My girlfriend and I spent 5 days here just before the Christmas holiday after a particularly difficult year for both of us. Maya Tulum is just what the doctor ordered: peace and quiet, Zen-inspired grounds, a healthy diet offered by the kitchen (a bit of room for improvement there, but still many solid offerings – make sure to eat the fish sandwich), simple well-designed fresh air rooms with ocean views (we had a touch of wind and rain while there and the thatched roofs can shed down some debris, but not a big deal as we were critter free) and all the yoga you could want (though when one of the yoga instructors asked me to feel the expansion in my optic nerve it was tough to suppress the giggle). The constant sound of the ocean was hypnotic and soothing, but beware the undertow on an otherwise near perfect beach.. Another plus for me as a scuba diver was the proximity of the hotel to many of the unique cenotes fresh water dive sites of the Yucatan. There is no dive facility on the hotel grounds, but a short 5 minute walk down the ocean side road into village (where there is amazing coffee shop by the way) got me set up with a professional (if slightly pricey) dive shop. Besides the diving, the only thing we did “off campus” was have a couple of dinners down the beach at Posada Margarita. This came at the recommendation of a travel agent friend. Make plans to do dinner there once at least. The food was top notch, and the walk down the beach at sunset and then back among the starry sky is worth the calories. Also, get up early one day and watch the sunrise (trust me on this).

Make sure to bring a good amount of small bills for tipping (massages and airport drivers for example), though all restaurant tips can be added to the checks and paid for at check-out.

I had a phenomenal time and it lived up to my already high expectations! It is so hard to choose what I liked most, but the property was so well kept. Sometimes tropical places can feel a bit grungy but everything was immaculately clean, freshly raked sand, and lovely touches everywhere (flowers floating in little pools to clean your feet after the beach). At the same time, the hotel wasn't overly formal--it was was very laid back, relaxed "eco-luxurious" .
The yoga sessions were very relaxing and the food was DELICIOUS. All very healthfully prepared and homemade, and the staff was very accommodating to any special requests.

My room was spacious, quiet, and well attended to each day--the maids even made cute little figures with the wash towels. Each night I was lulled to sleep by the sound of the crashing waves right outside my window and woken up by the sun rising over the ocean.

The spa treatments were absolutely divine--I got holistic massages both times, among the best in my life.

Finally, overally the staff was extremely friendly and helpful in every respect.

The only super minor issues is that I would have liked a bit more variety in yoga classes offered in terms of speed. Most of the yoga types were all variations on very gentle / slow yoga, and I would have liked a couple more power yoga / ashtanga yoga type classes. Also I would have liked there to be more fish options at meals--sometimes it was only vegetarian and it would have been great to have fish as well.

I went here on a yoga retreat (with Bryan Kest in case you're wondering) in August 2011. I was a little apprehensive since a) it was august and there is no a/c/; b) the beds had mosquito nets over them; c) there is limited electricity because the whole facility runs on a generator. My fears were misplaced. I loved it here and it was not nearly as "basic" as I had expected. Yes, it was hot and sometimes a little hard to sleep because of that but other than that I don't have a single bad thing to say. The view was fabulous, the little palapas that are the rooms (most of them anyway) were nicely appointed, the food was fantastic (especially if you're a vegetarian, which I am). And, perhaps best of all, the massages and treatments were just out of this world. The mosquitoes were not a huge issue for us, but I was told that this issue varies depending on the direction of the wind and the time of year. I guess we were lucky (I loathe bugs of any kind so that would have been a big issue for me). It's a great place for a yoga retreat but if you're a "luxury" traveler you might not be completely happy here. For example, it was very liberating to not be able to dry your hair but, you know, you have to be in a certain place to feel that way (ladies, you know what I mean). Overall, a great spot if you know what to expect and like a more rustic, eco-retreat kind of place. (PS: While we were there, the beautiful actress Heather Graham was there with her boyfriend. I tell you this, not because you might go there and see celebrities, you probably won't but to let you know that the place was good enough for Heather so...)

I signed up for the 5 day package. Overall I had a great time - bright airy room, good veggie food (esp the dessert!), etc. Just a couple minor comments/complaints that I think are useful for future visitors. First, at this time of year it was REALLY CHILLY at night (and cloudy/windy much of the day). This is not something they properly describe in their prep list of what to bring. If anyone has been to Lima Peru, this is a humid chill that sticks around all night. Bring a sweater or windbreaker, and maybe even gloves if your hands get cold. Also, bring a water bottle - they have water coolers in the room, not bottled water. Finally, the airport transport dropped me off at the WRONG terminal, even when I told him what airline I was on. These drivers should KNOW, not guess, which terminal airlines depart from (fyi, not "all international flights depart from Terminal 3.")

Other than that, the yoga and the massages were great.