Hostel Mundo Maya

We checked out two nights early and couldn’t get our money back. The place was overbooked, so the four-bed dorm we’d booked wasn’t available. They put us in a three-bed room and said they’d add another bed, but we had to ask three or four times before anything happened, at 9 p.m. The staff were confused, rude, and unhelpful. They also charged everyone 19% extra for some reason. There was no AC, only two showers for the whole hostel, and the free water tank was always empty. I wouldn’t recommend it.

We regretted not looking into this place more before booking. We’d reserved three beds in a four-bed room, but arrived to find five beds, one just a mattress on the floor, and no lockers. The only storage cabinet was already in use and locked, so there was nowhere for our things. They moved us to a three-person room instead. It had a huge ball of hair in the corner, handprints on the walls, a broken AC unit, little spots on the sheets that looked like possible bed bug evidence, ants everywhere, and a tiny window that left the room very hot. There was more, too. We arrived really late and slept sitting in chairs, then demanded our money back the next day. The “kitchen” was about six feet wide, with a mini fridge crammed into a tiny hallway. I rarely write bad reviews, but Mundo Maya was so disgusting I wanted to warn other travelers.

The staff were kind and helpful, though they only speak Spanish, and the price is hard to beat. It’s on a quiet stretch, close to plenty of things, with a snack shop two minutes away and a car rental place right next door. The ADO bus station is about a ten-minute walk, and the local bus to the hotel zone is another five to ten minutes away on Av. Tulum. I’m on my last night here, and I think the stay will end well. I liked the place, even though it could use a little freshening up. I would have liked a replacement blanket, but I didn’t ask. I brought my own. I’m not sure if they have towels. When I stay in a hostel, I expect a bed, ventilation, and a bathroom, and I’ve usually had a private room with its own bathroom. The coffee was brown and the AC was cold. If you aren’t taking a package tour, you’ll probably want the ADO bus.

The rooms are clean, with a fan and a comfy bed, just what you need for a stay in Cancun. Don’t come expecting room service or five-star treatment. It’s a lovely little place, and the surroundings are charming. If you want an international, laid-back spot where people from Europe meet for a couple of Indios while Jose Jose tells his stories, this is the place. I’d recommend it again, 100/100.