Paamul Hotel

A humble sign directs travelers off Interstate 307, down a rocky road, to a cluster of buildings on the sand. This is Paamul Hotel, and its low-key entrance sets the tone for what’s to come. There’s no ornate lobby or grand front desk, just a small reception room that resembles a haphazard office. Beyond reception lies the hotel’s open-air restaurant, pool, and beautiful beach. This is the area of the hotel where guests spend the majority of their day. There isn’t much activity, and the atmosphere is certainly peaceful, but a sense of camaraderie seems to pervade the air at Paamul. Waiters and diners banter at the restaurant, the manager greets guests by name, and everyone at the dive shop seems to know each other -- though it’s clear that many of them have just met. It’s a friendly place, and the warm environment definitely keeps guests coming back. As one staffer put it, “everyone’s family here a Paamul.”    

About a 20- to 25-minute drive south of Playa del Carmen, and about 40 minutes north of Tulum, Paamul is essentially in the middle of nowhere. Besides the on-site restaurant there are no dining establishments in the immediate area, nor are there places to shop or sightsee. Guests looking to explore will definitely want to bring a car, especially if looking to dine off-site. But, this middle of nowhere location certainly has its own appeal. Paamul feels far away from the hustle and bustle of Playa, and the tourism in Tulum. It’s quiet here, and not just because there are few people around -- the location itself exudes a sort of peacefulness that’s hard to replicate. Plan on an hour's drive to Cancun International Airport. 

While they won’t be winning awards for interior design anytime soon, rooms at Paamul deserve to be lauded for their spacious, unique layouts and spectacular views. Each of the 12 all-white rooms at Paamul comes equipped with two queen beds, a kitchenette, and a small love seat. Instead of a typical side-by-side layout, each bed occupies its own wall, giving the already large room a spacious feeling.  Each bed has a small canopy, and two tiny built-in nightstands on either side. There is a small couch in one corner, with a wall-mounted hospital-style TV hanging above it. The kitchenette has a small sink, mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and microwave. Bathrooms are decently sized, but look dark in comparison to the main room, which receives lots of natural light. Bathrooms are equipped with standard shower/tub combos, a few basic toiletries, and towels. The rooms’ best feature has to be the wall of windows that looks directly out onto the beach. Ground-floor rooms feature large decks with a cushioned sun lounger and a set of chairs, while second-floor rooms have balconies with the same furnishings. The ground-floor decks are literally steps from the sand, and the breaking waves are truly only a stone’s throw away. Few beachfront properties can say that all of their guest rooms are this close to the beach. There are no elevators here, so guests traveling with young children, or those with mobility issues, may want to request an accessible room on the ground floor. For guests looking for something a little more rustic, Paamul also has 10 ecological cabanas. The cabanas are a bit farther from the resort’s main public areas, but offer even more seclusion than regular rooms. A few of the cabanas are oceanfront, but most are situated around a small garden and do not have ocean views. The cabanas are certainly rustic, with palapa-style roofs, wooden plank floorboards, canvas “walls,” and semi-open air bathrooms. Each cabana has two double beds, a refrigerator, and a few shelves, but that’s about it. Bathrooms are truly basic, with tiny sinks, a toilet, and a shower stall. The cabanas are air conditioned, however, so you won’t have to rough it too much if you don’t want to.     

There’s not much going on at Paamul, but the hotel does have some nice features. The on-site bar and restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is a casual open-air establishment where guests come not only to eat, but mingle with one another. Potential guests should note, however, that only breakfast is included in the room price. A Brazilian chef provides authentic dishes and there's a full bar that's popular for margaritas. Next to the restaurant is the hotel’s pool, which has an infinity edge that overlooks the beach. Curiously though, there are no lounge chairs in the pool area, just tables and chairs from the restaurant. The dive shop is adjacent to the pool deck, and remains pretty busy throughout the day. There are dozens of coral reefs just beyond Paamul’s shores, making it a popular dive and snorkel spot for both hotel guests and other travelers. The hotel’s crescent-shaped beach, while sloped and somewhat rocky, is truly one of the most beautiful in the area, with calm, crystal clear waters and soft white sand. There are a few scattered beach chairs and kayaks and paddleboards to borrow, but don’t expect the covered cabanas or private palapas that can be found at more upscale resorts. Paamul lacks big-ticket amenities like a spa or fitness center, but does offer free parking and free Wi-Fi.