Aldea Zama progress (November 2011), best tulum development

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The works at the development Aldea Zama Tulum have progressed fast this last year (2011).  After some initial delays, the construction works are at full speed.  In this gallery we can see the progress of the main commercial street of Aldea Zama, a cute pedestrian street that will be packed with restaurants and shops in a few years.

It is rumored that a few owners of the commercial lots of this main pedestrian street will start building soon (the construction/development of the residential lots has already started, with Zama Village condos project estimated to be fully constructed in April 2012).   

The best lots on this pedestrian street, originally at $75.000 are already estimated to have raised its value to the $100-120k range.

Best budget hotels in Tulum

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Tulum has a growing offer of hotels, and in the category of best budget hotels there are very good ones, hotels priced around or below $100 for a double room.  Most of the best budget hotels in Tulum are not seafront, they are in the Tulum town, some 2-3 miles away from the beach.  Tulum is a bicycle friendly town, so if you are staying in one of the value hotels listed here, you can bike to the beach.  The road that connects the Tulum town with the beach has an exclusive bicycle path.   If you are not sporty enough for a bike, you can take a local cab, the fare for a trip to beach is less than $5.  Another option is to rent a car, not strictly needed, but useful if you want to do excursions to parks, ruins and other nature and culture marvels.

Some of the best budget cabanas and hotels are the following:

  • Posada Yum Kin (rates from $65/85 in low/high season).  Address: Kukulkan Norte, between Halcones and Tucanes streets. Phone: +521 984 127 7904.  Very friendly, ideal for families.  Good service.  Beautiful tropical garden, pool and jacuzzi, the ideal place to hang your hammock and relax.
  • Teetotum Hotel (rates from $75). Address: Avenida Cobá Sur 2. Phone: +52 984 143 8956.  Another small family run hotel (from Philladelphia) , just 4 rooms.  Retro-chic decoration (kinda 60s). Highly recommended.
  • Posada Luna del Sur (rates from $60). Check our full review of Posada Luna del Sur Tulum
  • Hotel Latino.  Check our full review of Hotel Latino Tulum
  • Rancho Tranquilo (rates from $20).  You need to be comfortable with a low end hotel, its service and its crowd, but if you are on a really tight budget this is the place for you. Big gardens and rooms are a plus.
  • La Selva Mariposa.  Check our full review of La Selva Mariposa
  • Cabanas Don Diego de la Selva (rates from $ 75).  Address: Calle Tulum, Manzana 24, Lote 3. Phone: +52 984 1149744

 

 

Zama Village condos progress October 2011 (Aldea Zama Development Tulum)

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The construction of the first phase of Zama Village condos is progressing very fast as the condos are almost totally sold.  The recent visit was comforting, and we expect we will receive our condos in time (May 2012) or maybe a little earlier.

 

 

Tulum Airport (Aeropuerto de la Riviera Maya) project is suspended again

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Last friday (September 2nd, 2011), the Mexican federal secretary of Transport and Communications Dionisio Pérez Jácome announced the Tulum Airport project will be suspended again, along with other four important infrastructure projecs in Mexico (a port in Baja California and suburban trains in Mexico City).

The official reason behind this surprising decision was that “all the projects required a new return on investment analysis”.  Other off-the-record versions indicate the Mexican Government could be embarking in an austerity plan do the shaky status of the global financial markets, while other say the lobby from ASUR, the operator of the Cancún airport may have played a role.

Posada Luna del Sur, great budget bed and breakfast in Tulum

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Posada Luna del Sur has a great reputation, having topped the TripAdvisor rankings for Tulum hotels and cabanas for some time already.

It combines great service, spotless A/C rooms and a very attractive price of $60-$70 per night (double room).   If you are traveling budget, Posada Luna del Sur will let you use the kitchen and kitchenware to make your own food (there are many small supermarkets, convenience stores and grocery shops near the hotel).

Posada Luna del Sur is owned and operated by a friendly couple, Marty and Sarah, who provide a warm service to their guests.  They are a cool couple of Canadians (Montreal) who left their corporate lives to start up this “working in paradise” adventure as they refer to it.

Posada Luna del Sur is probable one of the best options to stay in Tulum town if you are not looking for a fancy place.  Just remember the pros and cons of staying in Tulum downtown:

 

  • You will have to take a 5 minute and $5 to get to the closest beach
  • Tulum downtown is evolving and getting better, but still the town can be described as “ugly”
  • The big PRO: restaurants, bars, supermarkets and all services at walking distance

 

Address Posada Luna del Sur: Calle Luna Sur 4; phone number: 011 52 (984) 871-2984; Website: www.posadalunadelsur.com

Hotel Latino, a design boutique hotel in the heart of Tulum

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Hotel Latino is a new option in Tulum downtown, and quite an innovative one.  Unlike most of the other hotels donwtown, that are also small, Hotel Latino has a distinctive architecture, a minimalist one resembling the Habita chain in Mexico (especially to “El Deseo”, the first design hotel in Playa del Carmen).

