Villa Pescadores Tulum

The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, arranging everything I needed, from massages to taxis and airport shuttles. The food and drinks were fresh and delicious, and I really appreciate that it's an eco-friendly hotel. It's right on the beach in a national park, near the Mayan ruins, and away from the noisy, clubby parts of Tulum. The feel is a little rustic and bohemian, but you have what you need for a relaxed, cozy stay. It's a lovely, chill place to stay in Tulum.

We stayed five days in this unusual, quiet, clean property with just 22 units. The protected Jaguar park setting puts you within walking distance of the Tulum ruins and lighthouse, and this stretch has the area's best white sand and clear blue water. There's a reef just offshore for a short boat ride and snorkeling in protected maritime waters. The units feel a little dated, but they're in two protected areas where additions or remodeling involve a lot of red tape. That also keeps new resorts and construction away and helps preserve the distinctive setting. The access rules weren't as alarming as some reviews made them sound. You do need daily access to walk this part of the beach. We stayed five days and bought one extra 120 peso wristband when we left for the day midway through the stay. The red 120 peso bands also let you ride the electric taxis around the park. Showing our reservation at the gate was usually enough to be waved through. Our vehicle was never searched, nobody interrogated us, and the gate staff were pleasant and helpful. Keep the original wristbands from the ruins and park, and you can generally walk the beach without trouble. If police notice an expired band, they'll remove it and ask you to buy another. We could walk to the lighthouse, which is free to enter. For a quiet, secure, peaceful stay without beach vendors, that felt like a small price to pay. The restaurant was good and brought food to our door, though prices were a bit higher than in Tulum because the government adds taxes for businesses in these areas. We couldn't get any drink specials. We asked and were told to check tomorrow, but there still weren't any the next day. We found cheaper places to eat nearby, including buy-one-get-one drinks, but you have to explore a little. We had a pleasant stay.

We spent two weeks here and enjoyed every day. The room was large, with a comfortable bed and nice pillows. Staff were friendly and professional, and the food and drinks were good. A wonderful place to stay in Tulum.

The location was great, and we enjoyed the sea and beach in November. But we had small electric shocks in room 7: my husband got one touching the kettle, my daughter while washing her hands, and me stepping onto the porch with wet feet. A technical team came to check it, and things improved, though the problem didn't go away completely. Restaurant staff didn't speak much English and misunderstood our orders twice. The dinner menu could be better, and prices were a bit high.