Playa Selva

Pepe, the host, was endlessly friendly and helpful, and Manuel, the resident masseur, worked wonders. Our family loved the three-story home tucked into the jungle, just steps from the water. Even with Tulum's busy tourism scene all around, it felt peaceful and secluded. One of the best memories was Sian, the resident surf instructor, catching a large Permit with his homemade harpoon gun. Another guest, a professional chef, prepared the fish in our shared open-air kitchen as sashimi, ceviche, and grilled fish, and we all ate together family-style. In an area under threat from over-development, this felt like the “old Tulum” we'd come to see.

I booked five nights, but after the second I felt nauseous and had a constant headache. There was a lot of decomposing sargassum on the beach, and the smell reached my room. I told the owner I was feeling very sick and needed to leave, and asked for a refund for two days. The owner offered a bigger room even closer to the beach, but that wouldn't fix a smell coming from the beach. They refused to refund me. I wouldn't recommend staying here at this time of year.

We were so glad we chose Playa Selva. The cabins are amazing and relaxing, with a beautiful beach right outside the door. It was great for families and kids. At night there was no noticeable club noise, just a tropical breeze. Pepe and the staff were fantastic. It's easy to take a collectivo into Tulum for shopping and groceries. Can't recommend this place enough!

The houses were clean and had all the necessary amenities. Pepe, the manager, was very helpful, and the cleaning staff were lovely too. We loved having breakfast and dinner on the porch in the light sea breeze. These beach houses are right in front of the sea, with restaurants and bars on either side, and you can hear the waves at night.