the outdoor front desk by the barefoot concierge, Eric, who gave me a tour of the property. I can honestly say that I doubt I could have navigated the very lush property by myself.
The rooms… The property has 30 rooms, including six treehouses that stand 23-feet high. I stayed on the ground in a canvas-walled Moon Temple room, which seems like a glamping tent from the exterior, but then ups the luxury with a private patio complete with outdoor copper tub, premium linens, and the comfort of air conditioning and wi-fi.
The food and drink….The beachfront hotel restaurant, La Popular, serves all three meals, as well as coffee and drinks. The comfortable, low-slung chairs and benches sit atop overlapping Moroccan rugs and beneath an arched thatch ceiling that maintains the indoor-outdoor vibe of the rest of the property. The food was exceptional—the freshest seafood and steaks prepared on an outdoor grill—with delicious juices and cocktails.
The wellness…. There is no spa, but yoga is offered every morning in the Gratitude Tent, and a series of rotating workshops are held in the afternoons, all of which are free to guests of the hotel. The signature wellness offering is Agua Magica, in which a guide essentially spins and submerges you in the ocean in order to quiet the rational mind and deeply relax. Since my stay didn’t align with the Agua Magica group workshop, Wellness Director Laura Samper arranged an individual session for me, and I can attest that it not only relaxed my body, but made me feel noticeably more present for the rest of the day. Other private sessions on offer include crystal reiki, dream decoding, essential oil alchemy, and a cacao ceremony, as well as the more traditional massage, yoga, and pilates.
Be sure to… Experience Holbox’s bioluminescent waters! It’s best seen on a clear night—the staff can advise on the best time and place to witness this sparkling, glowy phenomena courtesy of microscopic organisms that emit light in the water.
Date of stay… December 2024
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