Hotel Xbulu-Ha

I’ve been coming here for over ten years and have tried more than a dozen places on the island. For good value within walking distance of Playa Norte, it’s hard to beat. The manager clearly cares, and I notice improvements every visit. Rooms are clean and have a safe, strong water pressure, efficient AC, and hot water. You can borrow beach chairs, and there’s good free coffee in the morning. The WiFi works well, too. Just know that the rooms don’t have private balconies, and the mattresses are quite firm, in case those are deal breakers. I like the downstairs common areas and the spaces at the front of each floor with sea views. I always meet nice people there, and many guests return. The staff are very nice as well. Kudos to everyone at Xbulu-ha. See you again soon.

I’ve returned many times now, and my opinion hasn’t changed. I first wrote this in June 25? It’s January 2026 now, and I’m about to book again. I stopped in looking for good value, checked the rooms, and decided to stay. We needed a comfortable bed, good AC, WiFi, a ceiling fan, and a shower. The room had all of that, plus closet space, a safe, mini fridge, TV we didn’t use, and a small seating area. It was compact but comfortable, just right for coming back after a day at the beach to shower, go to dinner, and sleep. The doors close at 10:30pm, and you borrow a key for entry, with the deposit returned when you bring the key back. The place was perfect for us, impeccably clean, with a comfortable mattress, cold AC, and nice water pressure. There’s no pool or restaurant. In the lobby there’s a small spot to make sandwiches or fruit boxes, with a table, silverware, microwave, and coffee pot with complimentary morning coffee. It’s one block from the Malecon side of Isla, about a two minute walk, and around five minutes to Playa Norte. Juarez Ave, the pedestrian street with shops and restaurants, is a block away. Beach chairs and towels are available to borrow. The people are lovely and friendly, like life here was twenty years ago. Highly recommend.

There’s nothing fancy about this place, but it’s perfect for resting, sleeping, and changing clothes between activities around the island. The rooms were very clean and comfortable, and everyone working there was really nice. The location was perfect.

The junior suite had been newly remodeled and came with excellent amenities for a really good price. I was impressed throughout my nine day stay, and the included beach towels and chairs were a great bonus. It was quiet at night, and I could walk to the ferry, beaches, nightlife, a grocery store, and everything else I needed. The friendly people running the hotel keep a close eye on the place, and as a solo female traveler I felt very safe. I recommend booking directly with the hotel for the best price.