Aldea Balam

The room was clean and pleasant, though very basic, with no hot shower, extra blanket, or glasses. It was right beside the highway, so traffic was incredibly loud. The dogs and roosters nearby made sleeping nearly impossible. The room itself was nice, but the facilities were minimal.

So peaceful here. You come in from the road through beautiful wooden gates, with flowers everywhere and Marta greeting you with a big smile. The guacamole was delicious. Love this place ❤️🎉

There’s lots of greenery, lovely trees and flowers, and I really enjoyed the place. I stayed in both a suite and a smaller room, and liked them both. The pool was clean, with little tables and chairs where you can have your own food and drinks. The mini bar and restaurant were handy, too. I had delicious wings and a margarita, maybe three, and the cook/waiter was so friendly. I was on my own for this vacation, and when a drunk guy made me uncomfortable, he noticed and got the man to leave me alone. The hotel was calm and cute, and I’m looking forward to staying again. I’d suggest spending at least two days there so you have time to enjoy it and relax.

The road is much busier than it used to be, with big, noisy trucks hauling stone for the new Mayan Train. Our first room faced the road and restaurant, which made it hard to sleep when we arrived tired. The hosts kindly moved us to a lovely room at the back, and the rest of the stay was much better. The room was very nice. It’s a useful and affordable base if you want to explore nearby Mayan ruins, a lagoon for swimming, an underground cenote, or a forest tour to see several kinds of monkeys. Tulum and the architectural wonder of Azulilk are also easy to visit, and the town has plenty of local artisan shops. The business is family owned, the staff are helpful, the on-site restaurant is very good, and the pool and rooms are lovely. But if you’re looking for a quiet, out-of-the-way escape, the construction traffic may disappoint until the work is done.