This one bedroom 17th century house is the first house we renovated and lived in when we moved to Merida in 2001. It was published in Taschen's "Living in Mexico" and "Mexico Style". It's just off the park and gardens of Ermita. The house has a large garden and roof terrace. If you're traveling alone and love antiques this is the house for you. One of the best things about Casa Ermita is the large well furnished kitchen. Read more about it on our blog...

The Orangerie is a romantic two bedroom colonial home in centro historico a popular neighborhood for expatriates and very convenient for tourists. We designed this house for Josh's parents soon after moving to Merida. When they sold it the new owners didn't change a thing and asked us to keep in on as a rental. This was the beginning or Urbano Rentals. We keep adding antiques and objects as our collection overflows our own properties. There's a large terrace for sunning and hammock napping. The open plan of the house with it's mosaic tiles and skylights reminded us of Morocco. We added the gated archway to the terrace and it became L'Orangerie. Read the story behind that and some of the other features on the blog for L'Orangerie.

This three bedroom colonial home is our latest home. It is our most luxurious vacation rental in Merida's Historic Center. El Portico has 3 distinct living
areas so it's the perfect place to stay if you are traveling with friends or family. The kitchen is large, modern and central. It divides the central patio from the pool and garden. The upstairs master bedroom suite has a private terrace with views of the cathedral and a large luxurious bathroom. Above the kitchen is another large guest room and bath surrounded by the treetops of the ceibas, a tree sacred to the Mayans. El Portico is four blocks from the main square.

Award-winning architect Salvador Reyes Rios designed this villa that sits on the edge of an ancient Maya platform. This two hundred acre private estate is only thirty minutes from Merida and Izamal. Stay at this luxurious home with its 10-acre walled gardens, view of lush lawns and luxuriant orchards and enjoy a tranquil, secure and private vacation. Three bedrooms with four baths, swimming pool and breezy living room, kitchen, dining... there's nothing like it.

Just off Paseo Montejo, Salvador Reyes Rios designed this 5 bedroom art deco casona with a large family in mind. The old colonial house has 3 queen bedrooms and two baths. In addition there is a master suite and a smaller guest room beside the pool. Villa Santa Ana has 3 patios and a roof terrace. The ideal choice for a large group who value privacy but also also available to smaller groups who do not need all 5 bedrooms.

This private luxury estate 30 minutes from Merida has the much-sought-after combination of service and seclusion to make it the perfect Yucatan vacation rental. Not far away are Haciendas Teya and San Jose Cholul for dinner or lunch. The ruins of Mayapan and Uxmal are also nearby. Sac Chich is minutes off the convent route and about 40 minutes from Izamal, a World Heritage site. Hacienda Sac Chich has a modern addition in the old Casa de Maquinas with the Master Suite and the two guest rooms. In the old colonial house are the kitchen, living room and two guest rooms. These rooms have not changed much since it was photographed by Karen Witynski for "The New Hacienda" and the new room's will appear in Karen's new book due in April 2008.

Casa Sisal is a sleek modern oasis surrounded by Mayan ruins and colonial Spanish haciendas and convents. Floating above a vast green lawn surrounded by lily ponds sits this contemporary 2 bedroom home designed by the talented team of Salvador Reyes Rios and Josphina Larrain for the owners of the Casa des Maquinas – Hacienda Sac Chich. Joined through an antique colonial gate to the old property this separate home is totally private in it’s two acre walled garden that was once the hacienda henequen drying field. Casa Sisal is constructed of beautiful tropical hard woods, local limestone and plaster polished to a sleek finish by the ancient Mayan technique called chukum.

Around the corner from my house in Ermita I found this large mid-century modern home near the San Sebastian park and market. The main attraction for me was the huge garden and open sky. So I added skylights to most of the rooms and raised the ceilings with vaults. Now it has a light lofty and peaceful quality that strikes you when you open the door. It is furnished with a mix of modern and antique furniture.. For the moment there is nothing like this house in Merida. But I just bought another modern home in the neighborhood of Mejorada. Since its my most recent renovation, I have a lot to say about it...

In the Sian Ka'an Biosphere on a private palm filled beach we have this beautiful 3 bedroom home.  Have your meals at home or along the beach in Tulum at one of our favorite restaurants. Our concierge can arrange all your appointments, reservations and excursions .  You'll have a large roof terrace overlooking both the lagoon and the beach. Spa treatments offered on the new palapa terrace or nearby at Coqui Coqui.  Arrangements can be made for a private chef or a private yoga class.  Best of all....no neighbors. Staff lives on the property for your convenience.  Please contact us for more photos and information.