Zunya

I came because the place’s mission and regenerative economy ethos appealed to me. I hoped to meet conscious, like-minded people who wanted to make a difference, and that’s what I found among the guests. There’s also room to collaborate and contribute your own gifts and talents. I planned to stay two days, then extended to eight. It’s a beautiful sanctuary that felt like home right away, right in front of the beach, with its own mysterious jungle. The rooms are really cute and thoughtfully detailed, the vegan food is delicious, and all the staff are incredibly friendly. You wake to the sound of the ocean, and there’s a morning yoga class every day included with your stay, along with other workshops and experiences. I’d easily stay a month if I could. 🌞✨

We paid way too much for what felt like a poorly run hostel, and were really disappointed with our stay at Zunya. The property looked messy and disorganized. Our room wasn’t ready until three hours after check-in, communication was unclear, and it didn’t feel like anyone cared about our experience or customer service. We booked a “beehive” because it looked cute online, but in person it was very bare bones. It wasn’t sealed at all, basically camping in the jungle in a tent that couldn’t zip shut. Giant spiders, huge beetles, mosquitoes, and grasshoppers were all over the walls, bed, and floor. We like camping, but not without any way to protect ourselves from the jungle. We had four nights booked and left in the middle of the first night because the bugs were so bad we couldn’t sleep. Staff had already left for the night, so we couldn’t sort anything out and just went. The outdoor lights wouldn’t turn on, so we couldn’t shower after dark. There was no hot water or AC, and with mesh sides the tent got really hot. While waiting for our room, we had one meal that was disappointing: a small side salad and a scoop of lentils for $14. We’re vegetarian and used to eating light, but this was still poor. The day after we left, they offered a room change, but by then we had no confidence in the place. They refused to refund any of the four nights, even though we hadn’t stayed one. We ended up at two other places in town that cost less and were much nicer, with more amenities and better service. There are lots of other good hotels in the area.

The room was covered in huge spiders, crickets, beetles, and mosquitoes. When we turned out the lights, they were falling on our heads. It wasn’t ready until three and a half hours after check-in, and the guy at reception seemed completely indifferent. On the first night, we left at 11 p.m. for another hotel because the room was uninhabitable, bugs were everywhere and on everything. We tried calling reception that night, but no one answered and nobody was at the desk. The next morning I returned to ask for a refund for the remaining booked nights because we weren’t going to stay. They sent me to Camila, who said, “so sorry nature is visiting so much in your room.” She refused a refund and offered to move us, but we didn’t want to stay. It’s marketed as an “eco lodge,” but felt like a very budget place with great marketing and photos. The jungle hexagons are haphazardly built and unsealed, with no hot water or a/c. They charge a lot, yet there was no service, the food was bad, and everything seemed in disarray. The next day, the owner of the surfboard rental shop told us he’d heard similar stories from several people who stayed one night and left. That afternoon, we met people on the beach who had also only stayed one night. Save yourself time, money, and stress and stay somewhere else. Food-wise, we paid $13 at their restaurant for an “entree” that was a small scoop of lentils and a few leaves of salad, probably 150 calories. We left to get dinner elsewhere so we wouldn’t have to order the lentils three more times.

The food was one of my favorite parts, even though the all-vegan setup might put some people off. Every meal was delicious and beautifully plated, and the margaritas are definitely worth trying. I loved the beach seating and places to lounge, plus the activities were fun. The Glamping tents looked gorgeous and did a great job keeping bugs out. The view and location were already enough for me, but staying at Zunya turned out even better than I expected.