Isla Mujeres is a tiny island that floats in the crystal clear Caribbean Sea just a few hundred feet off the shores of Cancun. The pace of life here is slowed, most people get around on golf carts and there are restaurants, hotels and tour companies lining the powdery white sands. If you’re heading to the incredible island, you’re going to want to stay somewhere equally serene and beautiful.

We have just the place for you. Hotel Las Palmas somehow encompasses everything that we love about budget travel, and yet offers many comforts expected from high-end luxury lodging. If you’re on your way to Mujeres, you can’t beat this hotel!

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The Rooms

We stayed in the King Room which is a bit out of the backpacker spectrum at $100 / night, but Las Palmas also has a few budget rooms for just $65 / night, which is a very good deal on this island. The room was spacious, clean and bright with large windows on two of the four walls.

The bathroom was also a good size and the shower was incredible, with reliable, high pressure hot water all day and all night.

The bed was spectacular as well and you guessed it… king sized! A large mural spanned the rear wall of the room behind the headboard and there were some tasteful decorations on other walls. There was also a TV, fridge, closet and ample dressers and furniture to adequately fill the room and bring it to life.

The Staff

Safari, the owner’s daughter, gave us a superb welcome to the hotel and told us everything we needed to know about Las Palmas, the neighbourhood and the island while we waited for our room to be readied.

The owner, Kate, was also very sweet and treated us very kindly while we were there, even showing interest in our blog and our lifestyle. The cleaning staff worked hard to keep the place spotless and while some of them didn’t speak English, they were quick to smile and say “hola!” when we returned to the hotel after a day at the beach.

The Location

Unless you’re set right on the sand, you can’t get a much better location than Las Palmas. In fact, I may go as far as to say that the street that the hotel is on is better than the sand because it’s set right across from a group of tasty street-food stands and the fruit and veggie market.

Playa Norte (the nicest beach on the island) is just a 3 minute walk from the hotel and there are lots of great restaurants within a few hundred meters of the front door.

The Amenities

If you can think of something that you’d expect from a hotel, then Las Palmas probably has it. There’s a small but lovely pool, a huge kitchen for guests to use, hammocks, games, wi-fi, massage treatments and more. They even offer guests free coolers and large towels to take to the beach!

When we visited, the wi-fi wasn’t working in the rooms which can be frustrating, but Safari and Kate informed us that their router was down during our stay and normally it works better around the hotel. Wi-fi was, however, still available in the lower common area.

The Common Areas

Hotel Las Palmas had communal areas out the wazoo. There were so many great places to hang out, swing in a hammock, eat meals and meet other travellers that it made it hard to leave each day. The rooftop terrace has a beautiful (though heavily chlorinated) pool and a 4-poster bed perfect for relaxing, or gazing up at the stars at night.

There is also a large kitchen on the roof with everything you would need to cook a good meal. The hotel also sells chocolate bars, snacks, beers and pops on the roof, some of which are cheaper than you’d ever find in the store.

All purchases are based on the honour system which we love as well, when you take a beer, leave the appropriate pesos in the tin can that’s in the fridge… very cool!

We noticed that a new area was being built on an even higher terrace and we’d love to see what it looks like when it’s completed. If you want a room that has the comfort of a hotel, with the communal family feel of a hostel / homestay, then Las Palmas is the place for you.

The Cost

The cost of the hotel was of great value for Isla Mujeres, as budget hostels cost around $50 – $60 USD / night for double rooms. The below rates are inclusive of 19% tax. During low season there is a discount of $10 USD on most rooms.

High Season Rates – Dec 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014:

One King Bed – $100 US Dollars per night

Two Double Beds – $100 US Dollars per night

King bed with bunk-beds – $100 US Dollars per night

King with Street-view Balcony Room – $110 US Dollars per night

Budget Room (One Double Bed) 1 person – $50 US Dollars per night

Budget Room (One Double Bed) 2 people – $65 US Dollars per night

Penthouse Rooms

Original Dream – $120 US Dollars per night

Mexican Dream – $130 US Dollars per night

Room with a View – $150 US Dollars per night

Our Final Thoughts

Without a doubt, Hotel Las Palmas is one of the nicest hotels we’ve ever stayed in (and we’ve been travelling since 2008 so that says a lot). We loved the communal areas, the stunning rooftop terrace, the comfy bed and the funky, guest house feel. We’ve always loved boutique hotels because of the unique ambiance, and this place feels like a high-end boutique hotel and a good-value hostel all-in-one.

Safari and Kate have done an amazing job of creating an oasis that matches the beauty and tranquility that Isla Mujeres offers its visitors. We looked at a few other hotels during our stay on the island and Las Palmas was BY FAR the best. If you’re heading to this fantastic island, it would be a shame to miss staying at this hotel.

Contact Information:

Hotel Las Palmas

Address: Avenida Guerrero 20, Isla Mujeres, 77400 Isla Mujeres, Q.R., Mexico

Phone: +52 1 998 236 5803

Website: www.laspalmasonisla.com

For more information on where to sleep, what to eat and what to do on Isla Mujeres, click here!

A special thanks to Hotel Las Palmas for hosing us during our stay on the island. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain our own, despite any complimentary services received. 

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