Where should we stay in Tulum?

December 17, 2013 7:39 PM

Heading to Tulum without the kids at the end of Jan/Beginning of Feb for 3 nights and am seeking recommendations for accommodations based upon relatively recent stays. Our requirements: Quiet, clean, nice bed, ceiling fans, hot water, good restaurant, on the ocean. We'd like a cabana but also would consider the right hotel. We can spend up to $500/night for the right place but I'd love to find something closer to $300. Ideally, not next to any major new developments, which I understand are starting to take over the area. Thanks in advance for any help!
posted by avrobie to Travel & Transportation around Tulum, Mexico (4 answers total)

I have stayed here several times. Very nice, wonderful food, you can get a cabana that's right on the ocean.
posted by elf27 at 8:25 PM on December 17, 2013

My dad, brother and I stayed at the Villas DeRosa a couple of years ago. We had a two bedroom condo on the second floor (the second bedroom had two single beds) with a kitchen, large living room (with sleepable couches) and deck overlooking the beach. You could walk about 20 minutes down the beach in either direction before coming to a large resort. It was a 20 minute drive into Tulum proper, and there was a bus stop a short walk away if you wanted to take the bus into Tulum or Akumal. Their restaurant was quite good, and they'd deliver to your room or you could eat by the pool.

They seem to mainly cater to divers -- or at least that's who most of the other guests we met seemed to be -- as they have a dive shop and run diving tours. We rented some snorkeling gear and took it to the Yal-ku lagoon in Akumal, which was very nice. There wasn't much to see while snorkeling right in front of the hotel, but it was nice to be able to just walk downstairs and do that.

I'd definitely go back again. Oh, and their most expensive rate is under $500/night -- a 1 bedroom beach-facing condo (with kitchen and such) when you'll be there is $165/night. It's not a cabana, but it's quite nice.
posted by hades at 9:44 PM on December 17, 2013

I stayed at Cabanas Tulum a couple years ago and enjoyed it very much. The food at their restaurant isn't quite as good as some of the other options in the area, all of which are very close. Definitely recommend.
posted by dhammond at 5:13 PM on December 18, 2013

Take a look at Cabanas Copal. I stayed there with my wife a few years ago... it was pretty cheap as I recall. Had a cabana literally right on the beach, like could get up from bed and be in the water 2 minutes later. Beach was pretty rocky so I had to wear sandals in the water but I didn't mind. They said it wasn't always like that and depends on the weather. The restaurant was nice, and there was another decent choice a short walk down the road. We cabbed into Tulum proper a couple times to look around.

Note that the cabanas are pretty rustic. No electricity (if you want to charge something you need to go sit in the lobby) and there's gaps all over so you might get the occasional iguana, rodent, or hermit crab chillin' in your room with you. They burn a lovely incense (copal) day and night. Try the stuffed peppers.
posted by signsofrain at 7:50 AM on December 19, 2013