Encantada – Beach Road, Tulum, Mexico – (650) 212-6782

We were fortunate enough to be guests of Encantada on our most recent trip to Tulum, Mexico.  For this trip we were looking for a very unique experience outside of the typical all-inclusive luxury resort experience.  At Encantada we found just that and more.  This boutique beachfront hotel is truly heaven on the beach!

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From the moment we arrived, we instantly fell in love with Encantada’s lush tropical surroundings, wonderful staff, gorgeous cabanas, and uninterrupted beachfront views.  The check-in process was incredibly smooth with the adorable and sweet Maria! Ismael was so informative.  Of course we had a number of questions at check in, but they both answered each and every one of our concerns on the hotel as well as the surrounding area.  Ismael also provided us with a quick tour of the hotel grounds, and he made sure all of our needs were met before he led us to our beautiful cabana.

From the moment we arrived, we instantly fell in love with Encantada’s lush tropical surroundings, wonderful staff, gorgeous cabanas, and uninterrupted beachfront views.  The check-in process was incredibly smooth with the adorable and sweet Maria! Ismael was so informative.  Of course we had a number of questions at check in, but they both answered each and every one of our concerns on the hotel as well as the surrounding area.  Ismael also provided us with a quick tour of the hotel grounds, and he made sure all of our needs were met before he led us to our beautiful cabana.

Before we knew it we were off to our new thatched roof home on the beach, a beautiful oceanview cabana featuring a private wraparound porch and floor to ceiling views of the beach.  Our eco-chic cabana was expansive to say the least! It exceeded our expectations in every way.  The bed and bathrooms are dressed with gorgeous luxury linens.  Forgot your shampoo? No problem – the toiletries provided are organic, chemical free, and very evocative of the hotel’s over all theme.

Encantada’s incredible attention to detail is what sets it apart from others in this area.  One thing worth noting is that our cabana was kept meticulously clean.  This was incredibly important to us, and it was very nice considering all of the outside elements that could easily have entered our cabana through the sliding doors during a big storm –  we were present for a few of those.  The hotel has also placed a number of candles throughout the cabanas which allow you to enjoy the beauty of your cabana in a whole new light.

There are only eight cabanas at Encantada located directly on the famous Tulum Beach which makes for a very intimate experience overall.  This hotel offers the exact opposite of your big-box all-inclusive resorts in every way – for the better! In your cabana you will find no televisions, no air conditioners, and limited outside guests lingering around the property.  Even though the cabanas are close to one another, we never felt as if we didn’t have our privacy.  None of the cabanas main viewpoints directly face each other which allowed ample solitude.

Everything from the beach towels and dinner/drinkware was lovely.  Each cabana is provided with the use of a beautiful handmade beach bag that evokes everything we felt Tulum represented.  The hotel also offers these bags, along with the fabulous dinnerware used in the restaurant, for purchase at the end of your stay.

When we did decide to leave our cabana for the day to explore the incredible Tulum, theft was never a concern.  A safe is provided in the cabana for your valuables, security is on duty in the evening hours, and from our observation everyone at Encantada seemed to be of the same mindset.

 

Do:

–  Borrow a bicycle from the hotel (they are free to all guests) and take a scenic ride up Beach Road to explore the paradise that is Tulum Pueblo and Beach Road.

–  Enjoy a traditional Yucatan breakfast in the hotel restaurant which is included in your stay.  Their breakfast offerings are fantastic, and It’s a great opportunity to get to know the staff as well as other guests.

–  Take full advantage of happy hour from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. daily – Jose makes a mean mango margarita!

–  Visit the Tulum Ruins.  You will NOT regret it!

Be Prepared For:

–  Don’t forget to pack your bug spray! Tulum nights can be very buggy, especially after a big storm.  Most restaurants are open-air, and they offer various citronella devices throughout.  However, that alone was not enough to fight off the bugs of Tulum, so bug spray is a must!

–  The lack of air conditioning could be a bit much during the hot summer nights, so take that into consideration when planning your trip.  We did not find this a problem during our September stay, and often we found the ocean breeze refreshing.

–  If you visit during the “off season,” which we did, be prepared to walk, bike, or drive down Beach Road to check out the various restaurants.  The hotel provides bikes and flashlights (taxis are also readily available) which made our trip down Beach Road in the evenings easy.

Pros:  Powder white sand between your toes, exceptional customer service, private thatched roof cabanas and tranquil beaches are what makes Encantada a truly amazing experience.  Although others were also staying at Encantada during our trip, we truly felt as if we were enjoying our own private piece of paradise.

Cons:  The Tulum area in general is more pricey than some of the other areas we’ve visited in Mexico.  This may be a drawback for some, so be sure to save up for your trip.  Encantada does not offer an all-inclusive option, however a delicious daily breakfast, free wi-fi, private beach access, and free parking are all included in your stay.
Our time at Encantada was truly relaxing thanks to the hotel’s outstanding staff and laid-back atmosphere.  The world class food, accommodations, and experiences we had were unlike any other trip we’ve taken before.   Our treehouse on the beach was so magical that we never wanted to leave it! Falling asleep to the soothing sound of the ocean waves crashing on the beaches and waking up to a stunning Tulum sunrise truly was heaven on the beach!

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If you’ve been lucky enough to experience heaven on the beach, please let us know the details of your destination!  For more information about Encantada, please visit their site.