Price Band: $$
Tags: Beach, family friendly, romantic, town.
Na Balam
Isla Mujeres
Na Balam
Isla Mujeres
Na Balam
Isla Mujeres
Na Balam
Isla Mujeres
Rates, availability and more…
In a nutshell:
Charming small hotel located on the island’s best beach, Playa Norte, and just a short stroll from the quaint town. Good for families looking for a carefree beach vacation.
Na Balam is fortunate to be located on Playa Norte, undoubtedly the best beach on Isla Mujeres. A long stretch of wonderful fine white sand is just steps away from most of the guest rooms. The water here is very calm and perfect for swimming; it’s ideal for those traveling with young children. The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable with air-conditioning and ceiling fans. Most rooms have no televisions nor telephones – this is definitely a place to relax and to enjoy a island lifestyle.
The hotel is arranged in two parts, the beachside and poolside sections. The rooms are very similar in style and size. The pool side rooms are set in pretty gardens and are arranged around the swimming pool. The rooms on the beach side are just a few steps away from the beach. Some rooms have glimpses of the beach and ocean through the palm trees.
The hotel will appeal to families and couples alike. Families will appreciate the spacious accommodation, and the useful connecting rooms are perfect for larger families. The hotel’s closeness to the beach is another of its appeals. Couples will love the romantic evening ambiance when the hotel is lit by torches and will certainly enjoy the cozy atmosphere of Zazil Ha Restaurant.
In fact, the restaurant is considered to be one of the best on the island and specializes in vegetarian Mayan cuisine. Na Balam is located just five minutes walk away from the main town where there are a good selection of restaurants.
The Guest Rooms are arranged through the two sections of the hotel, Poolside and Beachside. The sections are separated by a quiet street. The Pool Rooms and Beach Rooms are almost identical in size and layout and come with either one king or two queen beds. On the Poolside there are some connecting rooms that are ideal for families.
The Junior Suite and Master Suite are the perfect choice for romantics. These rooms are slighly larger than the Standard Rooms and have a terrace with plunge pool. These rooms face a small estuary and are away from the main beach so are quieter and a little more private.
The rooms all feature air-conditioning, ceiling fans and a safety deposit box. Beds have prettily embroidered white bed linens. Tiled floors help keep the rooms cool. Each room has a terrace or balcony with a table and chairs or sun beds.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Air-conditioning, balcony or terrace, ceiling fan, room safe, black out drapes.
Pool Side Room
King bed or two queen beds (603 sq. ft.)
Ocean view rooms
King bed or two queen beds, partial ocean view, TV. (592 sq. ft.)
Junior Suite
King bed, partial ocean view, TV, sitting area. (592 sq. ft.)
Ocean View Suite with Plunge Pool
King bed, private plunge pool, partial ocean view. (592 sq. ft.)
One Bedroom suite with Jacuzzi
King bed, terrace with Jacuzzi, second floor location, partial ocean view, TV. (645 sq. ft.)
The Pool Rooms are set around the swimming pool in lush tropical gardens. This area is quiet and relaxed, although you are just a few minutes’ walk away from the beach.
The rooms are arranged in pretty little two story blocks with a palapa roof and charming wooden terrace or balcony. The rooms are very spacious and a room with two beds would sleep two adults and two children in comfort.
For those with extended families or those who just prefer a little more privacy and space there are some connecting rooms in this area of the resort; one room with a king connecting to a room with two queens.
The upper floor rooms are reached by a wooden staircase and have a small balcony with chairs facing the pool. These rooms also have a high palapa roof which adds to the tropical ambiance.
The first (ground) floor rooms on the other hand are entirly sealed and ideal for those who like to feel protected from any bugs. All of the rooms have air-conditioning and ceiling fans, so they stay comfortable even through the hottest nights.
The Ocean View rooms are arranged in small two-story blocks around the edge of the beach. The cream stone buildings are surrounded by pretty tropical flowers and shrubbery.
These rooms have prime positions just a few yards away from Playa Norte. Their ocean views are partially obstructed by the tall palm trees that line the edge of the beach.
The spacious rooms have an open plan sitting area with sofa, chairs and coffee table. At one end of the bedroom is a vanity area with a door leading to the bathroom, where there is a large walk-in shower.
The terraces and balconies feature two sunbeds facing the ocean or gardens.
The Suites are located in the beach side section of the hotel. They face towards a small inlet but are still only a few steps away from Playa Norte. Positioned a little away from the beach means that they enjoy enhanced privacy and have quieter outlooks.
Junior Suites feature a comfortable sitting area, whilst Ocean View suites are on the ground floor and have a plunge pool. One Bedroom suites are on the upper floor and have a Jacuzzi.
Zazil Ha Restaurant has a romantic and cozy atmosphere and is renowned for its excellent cuisine. Tables are set under a large palapa which in the evenings is lit by candles and soft lighting. Dishes are influenced by traditional Mayan cooking and feature Mexican, vegetarian and fusion cuisine.
Adjacent to the restaurant is a little palapa bar that’s a great spot for an evening cocktail or after dinner drinks.
At breakfast and lunch time the Zazil Ha snack bar, located right next to the beach, is the place to eat.
Some tables are located under a large palapa while others are on a platform right at the edge of the beach, complete with parasols for shade. They have fabulous views of the beach and ocean and it’s easy to take a few hours over a leisurely lunch while enjoying the views.
The restaurant serves a good selection of breakfast options including delicious fresh tropical fruits and egg dishes. At lunch time you can enjoy traditional Mexican favorites, like quesadillas and tacos and there’s also a good selection of seafood dishes.
Playa Norte is a long fabulous stretch of beach which shelves softly into the water. This makes it perfect for children who can bathe here very safely. There are plenty of sun beds and day beds with palapa shades and beach towels are available at the palapa by the edge of the beach.
The hotel can also help arrange a variety of water activities from boat rides around the island to snorkeling and diving.
The Zazil Ha snack bar is located right by the edge of beach which makes it ideal for a leisurely lunch.
In the morning or late afternoon why not take a walk along the water’s edge? In a short while you’ll arrive at the main town where you might see fishing boats returning with their catch. You’ll also discover some little beach bars and restaurants that have a more traditional feel and are popular with the locals.
The pool is surrounded by pretty tropical gardens and is located in the second section of the hotel that is separated from the beach by a quiet side street.
It’s a good sized freeform fresh water pool that’s a quiet place to cool off. The pool tends to be quieter in the daytime when families are at the beach, so is perfect for those looking to escape the crowds.
The palms and tropical shrubbery provide some shade. There are chairs and sun beds and it’s a great place to while away a lazy afternoon.
How to get here
By air
The nearest airport is Cancun. To reach the hotel from the airport, guests should take a short taxi ride to Puerto Juarez followed by a 20 minute ferry crossing to the island. The hotel is just 5 minutes by taxi from the island’s docks.
Driving directions from Cancun
Most ferries to the island are for foot passengers only. A car ferry departs from a different location at Punta Sam, but we recommend leaving your car on the mainland and walking, renting golf carts, or using taxis to cover the small distances on this island, which is only 5 miles long by 1 mile wide.
