Isolated in the middle of the verdant Mayan Jungle in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, this family-friendly all-inclusive offers a bevy of activities and access to one of the Yucatan’s lesser-visited ruins.
The Explorean Selva Maya Kohunlich hotel has a long track record for good service in a very isolated location in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. The hotel opened in 1998, only 4 years after the Kohunlich site itself opened. Discovered by archaeologists in 1912, the excavation of this site didn’t begin until the 1960s.
Kohunlich is a tropical paradise of ceiba trees, palms, and two different species of local monkeys (howlers and spider) that most days you will have to yourself. This site is a leisurely walk among the crumbling temples and former homes of the Mayan elite, many held in place by the roots of trees that have been preserved there.
With a temple (that you can still climb), a Maya ball court, and several buildings dedicated to spiritual rituals and housing the elite of the community, this small site is just a peek into the pre-Colombian world of the Maya peoples of this area. The Explorean hotel has several well-trained guides who take groups of guests to the ruins every day. On the day I went, we had the pleasant surprise of watching a family of spider monkeys play in the trees and eat fruit, as they headed back to their sleeping tree for the evening.
The hotel also organizes nightly kayaks to the nearby Chakambakam Lake, a gorgeous natural reserve that is managed by a local ejido, but to which Explorean has arranged special access. On these excursions, guests paddle out at dusk and are guided through this enchanting watery landscape where they might hear howler monkeys in the distance, glance at migratory birds that have made the lake their home, and even come across baby crocodiles that guides gently snatch out of the water so that visitors get an up close look.
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No need to worry, this species of crocodiles is very docile and more afraid of humans than we are of them. The evening ends with a torch-lit dinner on the banks of the lake under the stars.
The resort itself consists of 38 bungalows and two private cabañas with small private pools, all with a simple, jungle decor that includes lots of gorgeous vegetation buffering you from the noises and goings-on of the rest of the resort. Despite their age, the bungalows are in good shape, not deluxe, but simple and lovely with comfortable beds, high-quality linens, minibars, and outside patios with furniture and hanging hammocks.
There are none of the pesky all-inclusive bracelets here; everyone is free to order what they want and even go behind the lobby bar and grab their own beers from the fridge if they need to. From the dining room, three times a day, you can try both traditional Yucatecan cuisine and international favorites.
A 30-meter swimming pool set in the middle of the property gives you a lustrous view of the jungle that surrounds the hotel. Each morning, lounge chairs are set with fresh towels and flowers recently picked from one of the various flowering trees on the property.
The nearby lobby offers board games and cards if you are ready for a bit of a digital detox. Craft days and other activities entertain kids while their parents lounge by the pool, and there are bikes of all sizes to rent if your group needs to burn off some energy.
As a part of the Fiesta Americana Travelty group, members get a slight upgrade in amenities like robes, slippers, bath products, and mini fridge items. One of their best services is a rise and shine coffee and sweet bread basket that is left each morning on the porch of your bungalow, a great way to start the day without having to trek to the dining room.
There is also a small on-site spa with massages and other treatments that, for its size, is fantastic. Each of the locker rooms has a sauna inside for extra relaxation post-massage.
I was impressed by the fact that most of the hotel’s staff come from the surrounding small communities, and in talking to them, the majority have been at the hotel for 10+ years, some as many as 20+. This is a good indication that the hotel treats its employees well and is committed to putting its money into the local economy. You will find that everyone is kind, compassionate, and trying their best to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Rooms run from $350 to $420 a night, all inclusive, depending on the season and your club member status.
Check rates for Selva Maya Kohunlich online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
