Price Band: $$$
Tags: Beach, family friendly, bungalows, sightseeing
Petit Lafitte
Riviera Maya
Petit Lafitte
Riviera Maya
Petit Lafitte
Riviera Maya
Petit Lafitte
Riviera Maya
Rates, availability and more…
In a nutshell:
Family friendly boutique hotel with many repeat guests. Located on quiet Xcalacoco beach, near to Playa del Carmen. Pool, kids games room, concierge, lots to see and do nearby. Spacious and well equipped standard rooms and beach bungalows.
Petit Lafitte is a charming little family run hotel located on the picturesque Xcalacoco Beach just ten minutes drive north of Playa del Carmen. It is small and intimate with a staff that is friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed which makes it a great choice for families with young children.
The hotel has some regular guest rooms that face the gardens, the swimming pool or the beach and ocean. These rooms are spacious and well equipped with air-conditioning and a balcony or terrace with table and chairs. The newer bungalows offer a more rustic experience and are situated at the side of the main section of the hotel. Unlike the rooms in the main hotel building the cabanas do not have televisions or telephones.
Pretty gardens with tropical flowers surround the pool and rooms. These are home to many exotic birds and animals including iguanas. We love watching them warming themselves in the morning sunshine at breakfast time. The terraces of the guest rooms are a mass of bright colors with pretty flowers and shrubs.
Although small, the hotel has all the essentials for the perfect getaway. There is a beachfront swimming pool, games room, bar and a pretty restaurant under a large palapa.
Rates include breakfast and a four-course dinner that changes daily (the menu is posted in the morning outside the restaurant). Special dietary requirements can be catered for.
There’s a long stretch of beautiful beach right in front of Petit Lafitte, with a mix of sand and coral in the shallow water. This is a wonderful spot whether you’d like to snorkel or even if you just want to paddle.
There are two distinct room categories. The standard rooms are arranged in a low rise block which faces the gardens,swimming pool and beach; and are conventional in design. The rooms at one end are right on the edge of the beach and have direct ocean views from their terraces.
All the standard rooms are similar in size and amenties but are differentiated by their view. Garden View Rooms are closer to the main hotel building and further from the beach but have views over the pretty gardens and swimming pool. The Ocean View Rooms meanwhile are closer to the beach and have views of the ocean from their terraces. The Premium Ocean View Rooms have direct ocean views.
The Bungalows are situated at the side of the main section of hotel and are arranged in two rows from the beach. The beach front bungalows are located right on the edge of the beach. The Ocean View Bungalows are set behind the beach front but very close to the beach and with views of the ocean from their terraces. The Garden Bungalows are located a little further back but still only a short walk from the beach. Although they are more rustic in appearance these rooms have all of the amenities of the regular rooms, with the exception of TV and telephones.
Summary of room facilities
All rooms
Air-conditioning, room safe, hair dryer, mini-bar, coffee maker, ceiling fan.
Standard room
King bed or two double beds
Garden, Ocean or Ocean View Premium
Cable TV
Bungalow
King bed or two double beds
Additional loft bed
Garden or Ocean View
Direct access to beach
The standard rooms are in a low-rise building that faces the pretty gardens and swimming pool. The rooms located near the end of this building have views towards the beach and glimpses of the sea. Those at the very end are right by the edge of the beach with direct ocean views.
In terms of size and amenities the rooms are almost identical. Each room has a king or two double beds; they are very spacious and can comfortably accommodate a family with two small children.
All rooms also have a terrace or balcony with table and chairs which makes a great spot to relax in the evenings.
The rooms are simply, but comfortably, furnished. They have both air-conditioning and ceiling fans. There is a refrigerator, coffee maker, a good supply of purified water, safety deposit box, hairdryer, iron and iron board, satellite TV and telephone. Wireless Internet is also available.
The Ocean View premium rooms are the two rooms on the second and third floor in the block that has the ocean front position. These rooms are very similar to the ocean view rooms, but have an additional window facing the sea and have wonderful views of the beach and the Caribbean.
