Las Palmas Maya

As with many other resorts along Tulum's coastline, Las Palmas Maya is composed of cabins featuring palapa-style roofs. These buildings are painted bright Caribbean colors, and made from natural materials found in the area -- primarily wood, river rocks, and bamboo. This resort's atmosphere is less unplugged than some of its neighboring hotels, as it carries some "modern" amenities, including 24-hour electricity (though usage may be limited during sea turtle mating season), reliable Wi-Fi, and pressurized water in certain accommodations. Wi-Fi is accessible due to the use of a military-grade repeater that blankets the property, so all rooms have a decent signal by Tulum standards. 

An open-air communal kitchen contributes a hostel-like feel to this destination, where guests can enjoy use of a cooking range, full-size fridge, blender, and electric griddle. A hammock lounge above the kitchen features ceiling fans, electric lights, table and chairs, plus hammocks. This area serves as a laid-back meeting room, as does the library. Former guests of Las Palmas Maya have left behind sunscreen and insect repellant, which are available for use, along with books and board games in the library. The resort's owner and his friendly dogs live on-site. He and the management team are eager to interact with guests, answer questions, and do whatever it takes to ensure a great stay at their resort.

Las Palmas Maya is not a beachfront property, though it is across the street from beaches. Guests are also welcome to use the nearby Hip Hotel's wide stretch of beach, which tends to be less busy than those of other neighboring businesses. While the resort does not offer much in the way of on-site recreation or activities, its location makes access to water sports, spa services, dining, and shopping simple. The Om Spa is across the street, a couple minutes' walk away. Om Spa offers a variety of massage therapies, reflexology, and skin care treatments. 

Las Palmas Maya is located on the main beach road that runs along Tulum's coastline. While this road can get busy with traffic, large portions of the thoroughfare are equipped with bike lanes, so tourists may find biking a convenient way to see the area. Bike rental is offered through the hotel, at discounted rates for guests. The Boca Paila beach road is lined with shops, restaurants, and other resorts. Many of these businesses offer spa services, bike and car rental services, or have tour desks. Downtown Tulum is about 20 minutes away by car, and the Mayan ruins at the Tulum Archeological Site are about a 15-minute drive away. The entire area is on top of a series of underground caverns, known as "cenotes." Cenotes are filled with water and feature limestone rock and mineral formations. Swimming and diving in cenotes, as well as boat trips through these caves, are popular day trips for tourists in the region.  

There are only six cabins at Las Palmas Maya, including four deluxe cabanas and two suites. Each are simply furnished with beds and mosquito netting, plus chairs and tables made of bamboo and wicker. All rooms are hand-painted in bright yellows and greens. There is little additional decor or art in rooms, but large square windows with bamboo blinds occupy a lot of wall space and allow for plenty of natural light. There are no televisions, phones, or air-conditioning in any rooms at Las Palmas Maya. Since electricity, while available, may be limited during seasons when sea turtles mate, but flashlights are included. 

Lower-level accommodations have small private porches with chairs for sitting outdoors. Upstairs rooms can be reached via outdoor stairways crafted from polished dark wood. These rooms also have petite-sized decks, with about enough room for two people to sit comfortably. Bathrooms include bar soap, but little else, so guests should plan on bringing their own toiletries. All showers are walk-in style, and some are made from river rocks. Only showers in deluxe cabanas have pressurized water, and all bathrooms are in need of updates. Linens provided include both bath towels and beach towels. 

Las Palmas Maya's simple but enjoyable amenities include free reliable Wi-Fi, a shared kitchen, and a hammock lounge. Staff is accessible 24/7, and the on-site management is more than happy to assist guests with recommendations for local tours, restaurants, and day trips. Morning coffee service is free, and the coffee itself is tasty, high-quality brew. There are no additional charges for use of the common areas or open-air kitchen. Guests are welcome to use the sunscreen and insect repellant in the library room. Boogie boards are free to borrow, and discounted bike rentals are available through the resort. Old bicycles are replaced every year to ensure that each is in good working order. There is no on-site restaurant or spa here, but many dining and spa treatment opportunities can be found within a 10-minute walk along the beach road.