Kin Balam Cabanas

The setting is idyllic, with nature all around and the park entrance nearby. We stayed in a private cabin, which was great, although the AC only worked at full speed and a low temperature. That was still welcome in the heat. The pool was warm and a little dirty, and we weren’t keen on the food or drinks, which also felt expensive. We mostly ate at the restaurant across the street. Even with those drawbacks, the location and surroundings make this a place I’d still recommend.

The location is handy for the archaeological site, and the grounds are nice, but the room made our stay unpleasant. We expected a proper cabaña and got a cramped cement room instead. The cement bathroom smelled of sewage, and its bulky pillows were so uncomfortable that both of us slept with our heads flat on the beds. There was barely enough room for luggage or to move around, and the price felt like about twice what it was worth. The restaurant is right there, but it’s a bit pricey. For a better restaurant, you’ll need a taxi or colectivo into town. I might have been satisfied if the room and pillows had been better.

The grounds are lovely, with a river running through and bridges linking the cabañas. You can tell the gardener looks after the area. Our private-bathroom cabaña was well maintained, with a clean bathroom and huge beds. Mosquito nets on the windows kept the bugs away while we listened to the jungle, and the shared bathrooms and showers were clean too. Having a common kitchen is handy, but the staff need to keep a closer eye on the food in the fridge. Guests are supposed to label it with their name, room number, and checkout date, yet there was food of uncertain freshness in and around the fridge, and it sometimes got disgusting. Staff tried to clean the shared area, but nobody seemed to deal with the food or keep things in order. The restaurant wasn’t impressive either, mostly overpriced western dishes, and it was often nearly empty. A shorter menu with better priced local food might help. The pool needs more care too. I saw hair, insects, and other little things floating in it.

We had a private cabin and bathroom. It was basic but clean, and pretty much what I expected for the price 🙃. This has a nice hostel vibe and would suit a short visit or anyone fine with going without luxuries. Dinner and breakfast at the restaurant were good value.