Carretera Tulum Ruinas-Boca Paila Km 3.5, Tulum, Mexico | +52 1 984 100 1443
Beach feels very private due to
rock outcroppings on each side
Free live music twice weekly
Sand toys are available for guests
to use on the beach
Free breakfast
Rooms are spacious and some overlook the beach
Airport transfers and rental
cars are available through resort
Bike rentals can be arranged
Pet-friendly property
AC is only available at nighttime
Low walls divide showers from rest of bathroom, limiting privacy
As with much of Tulum, Wi-Fi is
unreliable
Few amenities aside from a restaurant
Piedra Escondida is a small,
tidy resort hidden away on a property that feels secluded, despite being right
on a main road and surrounded by numerous restaurants, hotels, and shops. With
only nine guest rooms, this destination offers a lovely, beachside experience
in a largely unplugged setting. There are no TVs or phones in the spacious, but simple, rooms, and
Internet access is limited to the restaurant area (where free breakfast is served). Families are welcome at this pet-friendly resort, and it supplies shovels and sand toys for
building sandcastles. There are very few other amenities, however. The hotel is a solid mid-range pick, though, for families and couples seeking a quiet, laid-back stay.
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
Resort feels secluded as it's localted between rock outcroppings on an attractive stretch of beach.
Piedra Escondida, roughly
translated, means "hidden stone." The name suits, as the
resort is tucked away between rock outcroppings on a stretch of private beach. This
resort is composed of a cluster of three tan-colored palapas that are only
steps from the water. Palm and coconut
trees ring the property, and a giant piece of driftwood adds an interesting
decorative touch outside of the restaurant palapa. The beach itself features
lounge chairs and hammocks shaded under cabanas, as well as wooden chairs and
tables that are suitable for eating or meeting with others outdoors. While
Piedra Escondida is within a few minutes' walk of many restaurants, shops, and
bars, its positioning between the cliffs creates a sense of isolation and
escape from the active resort culture that makes up the Tulum hotel zone.
Location
On a main thoroughfare, within walking distance to restaurants, bars, and spas
The Boca Paila beach road is an
active thoroughfare, lined with restaurants, bars, and other resorts. There is no shortage of tourist-specific services available in this area, especially
tour centers offering everything from diving and snorkeling excursions, to boat
trips through the Sian Ka-an Biosphere's protected lands. Large sections of the
Boca Paila are lined with bike paths. Bike rentals are affordable and readily
available here, and can also be arranged through the resort. Many of the
resorts along this road offer a la carte spa services, including the nearby Ana
y Jose Charming Hotel and Spa, which is about a five-minute drive from Piedra Escondida. The popular
Om Spa is a seven-minute drive away by car. Guests of Piedra Escondida will have
the opportunity to tour historical Mayan ruins at the Tulum Archeological Site,
only a 10-minute bike ride away. The Coba Ruins, also popular among tourists,
are located in the jungle about 35 minutes from the hotel.
Rooms
Quaint rooms with simple designs and folk art decor
Rooms at Piedra Escondida are
lovely in their simplicity. High palapa roofs sit on top of white walls with
large windows, and doors that open onto private porches. Diaphanous curtains
provide privacy, softening the natural light that enters rooms during daytimes.
Beds at this resort are supported by European-style frames, rather than
platforms made of wood or stone which are common among the area's eco-resorts.
Furnishings are very simple, and limited mostly to dark wood bedside tables.
Sparse decor includes some local folk art, such as wood carvings on walls. Some
rooms have small futon-like couches built into the walls. A large guest room,
located in the restaurant palapa, features two beds, plus a couch and coffee table. This accommodation
also has memorable ocean and jungle views. Bathrooms feature modern fixtures,
with colorful porcelain sink basins depicting Mexican-style designs. Blue and
brown decorative tiles run along sinks, mirrors, and showers. Showers at Piedra
Escondida have only low walls that separate them from the sink and toilet areas,
but no curtains or doors. Bathrooms at this hotel carry the resort's own brand
of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Unlike those at some area
hotels, guests here will find a number of electrical outlets in their rooms, good
for charging handheld devices in a region where electricity tends to be
limited.
Features
Free breakfast and live music, but the best amenity here is the location
The most valuable amenity at
Piedra Escondida is the sense of privacy guests feel on this beach. While this
great feature is offered by mother nature, there are some other manmade extras available to guests here. The on-site restaurant, which shares the
hotel's name, is located in the resort's main palapa. Its menu focuses on
Italian-style cooking and seafood. Seafood dishes are prepared with
locally-caught fresh fish. Lunch and dinner must be purchased, but free a la
carte breakfast is included in the cost of a stay. Live music is provided for
guests on a twice weekly basis, and is free to attend. When out on the beach,
guests and their children are welcome to use the plastic sand toys provided by
the resort. These include small shovels and sand molds. Other services offered
by the resort include connecting guests with car and bike rental services, as
well as airport transfers. These services all cost extra, and are available by
request only.
