Zamas

Rooms

Zamas styles itself as 'rustic-chic', with no attempt to outshine the natural environment. To most people, this means back-to-basics camping without creature comforts, in the company of insects you'd rather never have met. In reality, Zamas offers laid-back and stylish accommodation swathed in bright primary colours.

The hotel rooms, some self-contained, others part of larger cabanas, have one or two kingsize or queensize beds and shower bathrooms; a few have additional single beds and sleep up to six. Some of the Beachfront Rooms are raised from the sand and set so close to the surf they’re almost tumbling into the sea (which drowns out the noise from the road behind). We stayed in one on our last visit and had our own hammock that swayed beneath the palms with stunning views of the bay. It had a rustic feel (air con was the only modern appliance to be seen), a thatched roof bedroom and adjoining shower room.

Families should go for the Garden Rooms, located in a quiet palm grove well away from the buzz of the restaurant with plenty of outdoor space - brightened with murals on the walls. Some of these rooms are across the road from the beach (known as the 'jungle side'), as are the Jungle Bungalows, where we stayed. The latter have huge verandas and hammocks - perfect for lazing around and gazing out to sea.

Larger groups can spread out either in two-storey Casa Laura, which has four bedrooms (for up to 11), sea views, a full kitchen and a private enclosed garden and is just over the road from the beach and restaurant, or in Casa Vallejo, a six-bedroom house for 6-12. Some rooms have sea views, plus there are three bathrooms, a dining and lounge area and a full kitchen. We liked the look of its high ceilings and towering windows, quirky furniture hewn from tree trunks, and the polished adobe walls daubed in vibrant shades of sky blue, jade green and terracotta. Best of all, it has a private garden with a T-shaped swimming pool. Guests in both villas get full access to the hotel’s facilities.

Both the house and the cabanas are remarkably airy - beds are cool inside the mosquito nets, and cold drinking water is freely supplied (you can refill bottles outside the restaurant).

Features include:

• Fan
• In-room treatments available
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Zamas’ Que Fresco! (‘How Fresh!’) restaurant is romantically set on the edge of the shore and candlelit by night. It is renowned locally for serving divine food and biting margaritas on brightly coloured wooden tables under the stars. Folks come far for its traditional Mayan dishes (such as a whole freshly caught fish stuffed with local herbs, wrapped in palm leaves and baked in a clay oven) and mouth-watering seafood platters - shrimp with achiote or red snapper spiced with olive salsa. There are also wood-fired pizzas, spare ribs with garlic chips and vegetarian specials such as grilled enchiladas with tomatillo, avocado and pumpkin-seed sauce.

Breakfast can be healthy granola, yoghurt, tropical juice and fresh fruit salad, or a hot option such as omelette with cheese and chaya (Mayan spinach). You get a voucher to choose only one dish and a drink - we enjoyed the avocado on toast with a poached egg.

A couple of nights a week, the restaurant becomes a popular live music venue - we heard a great guitar trio, complete with a flamenco dancer. Staff are aware that there are families staying at Zamas, so the music doesn’t usually last beyond 10pm.

Guests staying in Casa Vallejo can eat in the restaurant or self-cater. The house has a vast dining table, plus a full kitchen with a large oven, a hob, a fridge-freezer, a blender, a coffee machine and all the bits and bobs you might need. Basic supplies such as washing-up liquid, oil, salt and pepper are provided, and anything else can be picked up at one of the convenience stores nearby.

If you fancy eating out, there are lots of options that have mushroomed along the beach road and in neighbouring hotels.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

Apart from lazing on the beach...

• Go diving (open water and cave diving) or snorkelling (there's a small shipwreck 20m from the shore and the reef is about 200m out). There's an on-site dive shop where you can arrange snorkelling and diving expeditions, as well as trips to the local cenotes (limestone springs which are abundant around Tulum)
  
  
• During the summer months there's outstanding whale shark watching - and brave souls can jump in and swim with them
  
  
• Fly fishermen can take part in world-class bonefishing at Boca Paila (25-45 minutes from Zamas), and fly fishing in the Sian Ka’an biosphere (45 minutes south)
  
  
• Go horse-riding along the beach, book a massage, or take a yoga class at the nearby studio
  
  
• Visit the nearby Mayan ruins - a 10-minute drive, but make sure you go early to beat the bus crowds. There are more ruins at Coba (45-60 minutes' drive), which is set in dense jungle and is less commercial, though it's becoming increasingly popular. Ek Balam and Chichen Itza are further afield (1.5 and 2.5 hours away respectively), but the hotel can arrange a day trip for you
  
  
• Take a boat ride into the vast ecological biosphere of Sian Ka'an - the entrance to the park is just a few kilometres south of Zamas and you can bird-watch, fish and kayak here
  
  
• The hotel can organise various activities, including a romantic beach picnic, boat rides to the ruins and guided walks to see turtles laying their eggs and hatching (May to October). Enquire when booking
  
  
• Bird watchers will be in their element - there are plenty of feathered friends in the grounds, and birds nest in Sian Ka’an during the winter months
  
  
• Borrow the hotel's kayaks, try kite-Boarding or, if you're here at the right time of year, swim with dolphins
  
  
• There are 3 excellent golf courses in the area, one just 10 minutes north of the hotel
  
  
• Play chess or backgammon if it rains

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Fishing
• Golf
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• SUP
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being
• Wildlife

Kids

Children are welcome and those under 6 stay for free. Zamas can provide baby cots on request, and the restaurant has highchairs. Note that all bathrooms have showers only.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

All rooms have additional single beds (except the Small Beachfront Rooms), and some have 2 double beds. Casa Laura has 3 double bedrooms each with a single bed for a child and a private enclosed garden. Casa Vallejo has 4 bedrooms (3 doubles and a twin), plus 2 loft rooms with 2 single beds apiece which aren't suitable for toddlers, and a private pool.

Cots Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 90 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Zamas is a 1.5-hour drive south of Cancún airport, on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

By Air
Cancún International Airport is 120km away - click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange transfers (enquire when booking), but the most convenient way to get here is to hire a car at the airport (see below).

By Car
It's an easy drive from Cancún - head south along the coastal highway past Playa del Carmen and carry on past Tulum for 5km on the Boca Paila road. See our car rental recommendations.

By Taxi
Taking a taxi from the airport is expensive compared to other options. An airport taxi will charge depending upon supply and demand at the time to Tulum - and only airport taxis are allowed to transport tourists away from the airport. However, for your return, you may take any taxi to the airport from Tulum (this can be arranged by Zamas). Always agree the taxi fare before departing.

By Bus
There are no buses which travel directly from the airport to Tulum. Instead, you need to first take a bus north for 30 minutes to the Cancún bus station, and then return south to Tulum via a 2-hour journey. Once you arrive in Tulum take a taxi to Zamas (a 10-minute drive).

Getting Around
Once at Zamas it's fairly convenient and cost-effective to take taxis (they have a taxi radio). There are also buses to major tourist sites.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Mexico and getting around