With only 8 double rooms, Hotel Latino offers a personalized hotel service in Tulum.   The hotel has good infrastructure and installations, including a charming pool to chill out after the beach.  Free wi-fi is a plus.  Hotel Latino offers massage and some spa services.

The hotel is operated by Liz & Gary, who closely take care of every detail.

Hotel Latino offers affordable rates, just below $100, going down to close to $50 in low season (October/November).  It is a great value for money hotel in Tulum.

The location has pros and cons. As all the other hotels located downtown, when visitors leave the hotel, they face the view of the ugly popular constructions of the Tulum pueblo and that you need to get a short cab drive to the beach (or 15 minute bycicle ride). On the good side, you have many restaurants, bars and services at walking distance.

Hotel Latino Address: Calle Andromeda L-20, Col. Centro, Phone Number: +52 984 871 2674; Mobile phone number: 52 1 + 984 119 0530; Email: hotellatinotulum@hotmail.com;  Web site: hotellatinotulum.com

Roberto Lopez Viajes

Zamas, a restaurant for pizza and live music at the Tulum beach

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Zamas Restaurant (in reality it is called “Que fresco!”, meaning”how fresh!” in Spanish) is a good option for the Tulum evenings. Located at a great spot on the beach, it offers tasty pizzas and some seafood dishes with a fun atmosphere of live music (tropical, drums, other).  Tourists and some local mingle to spend a good time and occasional dancing under the thatched roof of the main place or on the beach seats.

Pizzas are by far the best option.  Couple them with beer or a tropical drink as the wine list is too short.  Leave your table and interact with the lively crowd, take a look at the waves in the beach with a mojito in your hand, and you will have a Tulum magic moment.

Zamas was of the first hotels and restaurants in Tulum.  It dates back from December 1993.  It is owned by a San Franciso couple: Daniel Vallejo McGettigan and Susan Bohlken.  The kitchen is run by Paul Bentley.

The Zamas is one of the first hotels/restaurants on the Tulum – Boca Paila road in south direction, located at the km 5.0, in the most densely populated of the Tulum coastal road.  Credit cards are not accepted. It opens daily for lunch and dinner (dinner is more fun). Check below the videos of live music parties at the Zamas Tulum.

Roberto Lopez Viajes


The Hartwood, a new top restaurant in Tulum

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Combining local ingredients, with a bit of a New York style, The Hartwood is a totally innovative eating alternative in Tulum.   Despite the local tropical weather, the way the ingredients are selected and treated can give the foodie a sense of Tuscany or Provence (great basic ingredients + simple cooking = amazing food).   The wood burning oven reinforces the countryside feeling.

Tulum “traditional” restaurants started offering just two options: the traditional local food based on fish/seafood and low quality tacos places, and the first “immigrant” cuisine developed by the Italian settlers in the 90s (followed by some French and Argentine who discovered Tulum a little later).

I do not mean to say that Tulum lacked good restaurants, I ‘m just saying this is just new and different.  The Hartwood is run by Eric Werner and Mya Henry.   The kitchen is run by Eric, who used to the be chef of Vineger Hill House (Brooklyn) and Peasant (Manhattan), while Mya is in charge of the restaurant service.

The opening of The Hartwood maybe one of the many signs that Tulum is changing fast, hopefully for the good.

Menu changes almost daily, but some of the recommendations are roasted octopus, lobster salad, stuffed calamari (squid) and the catch of day (freshly bought daily from the Tulum fishermen cooperatives).

The Hartwood is located on the Coastal Road (Carretera Tulum Boca Paila) on the South direction, at the mark of 7.6 Km.  The Hartwood’s email for group reservations is Info@HartwoodTulum.  Opens daily from 6pm to 9,30 PM (no credit cards except for big groups).

 

Roberto Lopez Viajes

Mariela Tugores (Schimar), a real estate agent with experience in Tulum

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Mariela Tugores started investing and advising clients in Tulum Mexico more than 4 years ago.  She has made many successful transactions in the area (I can personally refer her), with a vast experience in Tulum best developments like Aldea Zama, Vive Riviera Maya and Zama Village.

Mariela can be found at +52 55 5259 7346 (Mexico City) or mobile +52 1 55 1510.3210, email Mariela@Schimar.com, or you can check her website for the latest Tulum real estate opportunities: www.schimar.com

 

Akumal Investments Real Estate, an experienced player in Tulum Real Estate

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Akumal Investments is a realtor with a longstanding experience in the area, covering the south part of the Mayan Riviera. When investing in Tulum Mexico real estate is important to check with an experienced realtor to make sure your investment is protected and your price is fair.

The office is on the beach in Akumal Bay between the Lol Ha and the Beach Bar.  Akumal Investmetns sell Real Estate from Puerto Aventuras to the Sian Ka an reserve. Akumal Investments is run by Russ Motley, who has lived in the area for 10 years.

Russ can be reached at 984-157-5762, email russ@marmx.com or at his website (check the Tulum real estate listings) AkumalInvestments.com