Small boutique property with self-catering suites and contemporary rooms
Walking distance to Tulum center; biking distance to ruins and the beach
Clean, rustic suites with kitchenettes, balconies with hammocks, and AC
Contemporary hotel rooms with AC, flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges
Little courtyard pool surrounded by greenery
Restaurant with daily specials and happy hour
Free breakfast with hot and cold items
Freebies include Wi-Fi and limited parking
Kitchenettes and cooking supplies are basic and dated
Water pressure and temperature is unreliable
Treated water makes for funky smelling bathrooms (common in Tulum)
Hotel rooms have sliding glass doors as main doors
Uolis Nah is a mid-range boutique property that sprang up alongside one of Tulum's main roads back in 2003. Located on the jungle side of the town, the property still has a wild feel to it thanks to the tropical plants, thick trees, and curving vines that envelop it. There's a small courtyard pool, free (if limited) parking out front, and a small restaurant that serves up a free breakfast and lunch specials. The rustic, self-catering suites have dated, basic kitchenettes, double beds, and balconies with hammocks, while the newer hotel rooms feel contemporary and have mini-fridges, modern bathrooms, and sliding glass doors. There's free Wi-Fi and tour booking available. For a more contemporary feel all around, travelers could compare rates and facilities with the nearby three-pearl Ginger Hotel.
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Scene
Small self-catering property popular with long-stay travelers on a budget; new standard hotel rooms
The intimate Uolis Nah first opened in 2003. At that time, the owners were only permitted to build cabin-like structures, resulting in the hotel’s rustic, circular palapa-style buildings that house the property's self-catering suites. The spot became popular with active, longer-term travelers on a budget who ventured to Tulum for things like dive certifications and kiteboarding. However, in 2017, the hotel added a handful of new rooms that function more like standard hotel rooms, without kitchens and with more contemporary design and decor. The central courtyard is green and lush with twisting trees covered in new and old vines, tropical jungle plants, and the resident cat, Sylvester. For the most part, the hotel is quiet with surprisingly little road noise from the main road right out front, though early morning rooster calls are hard to ignore.
Location
Located off a main road within walking distance to Tulum central
Uolis Nah is located off the main road to Coba, within walking distance to Tulum’s main drag, a large grocery store, and the Hertz car rental office. Tulum central can be reached within a 15-minute walk, though back streets are recommended after dark as there are no sidewalks off the main road in front of the hotel. The Tulum ruins are either an 11-minute drive or a 12-minute bike ride from the hotel, while the beginning of the beachfront hotel zone is either an eight-minute drive or 12-minute bike ride away. Cancun International Airport is a 90-minute drive north, Playa del Carmen is just under and hour’s drive north, and Coba is 45-minutes inland.
Rooms
Contemporary hotel rooms, plus more rustic-style suites with wooden balconies and hammocks
Rooms here are split into the original cabin structures built in 2003 and the newer rooms built in 2017. The older rooms make up the hotel’s Standard and Superior Suites, while nearly every room in the new block has its own category. Spacious wooden terraces and balconies with hammocks, curved walls, and vaulted cabin ceilings feel rustic, while built-in couches with foam cushioning, wooden wicker furniture, and bean bag chairs keep decor simple. Each suite offers a small, dated kitchenette area with a mini-fridge, small stove and oven, and sink; a comfy double bed; and a simple tiled bathroom outfitted with walk-in shower. In the newer block, the rooms feature a more contemporary (though still simple) look, and guests can expect smooth concrete floors, wood laminate furniture, mini-fridges, and smaller (though more modern) bathrooms. However, our bed was made with throw pillows, which left us wishing for standard bed pillows sporting washable pillowcases. All of these rooms have a sliding glass door entry with brown fabric drapes for privacy. Similar to some (but not all) smaller hotels in the area, the bathrooms can smell a bit funky from the treated water; during our stay it was particularly bad at night, even with the bathroom door closed.
Features
Small property with little beyond a free breakfast, lunch service, and a small pool
Uolis Nah is tiny and its features are minimal, so the hotel’s courtyard pool stands out as a nice plus. However, there’s no deck, sun beds, or loungers here, so it functions more as a plunge pool to help cool off from the heat. The open-air restaurant area, which feels more like a small breakfast room, is the only other public space at the property. Along with a basic free breakfast of eggs, fruit, and coffee, the restaurant serves up lunch items, a deal of the day, and happy hour (for a fee). There’s free Wi-Fi and limited parking spaces out front (some are covered), and reception can help book local tours.
