Set on the Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan’s northern coast is filled with small towns and fishing villages, each with their own charm and natural beauty. In this region, you’ll find brightly-colored salt lagoons, refreshing cenotes, palm tree forests, small Mayan ruins, tiny restaurants serving freshly caught seafood, relaxing beaches and even migrating herds of flamingos in the summertime. Several of Mexico’s most popular celebrities have even built luxurious homes in this secluded and tranquil area.
The local villages are home to hard-working fishermen as well as vacation homes owned mostly by tourists from the nearby colonial city of Merida. In the past couple of years, however, this breathtaking area has fallen under the eye of home buyers and tourists from other parts of Mexico and the world.
The town of San Crisanto has begun to take full advantage of its stunning natural attractions, opening a new tourist center where guests can explore the salt lagoon and purchase tickets for a fascinating mangrove and cenote tour.
San Crisanto's new tourist center
Dzonot Tzik cenote in San Crisanto
In the neighboring village of Chabihau, foreign travelers have begun to use local builders to construct immense vacation homes right by the beach, drawn to the area by the charming, friendly and quiet atmosphere. These homes also help to create permanent jobs, as most owners hire locals from Chabihau as caretakers for the property while they’re gone.
This beautiful compound-style home has been recently built, with several buildings set around a sand-filled courtyard.
A new beachside vacation home under construction
This multi-level beach home caught my eye, with several open-air terraces, palapas and pergolas.
As a frequent visitor to this area, I’m excited to see that others are finally beginning to discover it and help the economy grow. The Gulf coast of the state of Yucatan is filled with fascinating attractions that the locals are thrilled to share with anyone passing through.
Where would you build your dream vacation home?
Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the Mexico Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things Mexico shared here are completely my own.
Gringation's Blog 
These photos are beautiful! I would build my dream vacation home here for sure! 😉
Me too! Jorge and I are actually considering something similar for the future.
Why I think that last picture is my dream home! It’s beautiful .. when can I move in!
I should have posted other angles… from the back of the house, you can see more of its terraces and rooftop palapas.
The homes are beautiful, but I do love my United States just not the Goverment so much at the moment, I would build in Virginia. I know, I’m the odd ball. I do have a question, I didn’t think us ‘gringos’ could build on the water, has that changed.
I grew up in VA, so I can agree that it’s a beautiful place to build!
Gringos CAN own property on the water… sort of. Technically we can’t own property within (I think) 50 km of the shoreline. However, we can purchase coastal property through a “fideicomiso” with the bank, meaning we have all the rights to the property, but it’s in the name of the bank. (If I’m wrong on this, somebody please tell me.) In practice, it’s basically the same as owning the property, just with the bank’s name on it.
i love san crisanto. glad to se it highlighted. i have not been for about 6 years. it’s grown a lot!
Hi Kristan! It has grown in certain ways, but it still has the same charm as always.
I’d love to build somewhere in Jamaica as Jamaica is near and dear to both Dustin’s and my hearts. But there is something to be said for Mexico for sure…
never been to Jamaica! Someday…
This looks absolutely gorgeous, I’d definitely build a home here if I could 🙂 xx
I dunno, Malta’s looking pretty nice, too 🙂
I would love to live in Akumal!
Oh my gosh, me too! Let’s buy a condo together 😉
Oh wow- if ONLY! I think I would build my dream house in Barcelona- have you ever been there? It is such an amazing and unique place, although the weather isn’t as nice as Mexico’s!
I’m not sure if I’d choose a fishing village. Some of the ones I’ve seen in Korea are interesting but so remote w/ only seafood restaurants avail for food. My dream house might be either in Thailand, Bali (by the ocean or on a cliff)… or something like a French countryside.