After more than two weeks of traveling around Mexico, me and my boyfriend came to Tulum and taxi driver took us to Papaya playa. We did not know anything about the place before, but we loved it for the first sight. For 520 pesos, which is in my oppinion absolutely fine price for the ocean front accomodation, you get a romantic cabana, private beach with beds hang in front of the beautiful Caribean ocean, you can drink cocktails or eat sushi right on the beach or eat a fantastic food in the restaurant/bar - again, everything is right on the beach. Staff is very nice and friendly.
On the top of that there is a couple of nice places to see - Tulum ruins, reservation Sian´Kaan, cenotes where you can dive and for more exacting customers the Xel-ha lagoon.
I was surprised to read some bad reviews here. I have no idea how did the place look before but today it is absolutely gorgeous. Of course if you are looking for place with TV, swimming pool and well creased stuff and no adventure at all, this place is not for you, but we have really felt like leaving the paradise. Places in Cancun or Playa del Carmen could hardly win the competition with the Papaya playa resort in Tulum:-)

We ended up to Papaya Playa randomly and it was great !!!! BUT to love it you got to like camping, because the cabanas are small and your clothes and bed are humid.... We had the cabanas without the bathroom/shower, there is a 30$ difference if you want it with the bathroom/shower, wich I don't think is worth it because the one you can use are really clean.

We stayed for 3 nights, waking to the sound of the water, the constant wind, the beach the sun. WOW

The service was good. The food was ok but if you eat there 3 times a day it's a little expensive. The cost for a taxi to get downtown Tullum is about 400 pesos (3 $ USD).

Overall it was great, it is the place to relax and enjoy the beach and sun

This was a great pick for our vacations in couple! The place had a gorgeous view on the Carribean Sea near the ruins of Tulum. Also because of is outstanding location, we had chance to visit over five great sites in only seven days of vacations. Chitchen Itzà, Coba, Valladolid, Muyil and obviously Tulum.
Papaya Playa is tremendously peaceful! From the time we arrived until the time we left, everything was excellent.
The place was cozy for a couple (and could be perfect for families also), and it was perfect for our use. Very easy access to the downtown of Tulum pueblo (approx. 3-4 km) - far away enough to feel like you're not on top of someone else, but certainly not isolated so you feel connected to activities and nice places to eat and shop.
Staff were always helpful but never intruding. They definitely strike the right balance in customer service :-)
Don't forget the food quality of their restaurant-- we ordered many of their specials (food and drinks) and the're nothing less than delicious and fabulous. Overall, for the value, this place was more than top notch.
Hearing the breaking waves all night long, diping in the torquoise water sea before breakfast, this is the place. We'd certainly come again!

So, here's the thing. Sometimes when we are sitting in traffic or writing a Brief or trying to not be annoyed, we dream about being back at Papaya Playa. Oh those lounge swings on the beach. Oh those happy hour beverages. Oh the outdoor showers. Did I mention that the chairs at the bars are all swings?
Papaya Playa is rustic and primitive. There are no frills here. It's a few important steps up from camping. (One of us is not really a "camper" and was quite comfortable) But, the people are SUPER nice and helpful and the beach is beautiful and immaculate.
Most of the Cabanas are exposed to the elements - wind flows freely through the "walls", and the thatch roof may have a few little holes in it, but there are perfect little mosquito nets on the beds that keep all things off while you sleep -- and if you ask very nicely they will give you an extra flat-ish pillow.
The bathrooms are cleaned every morning and are well maintained. There are hot-water outdoor showers.
If you can help it, it's better to get there during the day because it can be a little disorienting at night (there is no electricity after 11 -- which is part of the charm).
When we were there the other guests tended to be mellow-ish backpackers (20-30yrs.) families, and couples.
We met up with friends of ours from home and had a fantastic (and very laid back) time waking with the sound of waves crashing on the beach, bleary-eyed-ly staking claim on a lounge swing, taking our morning swim and then hanging out all hard core. After 4pm or so we'd meander to the beach bar and finish our crossword puzzles while sipping cocktails on the bar swings. Then we'd head into town for great tacos al pastor and dream about doing the whole thing again the next day.
The food at the hotel is pretty expensive so we tended to go into town (via taxi) for dinners and often bought in town fresh tortillas, queso oaxaca, and avocado that we ate for lunch on the beach. But the few times we did eat at Papaya Playa the food was good. If you are going to choose to eat one meal at the hotel per day, we'd suggest breakfast. Seriously, if the food was less expensive we would have spent a lot more money at the hotel.
In sum:
Top 3 things we loved: Swings (all of them), The kind and helpful Staff, that it was an easy place to be.
Top 3 things we didn't love: The music on the beach (it just wasn't our thing - better to choose music than be forced into it), the mildewy mattresses (not that we didn't sleep like logs each night), we were told that there would be bikes and snorkels to rent, but there were weren't.

We will go back for sure. And hope that you want to too; especially if you are friendly-sorts who are not there to party all night and hit on folks. Cancun is better suited for your needs and we hope to preserve this lovely place where you can get a cocktail and so on, but you can also sleep for 13 hours, undisturbed.