Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows

The grounds are gorgeous, with peacocks and other birds wandering around, and the food was great. The location is handy for Chichen Itza, and the free shuttle got us there at 8:30, before the crowds and the heat. The porch outside our room was lovely, but the room itself was quite run down. The shower had no hot water, the bathroom could have been cleaner, and the top bed blanket was stained. There was some construction going on, though it wasn’t too disruptive. The website says late checkout as late as 4pm is guaranteed, but that wasn’t the case. They did let us stay until 1pm.

The hotel has a classic charm, even though it’s older, and I loved the place so much I didn’t want to leave. The grounds are beautiful, expansive, and very well kept. It was peaceful and relaxing, with a great pool, restaurant, beds, and wi-fi. I’ll definitely make a point of staying here again.

The service made a real impression on us, especially at the restaurant. A big shout-out to Rey and Pedro for taking such good care of us, and to the responsive concierge Alaide. The pools were perfect for lounging, and everything felt lovely. Mayaland Hotel is a beautiful historic building. They’ve added just enough modern convenience while keeping the character of the original.

Our stay was fine, but the price felt very high for what we got. We booked specifically for the advertised private access to Chichén Itzá, hoping to avoid the long line at the main entrance with our small child. That entrance has been permanently closed since COVID and isn’t coming back. It feels misleading that Mayaland still advertises “private” or “secret” access on its website, blog, and printed materials. A Google search led us to a 2020 post about the “secret backdoor,” and that influenced our booking decision. The rooms are old-fashioned and smell musty. Some staff were friendly, but the restaurant staff seemed uninterested and unmotivated, and every question felt like a nuisance. Breakfast and dinner were both very expensive.