Coqui Coqui is a one of a kind hotel in Tulum and one of the best examples of the trendy eco-chic design style that predominates in Tulum. Founded by the famous Burberry, Donna Karan, etc. model Nicolás Maleville, this 7-room hotel is visited by celebrities and owner’s friends from the fashion industry and Hollywood.
Daria Werbowy, Kate Bosworth, James Rousseau, Rene Zellweger, Sienna Miller and Amy Sacco among other are some of the names in the guest list. The perfect Mayan beach, far away from tourists and fan hordes are an irresistible attraction for true celebrities.
The Coqui Coqui hotel value proposition is simple, yet unique in Tulum: architecture resembling the Mayan ruins (local limestone), traditional mayan handycrafts (including a hammock) and a gadget-less life (rooms have no electricity, and night light is provided by an unlimited amount of hand made candles). Mobile phone coverage is dodgy or non-existent. All the hotel 7 rooms and the restaurant-bar are powered by 12 volts solar panels; back to basics.
Coqui Coqui is the perfect romantic getaway for couples, do not expect much more than a perfect beach, a blue Caribbean sea, a lively coral reef and a cozy rustic-design room. If traveling with kids Coqui Coqui might not be the most comfortable place, and you might spoil somebody’s honeymoon or romantic escape. Dogs are welcome.
If you feel like leaving your little heaven in Coqui Coqui for some more social activity and try the Tulum dining scene you have very good alternatives just a 30 minute walk again (or a 5 minute bicycle drive away). Just 1.500 meters/0.9 mile away (on the direction of the Sian Kan natural reserve) you have Casa Jaguar, the trendiest bar in Tulum, 200 meters more and you can find The Hartwood, the best of the New York dining scene with local organic ingredients, creative tropical cocktails, a wood fired oven and a sandy floor.
Coqui Coqui offers double rooms and suites from $250 (and up to $500), a reasonable price for a piece of paradise and a 24hs of cable, wireless, wired, 3g, 4g and satellite disconnect. Anywhere, if you just cannot wait to update your Facebook status and post photos of your feet at the perfect pristine beach you can access free internet wifi at the lobby/restaurant.
Coqui Coqui offers full spa service, using the scents, soaps and oils made by themselves using local ingredients (also provided at the rooms as part of the service). Rene Zellweger is told to ship tons of them on her way back to the US.
The hotel is run by Nicolas’ friends and family, and the help of friendly locals. Expect warm service, like your family’s tropical beach retreat. Actually, the hotel was born as Nicolás’ idea of a private beach cabana, but living in New York City while modeling required a lot of attention and maintenance costs, so Nicolas’s decided to start renting it out. Coming from a tiny town lost in the Argentine Pampas (Adela María, 60km south of Río Cuarto, Córdoba Province), he was fascinated with the Tulum pristine beaches and palm trees as me when he first visited them in 2001. Nicolás now lives in Williamsburgh (Brooklyn, New York City), only 3 hours away to the Cancún airport. If the Tulúm airport (Aeropuerto de la Riviera Maya) is built he and all the New Yorkers that love Tulum will be closer to paradise than ever.
Nicolás Maleville also owns another two boutique hotels, one in the middle of the Yucatán Jungle nearby the impressive Mayan ruins of Cobá (probably the most authentic, uncovered, jungle surrounded ones) and another one at the cozy small town of Valladolid, a XVII’s century Spanish colonial town and the heart of the splendor of the “henequen” (rope) exploitation in the XIX’s century, a place worth visiting to fly back on time just 1 hour drive from Tulum.
If you notice the hotels’ decoration and landscaping are just perfect it is not a coincidence. Nicolás Maleville graduated as landscape architect. He studied in Argentina and then in London, where he used to have garden clients in Chelsea and other affluent neighborhoods. His career as a model started just by chance. He was visiting Punta del Este, the trendy summer spot in Uruguay, working part time at Los Negros, the famous Francis Mallman restaurant when he was spotted by Kate Moss and his agent.
Coqui Coqui is a great place for a long weekend. Get to JFK or La Guardia, catch a three hour flight. Once in Cancún rent a car, drive south 1.5 hour. Once you get to Tulum (before entering into town and after the Tulum Mayan ruins) go to the crossroad that leads to the beach (Tulum-Boca Paila road). Get your odometer (milage counter) to zero, turn left towards the beach (you will see a “Chedraui” supermarket and the firefighters station on your left), drive 3km and once you get to the crossroad turn on your right. You will start seeing hotels on your left and some shops on your right. And jungle, and people in their bicycles heading to the beaches and beach clubs. When your odometer marks 5.9 you will see the Coqui Coqui hotel sign. Enjoy!
