4 nights at Bahia de la Luna was simply not enough!

We spent Christmas there as part of a 3 week trip taking in a few different places in Mexico. This was certainly my favourite part of the trip. The simple, yet character filled beach cabanas are cute and comfortable, and the location is paradise - I don't know if I've ever slept as well as i did there.

The food was a suprise bonus; Lila is an amazing chef and the food and service is presented like you could expect in a nice restaurant, all the while you're seated overlooking the beautiful secluded bay. Dinner is served as a 3 course meal, with 2 choices provided for each entree and main, followed and by a sumptuos dessert - all at very reasonable prices. The meals were some of the best I sampled in Mexico. Breakfast also includes freshly baked bread which was lovely also.

Management were friendly and helpful (thanks Maria and Dan!), the other guests were friendly and we always had somewhere to sit in a beach chair, or swing in a hammock - it was relaxation at it's best.

The only unfortunate thing from our stay was that the beach was quite choppy so we didn't get to swim as much as we wanted - however we were lucky enough to see whales further out in the bay which was another surprise treat.

This really is a haven for anyone who wants to relax, unwind and enjoy nature's simple pleasures - I can't wait to go again.

I am writing this review mostly because all other reviews are such glowing approvals of the place and its important to get different dimensions. We were certainly influenced by the reviews we read here and while we did indeed have a good time, it was despite the hotel and not because of it. So here are things to consider:
1. The time of year you go will define the time you have at the hotel. We went in December, a busy time. This is a small hotel, so its not a problem per se. BUT, if you happen to have obnoxious people as fellow guests then you are on your own. Managers do not think its their job to help you. For example, there was a large family with truly horribly rude people. They came in early to the beach and took over every single chair, mat, towel and shade. Seriously, I am not kidding. They did not sit or use the chairs but literally screamed at people if anybody ever suggested the idea of "sharing". In my opinion, its the job of the managers to "manage" such situations. They did not. They acted like school children - bit scared of the people but mostly giggling and joking about the situation. At one point I was asked to hide the cup of coffee I was drinking by the manager because he was afraid the dirty, leery eyed old man from that family will ask him for more coffee. There will/can always be nasty people around - that's not the problem and/or can't be avoided. But there should be good management and its absence makes for all sorts of problems. Since it is a very poorly "managed" place, its best to go at a time when its empty and potentially less hassles.
2. The beach is not a private and quiet beach - which is fine as you may get to interact with locals (real joy) but its important to know that because the website for the hotel suggests otherwise.
3. There is nobody at the front desk at night. So if anything happens to you in the middle of the night you are again on your own to figure out things. That can be scary because you are mostly likely on a rocky, forested hill top; with no light (other than a flashlight that you must carry); and there is nobody around. This is important to consider because you are not really on a camp site. You are going to be paying considerable money for the rooms in fact and if for instance you look yourself out of the room, forgetting the keys inside (as indeed happened to guests) then you can spend the night outside with the snakes and scorpions! Well, I am being a bit dramatic but its something to think about.
4. The chef is fantastic, which is good because you will end up eating every meal at the hotel (since its difficult road to get out on and far from other places). But they only serve continental cuisine, which is sad because you can get a good bowl of pasta or tomato soup anywhere in the world but its damn hard to get hold of good mole (or any mole) or other Oaxacan food in other parts of the world. So there should be more variety, at least.
5. Food and drinks are expensive. It adds up. So you may want to keep that in mind.
6. Breakfast is not served till 9am which I found very annoying specially because all they serve is coffee, bread, jam and butter and fresh fruits. How long does it take to serve that? Also they start taking away food 20 minutes before breakfast ends at 11am. So if you wake up early for a stroll on the beach (sunrise at 6 or 6.30ish) then you will be waiting a long time to get any food/drink; or if you take a boat ride (which is HIGHLY recommended) and you come back close to 11am then you will find yourself without any breakfast. It doesn't have to be that way but it is primarily because it is a very poorly managed place - by a bunch of young kids traveling their way through the world by working at odd jobs, and not a group of professionals. Again, its not a cheap place or camp site, so I don't think its too much to expect basic management. Except for the large family that fought with every other guest and nobody ever spoke with them (so who knows what they thought), the sense of frustration with the managers seemed shared. The local staff are really nice people, though - rely on them.

Bahia De La Luna was our "holiday away from holiday" in Mexico, a few days respite from constant moving around, cities and sites. "Bay of the Moon" promised a cabana on the beach, a decent restaurant, a superb, swimmable beach and peace and quite and it delivered on all counts. Our excellent hosts lead by Elena, Dan and Lila made us feel welcome and were always smiling and happy to help out whether it be with a meal of a drink or something to help my partner get over her illness (something I'd had days before we got to Luna, NOT anything we picked up there!)

We were lucky in that we'd had some pretty ordinary weather in Mexico City and didn't expect the coast to offer us much in the way of beach weather but it turned out to be around 30C and sunny most days with water just the right temperature for lazing about, snorkelling and kayaking (all gear complimentary). And the hotel wasn’t very busy which meant we weren’t overrun by other guests.

We even managed to hook up with a Spanish tutor while we were there thanks to our hosts.

The only comments I’d make which you should be aware of are that if you don’t have a car (or boat!) you’re kind of locked in for your stay (unless you want to taxi or boat back and forth which can get expensive). But there are worse places to be stuck! That being the case, it’d be great if the hotel had a small shop or kiosk.

In summary, if you’re in the area of the OaxacanCoast, make your way to Puerto Angel and take 5 days out of your busy travelling schedule to relax, swim and listen to the waves roll in on a very secluded beach. You won’t forget it.

If you are looking for a remote slice of paradise, this is where you want to be. The setting is lovely. The bungalows are rustic but very comfortable. The view from our porch was incredible. The food is fabulous. The staff is warm and attentive. The hotel provides taxi service which is worth the expense. Remote is not easy to achieve in today's world and the last 3 kms of the trip can be a bit challenging. But the drivers are very experienced and do a good job. If you want to shut down and forget about life for a while this is the perfect place. Highly recommend it!