Are you planning a trip to Tulum with a group of friends or family? Renting a house in the nearby Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a great option. Especially for those looking to relax on a secluded beach and immerse themselves in nature!
Casa Mam is a beautiful 4-bedroom house in Sian Ka’an where I’ve had the pleasure of staying at twice: once in November 2020 and again in March 2021.
Here’s my experience staying at Casa Mam in Tulum, Mexico!
About the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
At the far end of the Tulum hotel zone (also known as the beach road) is the entrance of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Sian Ka’an is Mayan and translates to “origin of the sky.” The biosphere is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s largest protected areas. It has roughly 75 miles of coastline and just under one million acres of land (about the size of Rhode Island!).
Sian Ka’an is made up of sandy beaches, tropical forests and freshwater lagoons. And, the reserve is home to manatees, dolphins, turtles, crocodiles, jaguars and more!
While the entrance is just minutes from bustling Tulum, Sian Ka’an feels very secluded and wild. So if you are a nature lover or just want to totally disconnect, this may be the spot for you!
About Casa Mam
About 2 miles down from the Sian Ka’an entrance at the end of the Tulum beach road, Casa Mam is nestled in the jungle along a gorgeous private beach.
Casa Mam is designed to blend into its jungle environment with modern, tropical architecture. Plus, it has plenty of outdoor spaces to relax in nature and enjoy the incredible views.
The house has 4 bedrooms with the option to add a tent bedroom on the beach. The master bedroom off of the ground floor pool has two private decks as well as an upstairs area. And, there is an additional bed which could be a great option for kids! There are two other deluxe rooms with king beds, private ensuite baths and outdoor patios. And the fourth bedroom has two twin beds, an outdoor patio and a guest bathroom just across the hall.
The outdoor spaces are where the house really shines! Off of the living room and kitchen area is the main ground floor pool surrounded by outdoor seating, hammocks and palm trees. And on the rooftop, there is a hot tub and an infinity pool with 360 degree views of both the Caribbean Sea and the freshwater lagoon!
Casa Mam was built with a focus on sustainability and uses solar and wind power, as well as harvested rainwater.
Getting to Casa Mam
After the 1.5 hour drive from the Cancun International Airport, we arrived in Tulum. Driving down the Tulum beach road, we took in the views of the bustling shops, restaurants, hotels and crowds of people. At the very end of the road was the entrance to Sian Ka’an. We stopped to check in with the guards and were soon on our way to the house.
Driving down the road in Sian Ka’an is vastly different than along the Tulum hotel zone; gone are the crowds, restaurants and hotels. It’s mostly jungle views with the odd sign for a private villa, lone restaurant or boat tour through the lagoon.
Casa Mam is one of the closest villas to Tulum but depending on the conditions of the unpaved road in Sian Ka’an, it can take about 15 minutes to reach the house and the ride can be a quiet bumpy!
It’s absolutely worth the effort though as, once you reach the house, it feels like your own private slice of paradise!
My Experience Staying at Casa Mam
Arriving at the house, we met Dahlia and Armando, the lovely caretaker couple who live on site. Dahlia made a delicious breakfast for us each morning. Armando was kind enough to give us rides into the hotel zone whenever we needed. Also, Armando cooked an unforgettable lunch for us on our last day. He made cochinita pibil, a Yucatan style slow roasted pork, and prepared it the traditional way in an underground pit. It was delicious!
We settled into the house right away and enjoyed living in the jungle for the next five days. Spending the mornings drinking coffee on the patios, lounging under the sun on the beach during the day and watching the sunset from the rooftop over the lagoon was magical.
So what were my overall thoughts on staying at Casa Mam?
If you are looking to be in the center of the action in Tulum, you should opt to stay in the hotel zone.
But if you’re looking for nature, beauty and seclusion, Casa Mam is the place for you! Being totally immersed in the jungles of Sian Ka’an is a very special experience. And it’s great for those looking to unplug or just want to enjoy quality time with their family and friends!
Tips for Staying at a Villa in Sian Ka’an
- Prepare to be living in the jungle. This means being totally surrounded by nature and beauty… but also to pack bug spray!
- Casa Mam, along with most of the villas in Sian Ka’an and lodging around Tulum, are eco-friendly and run on solar and wind power. This means that there is A/C but it can be spotty at times. Luckily, Tulum is known for being windy so there is always a lovely breeze!
- As I mentioned, the road in Sian Ka’an is bumpy and driving slowly and carefully is important. Renting an SUV with four-wheel drive would be preferable, especially if you plan on exploring more of Sian Ka’an!
- Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that blankets the beaches in the Caribbean Sea (including the Tulum area!) from April to August (and sometimes beyond). Your best chances for avoiding it is in the winter but it totally depends on the year and there are no guarantees with nature!
- Casa Mam, and many of the villas in Sian Ka’an, offer private chef services. We organized this for a few of the nights at the house and were very impressed with the food and experience.
HI Laura Rose!
Amazing Photos! Great Info!
I know it’s been awhile since your visit, but any chance you remember who you used to rent the property?
Thanks so much!
-N
Hi Natalie!
I’ve visited several times and we rented the property directed from the owners via their website: http://www.mamsiankaan.com
Enjoy Sian Ka’an — it’s gorgeous! 🙂