Maya Tulum Spa Resort

This is my first time staying in Tulum, although I have visited the area on two separate day trips. I chose Maya Tulum because I was bringing my 17 year old daughter, and wanted the ease of all inclusive food, spa on location, onsite yoga, and proximity to the beach, and airport shuttle service. I was a little concerned after reading some of the reviews on Unilocal,but decided to give it a try regardless, and am so pleased I did!
The resort surpassed my expectations! The staff was helpful and courteous, without being intrusive. They answered every question I had for them, and supplied me with everything I requested. The instructions emailed prior to my arrival provided me with all the information I needed for a stress free stay. Yes, bring your own beach towels, not a huge problem. Once you arrive, other than my daily walks, shoes are not necessary. Bug spray, yup… it is the jungle. Tipping? Suggested tip $ 10 a day per person, to be provided upon check out, bargain! Plenty of spa appointments, I had 3 services and all were wonderful. Sergio was great for deep tissue. Our room was ocean view, but really it felt like ocean front. The room was clean and sparse, just perfect for the two of us.
I am giving Maya Tulum 5 stars for the value of their 5 night package. There are most likely more luxurious resorts in the area, but I’m not sure why I would spend more when this gem is in the mix. Gracias Maya Tulum, I will return.

As far as Tulum resorts go, no bueno.
The huts are nice, and the proximity to the beach is good, and the yoga classes fine (I haven’t tried the spa). But the service quality is poor. The restaurant is pretty middling, compared to much of Tulum. They ask that you bring your own beach towels — though have some for purchase for $ 55 (no joke) in the store, which is stocked full of tacky and overpriced yoga garments, but doesn’t have cold water or aspirin. And if you ask the staff for pretty simple advice — where to snorkel? How to get to the airport? Where to rent a bike? — the first response is guaranteed to be the most expensive, including packages and guides, and unnecessary. The upsell is pretty relentless here.
Possibly most unforgivable at this point: terrible, unreliable wifi.
I booked here because I needed to get away at the last minute, and couldn’t get into my old standbys, villa las Estrellas or coqui coqui. Hard lesson learned.
Also, side note: the kelp problem is becoming epic. Are the pristine Tulum beaches gone for good? Only thing to blame that on is climate change (and our own filthy oil habit).

Maya Tulum gets better every year — all 20 I’ve been coming! Lots of new additions, boutiques and upscale hotels have appeared but Maya Tulum — the areas premier retreat destination — remains the quiet standout. Simple yet elegant — worth many times the price in my book.

Wonderful experience all around. Staff was like family to us: Cecilia, Bea, Dan, Alfredo and others were marvelous and had plenty of local recommendations for restaurants and things to do. Comfortable beds, good AC and no problems with hot water as some other reviews mentioned. Also enjoyed the large water cooler in the lobby for refills anytime, instead of going through multiple water bottles and plastic. Nice eco-​touch. Relaxing hammocks all around the property, delightful beach and many restaurants and shops nearby either for walking, biking or short cab rides. Never tired of Ziggy’s Beach restaurant and ordered something different every day.
Only complaint was the wifi, non-​existent in rooms (which I can understand and even appreciate on a trip like this) but still pretty weak in lobby. At least Ziggy’s next door had strong wifi. I’d like to see Cabanas get a larger wireless router, which the management said was coming. They don’t flush toilet paper here, but that may be common in this area.

Confession: I, the renowned world traveler, thought Maya Tulum was a town in Mexico, not an adorable, relaxing, and immaculately maintained yoga and massage resort along the pristine beaches of Tulum, Mexico, about a 90 minute ride from Cancun.
So, many of my friends and coworkers were confused when I told people I was going to «Maya Tulum» for vacation. Except the 15 or so repeat travelers from O2 Yoga, who embark on the studio’s annual retreat to this tropical destination.
Maya Tulum is one of the first small resorts you will come by after passing through «Little Tulum,» a series of shops and cafes off a main highway in Mexico. The resort itself offers vacation packages that include meals and yoga, but I traveled as part of a planned retreat with my fare including a 7-​night stay in a beachfront cabana, two daily yoga classes with instructors traveling with us, and 3 vegetarian/​vegan buffet meals per day. Not included were the awesome fresh coconuts for purchase at the bar, alcohol, or fresh fruit and juice smoothies. (I partook of the first two, and they were wonderful.)
Some cabanas sit right on the beach and others, called garden view, are slightly further back – i.e. a two minute walk to the ocean. There are two yoga halls and something like 7 massage therapists on staff. Signing up for a massage (my deep tissue was $ 110 US for 80 minutes) was simple and stress free.
Every cabana and indoor area has a water basin out front to rinse the sand off your feet – so shoes are not required anywhere on the resort. This was the best part.
Every meal had fresh fruit and a vegan hot soup. Excellent food cameos include the oatmeal with breakfast, french toast, and fried plantains. The margaritas are strong and sour, and beers cost something like $ 3.
The staff is friendly and helpful, and all the guests are super blissed out and easy going. There is free WiFi in the dining hall and by the reception area.
I balked at dropping nearly $ 3,000 for a week long vacation (this includes airfare, dog care, and other incidentals, not just the stay at Maya Tulum), but now know why every veteran of our yoga retreat says it’s worth it. I hope to return!