Casa del Agua started life as a residence for the Mexican artist Manuel Orvananos. It's easy to see why he chose this spot as inspiration for his art, and he has certainly left his mark with this amazing building. It is quite unique, and having being built from local materials and in Yucatecan style, is quite unobtrusive on the palm fringed white sand beach.

Casa del Agua operated as a small hotel for several years, but is now available only as a private rental. Up to ten people (adults or children) can rent the entire villa for a minimum of three nights. The guests will enjoy dedicated service from a team of staff, including a gourmet chef. Unrivalled privacy and personal service awaits the guests, making the Casa an ideal choice for family reunions and small events.

Each of the four suites is completely different, and each has its own special feature. Cenote has the huge bathroom and view overlooking the living area and ocean beyond; Arroyo has the wonderful round bed in the cozy enclave; Caleta has the huge bathroom with the restful trickling water feature and Cascada has the private terrace with fantastic views. They all share the same amenities, and all are beautifully designed and decorated.

It's very easy to feel instantly relaxed when you arrive at Casa del Agua, and if food were served all day it would be hard to find a reason to ever leave. However, a stroll into Puerto Aventuras is nice for lunch; although very commercialized and man-made, there are a few nice little spots to eat. In the evenings we like to take a taxi to Playa del Carmen, where there is lots of choice and a great atmosphere.

The beach immediately in front of the property isn't one of the best in the region - it's quite rocky and guests must take a five minute walk down the beach to be able to wade into the ocean. However, the ocean is a brilliant turquoise blue and the snorkeling in this area is great - you can use the villa's kayaks to explore the coastline.

Casa del Agua offers the perfect combination for us; it is a stylish, intimate villa in a beautifully tranquil setting, yet is within easy reach of many activities. Puerto Aventuras and Playa del Carmen are some of the many wonderful places to explore nearby; as well as fascinating Mayan ruins and charming colonial towns. In addition, just a five minute drive from the villa takes you to an amazing cenote - a spectacular, deep, water-filled sinkhole formed by water percolating through the soft limestone above - that offers an incredible snorkeling and diving experience that is unique to this part of the world.