Hotel Bucaneros Hotel & Suites

Hotel Bucaneros’ modest entrance can be challenging to spot at first, as it's tucked among the many shops and restaurants crammed along bustling Avenida Hidalgo. The swirl of activity outside on the street seems to emphasize the bland atmosphere encountered upon stepping into the hotel’s dimly-lit lobby. Furniture includes a carved wooden sofa and worn bookcase that holds faded magazines and dated bestsellers. The lobby leads to a small courtyard that's filled with vibrant potted plants. Limited seating and lack of a pool or restaurant means there aren’t any compelling reasons for guests to spend much time at the hotel. Instead, most guests, both families and couples, seem to focus on taking advantage of the beach and other diverse entertainment options found nearby, returning to the hotel only to sleep.

Hotel Bucaneros is located on Avenida Hidalgo, one of the busiest streets in Isla Mujeres' small downtown core. There are dozens of shops and restaurants found directly outside the hotel, as well as along the surrounding streets. The hotel is less than half-a-mile, or a 10-minute walk, from the island’s main beach, Playa Norte. It’s also a five-minute walk to the ferry terminal, where boats run to and from Cancun. Parking at the hotel is free, but most guests arrive via ferry. 

The 16 guest rooms at Hotel Bucaneros look tasteful overall, decorated in muted beige and cream tones with austere tile floors. Most rooms include dark-wood dressing tables with mirrors, or small table-and-chair setups. Gold leaf-print or striped white bedspreads look fresh. All rooms offer air-conditioning units, ceiling fans, and flat-screen TVs. Large closets hold small safes, hangers, and a few drawers. Each has a mini-fridge as well as a pitcher and glasses, which can be filled with drinking water at dispensers found in the hallway on each floor.

Narrow balconies with views over Avenida Hidalgo are a nice feature in front-facing rooms. Some rooms also offer a kitchenette area, complete with cutlery and dishes, hot plates, and coffeemakers.

The neutral tones of the bedrooms continue in the bathrooms, which are stocked with a small bottle of off-brand shampoo and bar of soap. Bathrooms can include a separate bathtub or just a shower.

Features here are limited, as most guests spend their days exploring. One nice perk is the free breakfast, served in a quiet room on the hotel’s upper level, with seating at white plastic tables. The buffet features a few different choices of cereal, toast, juice, coffee, yogurt, and fruit.

There’s a small leafy courtyard with a patio table found toward the back of the hotel. An independently-owned restaurant attached to the hotel, Compadres, offers Mexican cuisine, pastas, and seafood. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, but the connection is spotty in most guest rooms. And beach towels are offered with payment of a refundable deposit.