The bungalows are slightly separated from the main section of the hotel by a screen of tropical shrubs and flowers. These rooms are less conventional in their design but none the less are very comfortable and have many modern amenities including mini bar, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, ceiling fan and air-conditioning. Unlike the Standard Rooms they do not have TV or telephones.
Built from wood the bungalows stand in two lines from the beach. The rooms closest the beach have good ocean views; those at the back have garden views but the beach is still only a minute’s walk away.
The interiors are cozy and comfortable with ornately carved wooden furniture and a high sloping wooden roof. All have a large, shady veranda furnished with table and chairs.
The bungalows have either a king bed or two double beds and additionally a loft area with a double bed. This makes them a good choice for families, although the loft bed is high and fairly open so we wouldn’t recommend it for small children. It’s accessed by a wooden ladder built into the end wall of the bathroom.
The hotel’s restaurant is located under a large palapa surrounded by pretty tropical gardens. From one side of the restaurant there are views to the beach and ocean and in the evenings the sounds of the waves washing onto the beach create a special ambiance.
Breakfast is served between 7:30 am and 10:30 am and includes coffee, juice, fresh fruit and a choice of omlettes, French toast, Molettes or ham and cheese croissant. In the mornings the restaurant has a bright airy feel. We love to watch the tropical birds and iguanas in the gardens over a leisurely breakfast.
Dinner is a 4-course fixed menu which changes daily and is served between 7:30 and 10:00 pm. Dishes include traditional Mexican favorites like fajitas, fresh fish or chicken dishes; sometimes there is a buffet.
After dinner guests can enjoy drinks at the beach bar and make the most of the cooling ocean breezes. There are a great range cocktails, wines and beers.
The beach is just steps away from most of the rooms and is a fabulous expanse of white sand that is edged by deep turquoise water. There is coral in some of the shallow water which makes this a great spot for snorkeling. The hotel has snorkeling equipment and the concierge can help with diving or other water sports. For those who just want to swim or play in the shallows there are lots of sandy accesses into the water here.
Plenty of sun beds and parasols line the beach for those who just want to relax. The hotel’s beach bar is just steps away and makes a great place to sit and enjoy a beer when you want to escape the sunshine. The beach is perfect for long walks; for the very energetic it is possible to walk into Playa del Carmen.
The hotel’s swimming pool has a very tropical setting amidst exotic shrubs and brightly colored flowers. The pool is long and perfect for laps and faces the beach and ocean. It has shallow sections that are perfect for younger visitors.
Petit Lafitte has a relaxed atmosphere and welcomes families with small children, so you’ll often find an inflatable or ball in the pool. Despite this though, the pool and beach area never feel crowded or noisy.
The pool is conveniently situated between the restaurant and beach bar, so that you don’t have to wander too far for lunch or a cooling drink. There’s always space at the beach bar for parents to enjoy a cocktail and keep their eye on the children in the pool or on the beach.
How to get here
By air
The nearest airport is Cancun – by road the journey to Petit Lafitte takes about 60 minutes.
Driving directions from Cancun
From Cancun Airport take the highway #307 towards Playa del Carmen and Tulum. This is a modern, two-lane highway. The road will take you past Puerto Morelos and the entrance for Mayakoba which will be on left hand-side.
Approximately 5 minutes after Mayakoba you will see a Crystal factory on your left. You need to be in the left-hand lane so that you can take a left turn down the road just after the Crystal factory.
Follow the road straight as the road bends to the right you will see a restaurant called ‘Los Corales de Xcalacoco’. A little further on you will see the Azul Fives property; just before there is an entrance with a rope at the gate. Take this entrance and follow the road until you reach a T-junction. Here you should turn right – you will see sign for Petit Lafitte.
From here the hotel is well signed – continue following the signs. The entrance is marked by pirate flags. There is free parking at the hotel.
