Deseo does not allow children or pets.

It might not be totally out of line to suggest that the current scene in Playa del Carmen owes it all to Deseo. It wasn’t the first high-end beach-resort boutique, or the first modern-design hotel in Mexico. But it struck a nerve. Thanks in large part to Deseo, Playa del Carmen is everything Cancún might have been — it’s a popular destination, to be sure, but still a stylish one, and the model here is the chic boutique rather than the monster-sized all-inclusive.

Enough history. What’s important now is that Deseo is every bit as desirable as it was back when it was the only game in town. The stark simplicity of the architecture and interior design lends it a timeless aspect, and the white-on-white scheme here feels iconic, an homage to the sun and sand.

It’s much more than a place to sleep. Though it’s got just fifteen rooms, Deseo rarely feels sleepy. The rooftop lounge is legendary for a reason — there’s a seamless transition from the daytime poolside scene to the dance-party atmosphere after dark. These days there are other places to stay in town, but Deseo is the hotel against which all the others are measured.

How to get there:

Deseo is approximately a 45 minute drive from Cancún International Airport. Transfers are available for approximately USD88 from 1-3 guests, and USD120 from 4-11 guests, per way. Please contact more