Cabanas La Luna

Rooms

La Luna’s 10 cabanas - which include 3 jungle suites and a private villa - cluster around the seafront, amongst verdant greenery, with breath-taking sea views, a good amount of privacy and rainbow painted walls. Each has a deck with a hammock, a table and a bench fashioned from tree trunks. Christopher Columbus and Casa Blanca are small but perfect for couples, Robinson Crusoe can sleep 2 but is perhaps best for solo travellers. Marrakech and Captain Dale's are open-plan and slightly bigger, making them more suited to families. The former has 2 queensize beds, the latter has a kingsize bed and an attic with 2 queensize beds. Bathrooms are small and some aren't separated from the bedrooms by a proper wall; expect tiled showers and sinks made from Mexican ceramics.

The 3 suites are a bit more luxurious and great for groups. All in the same building set back from the beach amongst the gardens. Bella's Secret Garden Suite has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms - good for both couples and young families. The Jungle View Penthouse sits above this, with a great view over the treetops but no sea view. This open-plan suite has space for 6 people. Next door, is first-floor Marco Polo's Journey, a spacious cabin with a kingsize bed, a separate single bed and the added bonus of a partial sea view.

Four-bedroom Villa Zanzibar is a cabana in style and ideal for a family or group. Two upstairs bedrooms sit in the eaves, sharing a shower room. Downstairs the 2 remaining bedrooms each have an ensuite shower. There’s a simple kitchen and a cushioned outdoor seating area, plus the villa's trump card: a curvy mosaic-tiled swimming pool. The downside is the villa’s situation at the rear of the property by the road; it can be noisy and there are no sea views.

We stayed in Coconut Cove on our last visit, which was upstairs with incredible sea views, a large terrace with chairs and hammocks. It has 2 rooms (accommodating up to 4) with a double bed in each room. One has a sea view, the other overlooks the pool. It’s bright and bonkers and we loved it. There are no mod cons (we didn’t need to use our air con thanks to the sea breeze) but you don’t miss a thing with those beach views.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

Las Estrellas is La Luna's restaurant, which is open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's very busy during the day but slows down a little at night. Order a house cocktail, the Mango Margarita, and settle into the colourful dining room. Meals can be taken here, out on the sea-view deck or at the beach dining area, with a view of the Milky Way and the sound of the waves meeting the shore.

Lunch and dinner dishes are prepared by an Italian chef with local ingredients, with an emphasis on Mediterranean cuisine, and influenced by the day's catch or what's new at the market. Try out the fresh pasta dishes, which were outstanding. We also adored our seafood fettuccini with huge, fresh prawns (best eaten under a palm tree overlooking the beach). If you fancy venturing out, there is a vibrant restaurant and bar scene that’s popped up just inland along the beach road, which is where everyone heads in the evening, leaving the beach mellow and deserted. Just ask the team for recommendations.

Breakfast is a very laid-back affair, served up in the beach-front restaurant. We loved the Mexican-spiced coffee and enjoyed fresh fruit with a daily changing selection of cake, cinnamon bread toast and jams. Note to early risers, service begins at 8am (with coffee and tea available from 6am for those wanting to watch the sunrise). There's a menu of hot options, too, such as fried eggs with crispy tortillas and guacamole or spicy Mexican eggs, which are discounted if you opt for these instead of the complimentary continental breakfast. We loved the gooey French toast with cinnamon and the fresh avocado on toast.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Restaurant

Activities

• Lounge in the hammock on your terrace and watch the waves. When the surf gathers momentum, borrow a boogie board and go for a surf
  
• Snuggle up on a double daybed on the beach, or swim in the warm Caribbean sea
  
• During May-August you can watch turtles in the moonlight, laying and burying their eggs on the beach; incredibly special
  
• Have a sundowner at Cesiak’s roof-top restaurant and ecological centre (8km from La Luna), where you can watch spectacular sunsets over the Caapechen lagoon. The restaurant's position high up over the jungle means a fascinating vantage over both beach and wetlands
  
• Kayak through the mangroves and shallow lakes of the Sian Ka’an national park, keeping your eyes peeled for beautiful birds and crocodiles basking on the shore
  
• Request a massage on your private deck, visit the Maya Spa up the road, or salute the sun at nearby Yogashala, which offers Ashtanga and Hatha yoga classes
  
• Scuba dive the cenote of Angels - an inky 70m sink hole in which you'll see eerie tree roots and deep water fish: advanced divers only. Don’t forget your head torch. Non-divers can take a trip to Gran Cenote, which you can swim through
  
• When the wind's up, try kite boarding. Book through the hotel with Extreme Control, a reliable outfit who deals with all levels of experience
  
• Bicycles are available free of charge, so visit Tulum's ruins and admire the Mayan structures, set against the backdrop of the aquamarine sea. Further afield, the ruins at Coba are splendid; wear comfy shoes so you can climb them
  
• Evenings here are quiet, but if you're in need of entertainment, take a 5-minute stroll down the beach road to numerous bars and restaurants that have popped up - Jaguar and Gitano restaurants were popular with a trendy crowd with long waitlists
  
• Papaya Playa has a Saturday-night beach party, Le Zebra has salsa on a Sunday, and Zamas often has live music
  
• At night, the star gazing is fantastic - you can often see the Milky Way

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Nightlife
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Wildlife
• Yoga

Kids

Children are very welcome at Cabanas La Luna, and will love the beach and friendly village feel.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Leave the 1-bed cabanas to the honeymooners and choose from Marrakech (sleeping 4), Captain Dale (sleeping 6), Jungle Penthouse (sleeping 6), Bella's Secret Garden Suite (sleeping 6) and Villa Zanzibar (sleeping 8). Extended families and larger groups will like the privacy of the villas (both of which have basic kitchens). Villa Zanzibar has its own pool.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 2 hours
• Hospital: 1 hour

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Cabanas La Luna is located on the beach near Tulum, on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.

By Air:
Fly into Cancun International Airport.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer - see Rates - but we'd recommend hiring a car for convenience.

By Car:
See our car rental recommendations.

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