Two certified permaculture designers. Not an afterthought — the foundation.
We compost, we treat our grey and black water through a constructed wetland to protect the aquifer, and we return nutrients to the soil through dry compost toilets. Every structure was oriented for cross-ventilation. Every trail follows the natural contour of the land. We set the smallest footprint we could — so the jungle could stay jungle.
Every member of our team is treated like family — their voice matters in how this place evolves. We believe healing should be accessible to everyone, especially in times like these. That belief shapes our pricing, our partnerships, and how we show up for the community around us — sharing sustainable techniques and involving local hands in everything we build.
Fair wages for every person who helps build and run this place. Recycling and composting to reduce what leaves the land. And a growing food forest — fruit trees, medicinal plants, and native species planted not just for us, but for the generations who will walk this land after we're gone. We take what we need and return more than we found.
No architectural plans came first. Asdru and Maja walked the property for months before a single structure appeared. They identified the natural depression for the pool. They tracked the wind patterns before placing the casitas. They found the youngest trees for the food forest, leaving the ancient ones completely untouched.
The result is a property that feels not built but grown — as if Casa Arkaana has always been here.
The pool sits exactly where the land dips naturally. No excavation forced — it follows the earth's own contours and fills with cenote water from below.
Every structure is oriented to the dominant wind direction. Windows open on both sides. It is always cooler inside than outside — no air conditioning, ever.
The food forest was planted only among the youngest trees. The old-growth Mayan jungle stands completely as it was — ancient, alive, untouched by construction.
Completely powered by the sun. No generators. No noise. No grid connection. Our panel array captures energy even on overcast days — part of living with the land, not depending on anything outside it.
Water from the world's largest underground river system — the sacred Mayan water table. Clean, unlimited, deeply connected to the cenote network beneath the Yucatán Peninsula.
A growing edible jungle — bananas, papayas, moringa, mango, avocado, tamarind, citrus (limes, lemons, oranges, grapefruit), and medicinal herbs. Not a farm yet — a food forest in progress, planted to feed and heal for generations to come.
Dry-compost toilets with red Californian worms transform waste into nutrient-rich compost. All organic kitchen waste composted and fed to chickens. Zero-waste kitchen practices close the loop.
We've integrated Syntropic Agroforestry into our permaculture design — planting over 30 fruit trees and companion species that work together to regenerate the soil, enhance biodiversity, and nourish our community.
This edible landscape mimics the natural structure of a forest. Chicken coop and vermiculture complete the cycle — animal waste feeds the soil, the soil feeds the plants, the plants feed us.
"The land told us where things should go."
— Asdru
Every structure at Casa Arkaana is inspired by ancient Maya vernacular architecture — the same building wisdom that kept people comfortable in this climate for thousands of years.
Limestone foundations, hardwood frames from the jungle, palm roofs that breathe. High ceilings with openings at the top that let hot air rise and escape. Large windows covered in fine mosquito netting — no glass, no barriers — positioned to catch the dominant winds. Deep overhangs that keep rain and direct sun off the walls. Bathrooms flooded with natural light.
The result: every room is cooler inside than outside, every season. The design harvests more energy than it consumes — a core permaculture principle. No machinery, no noise — just architecture that works with the climate instead of fighting it.
Built over the years by the same local Mayan family, master craftsmen who carry this tradition in their hands.
Most guests arrive worried about the heat. By the second morning, they understand.
Casa Arkaana is not just a wellness centre — it's a model for regenerative living. We actively support our local community through education, collaboration, and access to sustainable tools. We participate in local projects, prioritise local and seasonal produce, and offer scholarships for individuals to grow and share their gifts.
Our goal: to show that sustainable living is not as hard as we've been told — and to share every tool and system we've implemented with anyone willing to learn.
Maja & Asdru
Co-Founders
