Olas Tulum

We came for the beach, but didn't expect to connect with so many like-minded travelers around the communal table. It felt like a little slice of paradise, quiet and secluded, with the ocean breeze all night, beach time by day and a delicious breakfast. Jimmy and the crew made the stay wonderful, and the on-site chef is SO GOOD!!!!

Staying at Las Olas felt like being at a friend's home, and we had a great visit. The beach is wonderful, and the food is fresh, local Mexican cooking. Their fantastic chef, Gabriel Solis Gutierrez, has worked at Michelin-rated restaurants.

We had a beautiful 1,100-square-foot place with a deck looking out over the water. The views were breathtaking, and everything was clean and thoughtfully designed. Olas in Tulum felt like a hidden gem, and we can't wait to return. Jimmy, the owner, made us feel at home with his charismatic, engaging conversations. Our host was incredibly honest and kind, always looking out for us and making sure we felt safe and cared for. I didn't get to meet his partner, Abby, but I know she helped organize everything and made the stay run smoothly. Breakfast each morning came with smiles from the staff, fresh fruit and yogurt. Simple, but such a treat. We stayed for four days and had an incredible time. Thank you to Jimmy, Abby and the wonderful staff for making it so special. I can't recommend it enough.

Olas matched what its website said, but some details in older guest reviews seem to have changed. There was no lunch service or drinks for guests during our stay. Finding lunch meant walking a fair way along Beach Road in the midday heat to places that were open, or driving to Tulum Pueblo and back. We'd heard the piña coladas were great, so it would have been nice to have drinks available. We bought a shaker, made margaritas in our room and stocked the fridge with beer instead. There was also a lot of sargassum on the beach. We know that's outside Olas' control and that they can't rake it like the bigger resorts, but it made it hard to get in the water. And while other reviews praised the breakfast coffee, ours tasted weak and muddy, possibly because the beans had gone stale or the supplier had changed. I appreciated having a French press at breakfast; with different beans, the coffee could be great. :) A couple of little room details affected our sleep. The room stayed at a lovely temperature, but there was only a top sheet and a flat sheet, and the mattress wasn't comfortable. A light down comforter would've helped. The kitchen light, perhaps because it's solar-powered, stayed on for more than six hours after we switched it off. It shone right onto our bed through the window between the rooms. We figured out we could keep it off all day so it would be dim by night, but lost one night's sleep before we realized that. The atmosphere is dreamy, peaceful and nurturing. Olas is a special corner of the world, and I don't know if we would've enjoyed Tulum as much if we'd stayed elsewhere. Thank you to Asia, Nano and all the staff for their kindness and care. You're wonderful! Nano's breakfasts were incredible, some of the best food we had on the trip. Waking up and heading to the communal table made me happy, and gave us a chance to get to know the other two guests staying there. I'll be dreaming about the juices, homemade tortillas and delicious yogurt. The guidebook in our room had helpful recommendations, and we tried a lot of them. DO book a bird-watching boat tour with Luis Fernando. Floating down a lazy river through mangroves and seeing manatees, saltwater crocodiles and birds roosting on an island at sunset was the most memorable part of our trip. DO go to Cetli for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Oaxacan food is incredible, and the coffee and margaritas are great too. DO go to Hartwood for dinner. One place I'd caution people about is La Popular, a short walk away and suggested in the guidebook. Our first dinner there was very overpriced for food that wasn't very good. A $25 cocktail that was mostly soda water gives you the idea. We enjoyed the trip more once we went farther afield for restaurants. DO rent a car. Beach Road gets crowded, so you'll need to go slowly, but driving felt safe. Having a car gave us the freedom to visit the ruins at Coba and eat in Tulum Pueblo. I deeply recommend Olas. I mentioned those other details to give a better sense of things we wondered about before booking. Gracias por todo!