Communal kitchen allows guests
to cook their own meals
Guests can borrow books, board
games, sunscreen, and insect repellant from the communal area
Furnished hammock lounge with
electric lights is a nice place to relax
Discounted bike rentals available
Boogie boards free to use
Pet-friendly property
Free morning coffee service
Free Wi-Fi is reliable (rare in the area)
No private beach; guests must walk across the road to nearby public beaches shared by other hotels
No air-conditioned rooms
available
No on-site restaurant, spa, or gym
Rooms are incredibly stark and lack TVs
Small bathrooms need serious updates
Las Palmas Maya is a quirky eco-resort located on the main strip in Tulum's touristy hotel zone.
It offers the communal benefits of a hostel, such as a shared kitchen with many
food prep gadgets, while guests can enjoy the privacy of having their own rooms (albeit very simple ones).
This resort is welcoming to families with children and pets. It is a solid option for budget travelers, seeking an escape away from the
party atmosphere of some larger resorts. While Las Palmas Maya does not have
its own beach, guests are encouraged to use other (mostly public) beaches along
this sandy stretch of coastline, including that of the nearby Hip Hotel. Guests
will need to cross the road to get to the beach.
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
The communal feel of a hostel, with the privacy of your own room
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.
Location
Across the street from beaches and a spa, and 20 minutes from Tulum proper
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.
Rooms
Rooms are incredibly basic, but feature small private decks.
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.
Features
Amenities include communal kitchen and hammock lounge -- but little else
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.
