Fodor's Expert Review El Pez

One more of the beachfront chic boutique hotels along the shoreline of Tulum. With only 19 rooms El Pez offers peace and tranquility in a stylish setting. With its own restaurant and pool, guests don’t need to leave the premises, unless they really want to. An exquisite retreat, for those looking to really disconnect from the real world.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Even though El Pez looks like a very romantic retreat, it is a family-friendly hotel. If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful getaway, there might be better options.

room

At El Pez all rooms are beachfront and enjoy stunning ocean views from almost every corner in the rooms. Décor is outstanding and definitely, one of the highlights of the property, with a modern tropical style that introduces polished-concrete walls, softwood furnishing and colorful Mexican handcrafts. All rooms include air conditioning and ceiling fans for your comfort.

You can customize your stay with a variety of details such as a cold bottle of champagne or fresh flowers decoration in your room.

bathroom

These bathrooms stay refreshingly away from the typical marble or tile walls, and offer a simpler style that actually works better with the smart use of tropical woods. All bathrooms feature a rainfall shower, and some include a second sink.

lobby

El Pez’s lobby is located in a big central palapa and shares the space with the restaurant, the bar and a cute living room filled with antiques.

pool

The pool looks like a small green pond with not much to see or do. It is surrounded by a wooden deck, a couple of single lounge beds, a few shaded hammocks and tall bushes. It’s a refreshing spot that would’ve been much better located in front of the beach.

dining

The Gran Palapa is the place to enjoy lunch and dinner (as a delicious hot coffee and continental breakfast is delivered daily to your room). The atmosphere is casual with a bohemian vibe, and the cuisine offers excellent gourmet dishes of international origin. A small adjacent outdoor lounge offers a relaxing spot where smoking is allowed.

drinking

That same Gran Palapa is the only bar in a radius of a couple of kilometers, so you’d be wise to make the most out of it. A green, semi-circular bar with studs is the most obvious spot to enjoy a sophisticated cocktail created by their Master Mixologist, but the comfy sofas in the nearby lounge or a few scattered chairs of Mexican design in a deck by the beach. Happy hour every day from 4 to 6 pm on all cocktails.