Price Band: $$
Tags: Beach, romantic, barefoot, family friendly
Calaluna Tulum
Tulum
Calaluna Tulum
Tulum
Calaluna Tulum
Tulum
Rates, availability and more…
In a nutshell:
Rustic and charming little hotel located on a pretty cove in the central part of Tulum’s beach zone, close to small stores, restaurants, bike rentals etc. The Family cabana has a king and a queen bed, others have one king bed. The Royal Beachfront cabana is ideal for a low key honeymoon.
Hotel Calaluna is the new name for one of our long time favorite Tulum properties, Cabanas la Conchita. Now with new management and 24-7 electricity (subject to the limitations of the limited infrastructure in Tulum), this simple but idyllic little hotel is well worth a visit.
There are fancier places in Tulum now for sure, but for those in search of a barefoot beach vacation, Cabanas la Conchita could be heaven on earth. Wake each morning to bright blue skies and the warm Caribbean just yards from your room; fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and the rustle of palm fronds. Days can be filled with swimming and snorkeling, diving and cycling or hiking – or just relaxing on the quiet little beach.
Calaluna is one of our favorites amongst the cluster of casita style resorts on this stretch of coast because of the careful and artistic design, the friendly staff, and the pretty and well screened rooms.
Tulum is off-the-grid for mains electricity and telephone lines, so each hotel has its own generator. At Calaluna (like most hotels on the beach zone) there are no modern amenities such as air-con, TVs, telephones. Hairdryers and other high voltage appliances are not permitted as they will blow the system, but cellphones and cameras can be re-charged. Wirelet internet access is available in public areas of the hotel.
The basic facilities are all within easy walking distance; several casual restaurants, a public telephone, exchange house, bicycle rental, diving and snorkeling trips and even adventure tours can be arranged nearby.
Between July and October, guests may share the compact gardens of the hotel with nesting turtles. The turtle nests are protected by small fences and this may leave the gardens a little crowded at times, but everyone enjoys watching the baby turtles as they leave their nest a couple of months later and bravely head towards the ocean.
Most of Calaluna’s ten rooms are arranged in a horseshoe shape directly facing the beautiful beach (the exception is the Standard room which is above the reception building). Each is well equipped for a simple and relaxing beach vacation, with some lovely artistic touches in the furnishings and decor.
The Family room is a two bedroom unit; it has a king size bed on the ground floor and a queen bed on the upper floor. There is only one bathroom and it’s located on the ground floor.
The Royal cabana is absolute beachfront and is an independent Mayan style building with a thatched roof. It has a king bed and a terrace overlooking the sea.
All rooms now have 24-7 electricity, fans, and hot water showers With these basic comforts covered, guests are free to enjoy an idyllic sun-and-sand vacation that’s a real escape from city life.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Bathroom with hot water shower, ceiling fan, room safe, purified water, screened windows, balcony or terrace with hammock
Royal Beachfront
Free-standing cabana, one king bed, beachfront, direct ocean views
Family
Two bedroom duplex cabana, one king and one queen bed, one bathroom, ocean views
King
Cabana room, one king bed, partial ocean views
Standard Plus
One king or one queen bed, garden views
Standard
One queen bed, garden views
Uninterrupted ocean views and a beachfront location make this cabana a top choice for romantics. The private terrace is partly shaded and the palapa roof allows natural ventilation to keep the interior cool. All the cabanas now have a fan and unless you are very sensitive to the heat, this combined with the sea breeze is usually sufficient to keep you cool.
Deceptively spacious, the room feature a king size bed, private bathroom with hot water shower, and a closet.
The Royal cabana has a private terrace, elevated slightly from the beach, that affords magnificent views of the Caribbean. You’ll find seating and a hammock on the terrace. Being right on the ocean front, this room gets plenty of sea breezes.
The Family room is the duplex unit at hotel Calaluna. The ground floor room is spacious and airy and has a king bed. Open stairs lead up to the second bedroom which has a queen bed. There’s plenty of storage space and ample comforts for a short or even a long stay.
This cabana is popular with families, but it can also be shared by two couples. There is just one bathroom, however, and it is on the ground floor.
The upper floor has a palapa roof and a balcony with great views of the Caribbean. On the ground floor, there’s a large wrap around terrace with a hammock and seating. From the terrace you can see the beach – this cabana is just behind the Royal beachfront cabana.
There are five King rooms at hotel Calaluna. Four are located in two story buildings, with one room on the ground floor and one room on the upper floor of each building. Each room is independent, and the upper level rooms are reached by an exterior staircase. The fifth room is an independent thatched roof cabana.
Each room has a king bed and they are similar in size and amenities. The ground floor rooms have a nice terrace furnished with a hammock and outdoor seating. These rooms are well sealed and mosquito netting is not required.
The two upper level rooms and the stand alone cabana all have a traditional palapa roof. This makes the room very airy and allows more breezes to circulate. The upper level rooms have a balcony with nice sea views, and the stand alone cabana has a terrace.
The Standard Plus rooms are similar to the king rooms, but with lesser views. One was formerly cabana #8 at la Conchita, and the other is the room above it. Each room has a private bathroom with a hot water shower, and there is a door between the bedroom and the bathroom.
The Standard Garden room at Calaluna is located above the reception. It has similar amenities to the other rooms, but is closer to the road and doesn’t have any sea views.
Typical of the coastline in this immediate area, there are rocky inlets and sandy beaches to the north and south of this cove. It’s shared by just a few properties, so there are fewer people walking along the shore, but you’ll need to walk on the road a little way to join the long beach that runs down to the biosphere reserve.
From the beach it is possible to see almost as far as the ruins at Tulum, though it isn’t possible to walk there along the coast.
The beach is good for swimming at most times of the year. However sometimes it can be windy in Tulum, and there can be strong surf. We’ve never seen jet skiis or even kite surfing within the cove; it’s very quiet.
How to get here
By air
The nearest airport is Cancun – by road the journey to Calaluna takes about two hours.
Driving directions from Cancun
From Cancun airport, head south following the signs to Playa del Carmen, Playacar and Tulum on the highway #307.
You will pass Playa del Carmen and Playacar and also the entrance to the ruins at Tulum. Turn to the left at the major crossroads with the road to Coba. So, when you see a turning to the right to Coba, you should turn left.
You will be heading directly towards the sea on a very straight road. As the road approaches the sea it bends to the right. Follow the road right and ignore the turning to the left hand side.
Calaluna is located approximately a quarter of a mile further along on the left hand side of the road just after Cabanas Copal.
There is free parking for guests directly opposite the hotel.
