Central
location in the Hotel Zone, walking distance to beaches
Free
Wi-Fi in throughout the common areas
Free
continental breakfast in the downstairs restaurant
Washing
machine (for a fee) available for guests to use
Wear
and tear visible in all areas, and some grime buildup
Noise
from the surrounding areas can be loud until the early morning hours
No pool
Hostal
Mayapan is a no-frills budget hostel set in the Hotel Zone in the
old, mostly abandoned Maya Fair Plaza, across the
street from Playa Caracol and 15 minutes on foot from several other beaches. The grime and wear and tear are often noted by guests. The rooms are set up in old
office spaces that have been renovated into dorms and private quarters, with
limited air-conditioning that depends on how many guests are staying in a room. The
noise from surrounding restaurants and streets can be a bit much for some. Mezcal Hostel is nicer and has a pool, but it's located downtown.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A budget hostel in the Hotel Zone with lots of wear
Hostal Mayapan is a budget destination that offers nothing more than a place to sleep for a low price. It first opened in
May of 2010 and is suited to backpackers who don’t need any extras. It is set in Plaza Maya Fair, a former Hotel Zone hot spot that is now full of empty office buildings; the setting gives the hostel something of an abandoned warehouse feel. The
entrance is set on the far western end of the plaza. A set of
unassuming double glass doors leads up to a blue reception desk marked with
Mayan reliefs along its face, matching the orange-hued Mayan trim work on the building's stone exterior. A small ping-pong
table and lounge chairs are set up just beyond reception, behind the
no-longer-functioning escalators that lead up to the second level where the rooms
are. The 24-hour kitchen area is just off to the side on the first floor, with
a washer and dryer set up inside. The dorms and
private rooms are on the second floor, just past a once-functioning water
fountain decorated with Mayan symbols.
Location
In the Hotel Zone, near beaches, buses, and the Cancun Convention Center
The hostel
is set just down the avenue from the Cancun International Convention Center, under 10 minutes away on foot. On the way are Plaza Caracol, with its Starbucks and other stores, and the
Chedraui Select mega supermarket. Playa Caracol (aka Snail Beach) is just across the street, and once guests gain
entrance they can head west or east to other sections of the beach that are
operated by the various resorts, such as the Dreams Sands and Riu Palace. The
R1 and R2 buses, as well as taxies, can take visitors deeper into the Hotel
Zone, while those
looking to head into downtown can pick up the same buses heading west into the
city.
Rooms
The cramped dormitories and tiny private rooms are the bare minimum for budget travelers.
The rooms
at Hostal Mayapan are the bare minimum in terms of what hostels offer, with
bunk beds and individual mattresses set out in areas that were once office
spaces. The beds are hard and overused according to some guests. Rustic wood frames attempt to breathe a bit of life into the otherwise
drab rooms, where white painted walls are often marked by mold and water
stains.Tile trim
lines the walls in some places, with pieces missing here and there, especially
in the bathrooms, which are all shared. Simple ceramic tiles line the shower
walls and floors; they are heavily discolored in some places and have grout missing in others. The lockers
are the same rustic wood as the beds, but guests need to provide their own
locks. Yellow paint covers the frames of some of the beds, the sole spot of
color, and there are trash cans throughout the dorm rooms; not all of these are
covered, although the organic containers have lids, and some guests have
noticed odors from said trash bins, as well as smells from the combination of humidity, sweat, and age. While there are air-conditioning units, it’s important to understand they rarely keep up with the heat in the summer months, and are limited to only four hours per evening and morning (to keep costs down) when the rooms have only a few people staying in them. The two
private rooms both have a small bathroom with shower, a small
television, and the bed area. One room has a double and single bed,
while the other has a single king-size bed.
The same rustic wood furniture is seen in both of these rooms.
Features
A kitchen space with a washer and dryer, and nearby beach access
Free
continental breakfasts are included at the Hostal Mayapan, but it is little more than toast, cereal, and watered-down juice. The kitchen area is open 24/7 to all guests and has a refrigerator, small electric burners, and
microwave. It is one of the areas where the wear and
tear -- including notable mold, grime, and water damage -- is most visible. Also
available in the kitchen area are a washer and dryer, which cost money to use.The same machines are also available to the general public
for a cost, so you will sometimes see non-hostel guests within the kitchen area
doing laundry. Although
Wi-Fi is available in the lobby area, only the rooms closest to the reception
desk will pick up the signal. Also available out front are cold drinks from a
beverage vending refrigerator, as well as a single public computer for guests.
Beach towels are available for a fee. Parking is
not included, although there is a parking area along the north side
of the plaza. Spaces are first-come, first-serve, and local businesses on that
side will put buckets or blocks in front of spaces to reserve them for their
guests during operating hours.
