Hotel Puerta Calakmul

The hotel’s biggest strengths are its location and the fact there are no real restaurants nearby. As of July/August 2024, it was the closest you could stay to the Calakmul archaeological site. The place is cute and has potential, but the quality was underwhelming. It’s sort of a “glamping” experience, but somehow not really. The owners clearly understand the advantage they have, and the prices, especially for food, felt like hospitality twisted into greed. We had the worst food of our trip in Mexico at nearly the highest prices, and the included breakfast was a shame. If you can, find somewhere else.

We slept well under the mosquito nets and loved the quiet, with all the sounds of nature around us. The children enjoyed swimming and staying at the hotel. Internet is only available at reception and in the restaurant, and the food we tried there was good enough. We knew what kind of place this was and were prepared, so we weren’t disappointed. The staff were attentive and patient, helped with our luggage, answered our questions, and were friendly with the kids. Before our visit, I contacted the hotel to explain our plans and ask about the stay. Rubi in particular gave us lots of information, including the road conditions and construction around Calakmul and the archaeological site. The clear, detailed communication helped us change our itinerary and add an extra night, so we could travel to Calakmul and visit the site without rushing. The staff also helped us get in touch with Jacobo, a professional bilingual guide who was very attentive and patient with the children during the visit. We’d spent time reading reviews and looking into the accommodation options because we were traveling with our children and wanted to be ready for whatever came up. We understood the hotel’s type and prices, thanks in part to the useful comments from other guests. That preparation helped us make the most of our stay.

We had a comfortable, clean bungalow with mosquito nets over both beds, hot water in the evening, and a lovely terrace with comfy chairs and a hammock. We walked the trails and saw howler monkeys right by the lodge. The pool was cold and cloudy, so we skipped it. Dinner had lots of options and reasonable prices, though they automatically add 15% for tips, which was annoying. We left at 5:30AM for Calakmul and didn’t try breakfast. I’d been worried after reading the bad reviews, but honestly, it’s a nice place if you come prepared. Bring cash because they don’t take credit cards, and bear in mind it’s a bit overpriced. We arrived around noon because access to Calakmul was closed, with construction on the road limiting opening hours to 5am-11am. I wish they’d emailed us about that so we could plan the day better. They did let us check in early, even though the usual time is 3PM, which was nice. The stay was really relaxing.

The bird and wildlife around the grounds were the only redeeming part of our stay. The hotel was overpriced and very poorly maintained. The pool was dirty, the room needed a lot of repairs, and the road and signs leading there were terrible. The food was among the worst I’ve had in Mexico, and far too expensive. The photos make the place look much nicer than it really is. Don’t stay here.