I loved Jade Tulum. The beach was amazing and falling asleep while listening to the waves crashing against the shore was SO relaxing. As for the cabana... I loved it ( I stayed in "Water"). jade is really unique from other cabanas because it was in the treetops. It felt a little like camping ( so if you're not a camper then this is not the place for you). Part of the reason I picked Jade and Tulum was because:

- I'm not a fan of crowed beach ( and sometimes I really HATE resorts)

- The cabanas stood out as different and romantic

- I wanted to enjoy the nature/wild life/ jungle

Well, I was not let down! Jade was perfect for what I was looking for.

The good:

- Clean

- Owners were welcoming

- Breakfast was amazing ( fresh fruit, coffee and REALLY good toast)

- Beach was one of the best I have seen ( white sand, crystal clear waters and no crowds. I walked up and down the beach and I thought Jade Tulum was located the best). Also, the cabanas are so private compared to others along the beach. Most were out in the open or right along the beach , but not Jade Tulum. They have their's hidden away in the treetops ( as a stranger to the area, you may not even notice them while walking along the beach). On either side of Jade are even smaller " hotels" so the beach area was so peaceful. Tulum in general is very peaceful but there were some semi-crowded areas along the beach ( much further away) and Jade was not one of them.

- Hammocks were so relaxing. Everyone gets there own outside their room ( and there are lots hanging around the place)

-They have Wi-fi in the common area ( and I was able to get the internet from my Hammock outside my room as well)

- Maid service was great

- They had beach towels for us, and of course room/shower towels

- Their dog was so funny ( he would play fetch with coconuts)


The bad:

- Sometimes there was no hot water ( or little hot water)

- The mosquito net around my bed was in rough shape ( had a small hole and was a bit stained)

- Sometimes the owners were not around ( it always seemed to be when I needed something too)

-The toilets were a bit smelly ( but the smell isn't bad - it's just a bit funky at first but I got use to it. I was told that most cabanas would have this smell since it's the bad septic systems in Tulum)

- The cabana's walls are not thick at all so if you want privacy, you need to keep your voice down


General information about Tulum/Jade:

- bring a sweater during winter. It can get cool and even though I was expecting it to, i was still surprised by how cool the mornings could be.

- bring sunglasses. I did not because I don't usually need them but the white sand with the sun was SO bright on the eyes

-If you're on a budget, go into town for food. It's a lot cheaper

- Taxi's are everywhere ( just walk along the roads for 5 minutes and one will stop over for you). It's about 65-75 peso into town

- Go early in the morning to the ruins. It gets crowded. Also, they will try and charge you a video camera fee of 45 peso. They don't check so you don't actually need to pay it ( a tour guide told us this. I was so worried they would check but they don't)

- At Jade ( and I imagine most places), you can't throw toilet paper into the toilet ( you throw it in a bin instead)

- The shower/tab water is ocean water

- The floor of the cabana is made from wood panels so it has a tree house feel. This is great for getting sand out - not so great for bugs ( although I only ever so one bug - It was a huge cockroach like thing on my toothbrush)

- I didn't notice any mosquitoes/ bugs but I still had bug bites all over me. Bring bug spray

- You can't keep any food in the cabana ( actually this was a slight problem because it meant you always had to eat out). The reason you can't have food is because it attracts wild life)


Overall, I loved Jade and go back again!!

This was the climax to our Yucatan trip, a week here over Christmas. First impressions were one of amazement, looked like we had found our nirvana. Juan and Martha were so friendly and welcoming at first. The place is built on stilts, all done by the host themselves, with views out onto on of the best stretches of Tulum beach. Bliss. Breakfast was wonderful, toast and jams, fruit and coffee.
But on closer inspection, the quality of the rooms were not all that. We loved the rustic nature of the place, as Tulum itself has become a bit of a trendy cliche in the ten years since I last visited, certainly not the paradise it once was. This place has character all of its own, but unfortunately it has not been maintained well since it was built. The lights in our room did not work very well, some parts of the walls were falling away, and the rooms in general were not very clean. There is a difference between rustic and dirty. The giant palapa platform, similarly, could do with a clean, especially as this is the place where we did yoga every day. The yoga mats too could have been given the once over. $200 per night in high season, while cheaper than most other places in the area (Tulum is generally ridiculously overpriced now), was still too much.
As soon as we did request something, it was like we were intruding on their time, like they shouldn't have to do anything beyond the minimal, thus the vibe was ultimately false. When you are paying that much you do expect a modicum of service.
Having said that, the meal we had courtesy of Martha was amazing, eating and drinking while Juan would play the guitar; it created a wonderful atmosphere on our first night. And Juan is passionate about the ecology, and has interesting film and anecdotes about the development of the area.
So, it really could have been a lot better, and they wouldn't have to do too much to make it so. But we left a little let down.

Jade Tulum

Is an isolated romantic retreat on the best beach in the mayan Riviera. Jade is built up on stilts at the edge of the jungle overlooking the beach. Its was exactly what we expected and more. It is simple with minimal service. The owners were polite and gave us lots of space and freedom to use their facility as if it was our own.

Breakfast was fresh fruit and excellent Espresso Americano coffee

Do not go here if you are looking for; attentive service, all inclusive service, daily bedding changes, in room service, local amenities, lots of people.

Go here if you are looking for; relaxing isolation, large uncrowded white powder beach and simple necessities.

There are a few beach hotels nearby with restaurants. To the north is Tita Tulum to eat and drink at and to the south is OM and Zebra to eat and drink.

It’s a VERY long walk north to Posada Margarita which serves exceptionally unique Italian food and service which I highly recommend. Our bill was expensive $1,200.00 pesos but worth it

If you go here, bring a flashlight. It is very dark at night with almost no lighting. Use cab service to get in and back to Tulum town for supplies, stores and restaurants. There are lots of cabs driving up and down the beach road. We paid 80 pesos each way.

We loved staying at Jade Tulum. It is not for everyone, so I will provide you with some details to help you make your decision on whether this is the place for you.

1) It is like staying in a modern tree house. It is not glamorous. The rooms are as clean as they can be considering they are right on the beach. It is small, rustic, with no-frills. It is also private, relaxing, and quiet. If you like the outdoors and are a little bit adventurous, this place is for you. A nice breakfast was provided daily (toast, fruit, and coffee).

2) The beach is right out front. It is unspoiled, beautiful, and peaceful. It is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen; white sand and unspoiled. It is not crowded. We fell asleep to the sounds of the ocean nightly. The ocean breezes keep all the flying bugs away.

3) The restaurants in the area are fantastic. We loved Tita Tulum, Om, and El Tabano. You can easily walk for three minutes on the beach in either direction to eat lunch or dinner.

4) We felt very safe.

5) The owners are lovely and welcoming people. We felt fortunate to share their home with them.

6) The place is perfect if you want to have a quiet, peaceful vacation.

7) We suggest skipping Cancun and Playa del Carmen and heading straight to Jade Tulum for a relaxed and laid back atmosphere.