El Pez, Tulum, Mexico

El Pez sits on a quiet stretch of the Tulum beach.

This was our first time to Tulum, so we did not know what to expect. The same could be said for our choice of hotel. El Pez, one of several Colibri Boutique properties in Tulum, certainly looked nice online and seemed to fit our needs, but it would be a new experience for us.

There’s a lot to love about Tulum and El Pez and we would definitely return. There are considerable pluses and (a few) minuses to staying at this hotel.

The Mayans have a traditional love and respect for the mysticism of the sunrise and dawn. El Pez provides the perfect setting to wake up and enjoy the sunrise with complimentary coffee delivered to the room early each morning.

The location is on the beach, about a five-minute drive from the main town of Tulum off the main highway (not much there). And it’s along the lively beachfront that Tulum comes into its own. Situated about midway on the beach strip and a short taxi ride from the Tulum Mayan Ruins by picturesque Turtle Cove (which are magical, by the way – go early before the tour buses arrive), the location of El Pez is perfect.

The hotel houses 19 rooms in eight different categories that can appeal to single travelers, couples, and families. A very generous breakfast is included in the room rate. The cuisine is excellent for all meals.

Some things to keep in mind: the beachfront is somewhat rocky, so swimming is tricky. The sea front rooms are a bit spare and not very private — our neighbours had to pass by our front sitting area to get to their rooms. Go for a cabana or one of the newer beachfront suites.

The safe and the door were a bit hard to manage and the air conditioning could be updated, but small issues really and we coped. And since Tulum has that (upscale) Bohemian-hippy vibe, where nature, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mayan jungle reign, it all seemed to fall into place.

All that being said, it was a wonderful experience and we enjoyed the opportunity to experience more of the Tulum scene. Taxis were very easily accessed in front of the hotel. And there’s an eclectic range of bars and restaurants within easy range.

The other members of Colibri Boutique Hotel group are close by. It’s definitely worth a visit to Le Zebra for the beach and bar (see our review in Beach Bar Bingo). Mi Amor is gorgeous with a terrific restaurant. We didn’t make it to Mezzanine.

We felt very welcome and were charmed by the helpful staff at El Pez, particularly the bartenders, who craft some terrific tequila and mezcal based libations. They were extremely accommodating, literally falling over each other to track down a particular mezcal on their extensive list that my husband ordered, but they had run out of.

Service like that – and with a genuine smile – goes a long way to making a stay particularly memorable.

The sand and sea are waiting right outside your bedroom window – if you can make it past the hammock.

Reflections…

Tulum has become a trendy and somewhat expensive place to stay, but El Pez offers a casual, fun vibe and an excellent base to enjoy all the area has to offer.