Coqui Coqui Coba Residence & Spa
Maya-Mexican medley
In view of Papolchac’s pyramids
Coqui Coqui Coba Residence & Spa hotel in Yucatán will unleash your inner Indiana Jones: this two-tower hideaway sits in an ancient ruined city with jungle, lagoons and caves as its playground. If Coqui could talk, it wouldn’t scream of luxury, it would speak softly about local stone, neutral hues, natural materials and an orange-and-vanilla-scented spa.
Facilities
Rooms
Four, including two suites.
Checkout
Noon, but flexible, subject to availability (US$60). Check-in, 3pm–8pm. Contact the hotel for instructions on how to check in after hours.
More Details
Rates include a Coqui Coqui classic breakfast of toasted granola with seeds and crystallised fruit, homemade yogurt and bread, house jam honey, freshly pressed juices and herbal infusions.
Also
A little pouch stuffed with potions from the Coqui Coqui perfumery is left in rooms as a welcome gesture. (You’ll appreciate this, as saltwater flows through the plumbing: keep your mouth clamped when showering.) The fragrant unguents will also get you in the mood for the hotel’s handsome spa, where clay, aloe, coconut oil and other natural ingredients star in treatments. Be mindful that the hotel isn't easily navigable for those with mobility issues.
Pet Friendly
Pool
Room Service
Spa
At the Hotel
Spa, gardens, library. (In common with its sister hotels, Coqui Coqui Coba lacks most mod cons, including TVs and plug sockets.)
Our Favourite Rooms
Survey the Yucatán jungle from the comfort of one of the King Palapa suites, accessed by a rope bridge and boasting a private terrace, king-size bed and an open-plan bathroom with a deep cement-cast tub. All rooms look over the lagoon.
Poolside
There are two small, silver-blue swimming pools, designed more for cooling dips than Olympian aquatics.
Spa
Coqui Coqui's spa is rooted in traditional healing methods, with a lengthy holistic treatment list that uses locally-grown Menli (a lime and mint fragrance) to relax the muscles and mind.
Packing Tips
Clothes and shoes conducive to skipping around ancient ruins. Bring binoculars, swimwear, snorkel and insect repellent for the jungle and lagoons.
Also
Canine companions are welcome (you’ll need to pay a deposit), as long as they’re toilet-trained, kept away from beds, blankets and furniture, and watched over carefully by their owners. No pet food or accessories are provided, so bring your own.
Children
Little Smiths can come too; for $150 a night, they'll get a bed, meals and drinks for their stay. Cots are $30 a night and babysitting can be arranged ($15 an hour) with 48 hours’ notice.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Dining is a sociable set-up, centred around one communal table. There are no set times for meals though, so guests can dine à deux, too.
Dress Code
You’re a Maya prince, you’re a Yucatán princess – dress accordingly. We’re thinking crisp white linen; burnished jewellery (and lots of it); brown leather sandals; a dash of spicy cologne.
Hotel Restaurant
Meals are served in a simple room on the ground floor. The fusion food encompasses Mexican, Argentinean and Italian influences. Sample dishes include chicken with lemongrass and rosemary, and tilapia with marmalade. Light lunches such as ceviche and salad, with tortilla chips and home-made guacamole and pio de gallo, are offered; breakfasts are typically Meixcan, with eggs and beans, washed down with French-press organic coffee or freshly squeezed juices.
Hotel Bar
It’s the Piranha Bar’s business to keep guests refreshed. It does so with panache, serving cucumber martinis, gin and lime, and Salty Dogs (a tart marriage of grapefruit and vodka, presented in a salt-rimmed glass).
Last Orders
Sit down for breakfast at 8am, and stay where you are until 4pm for lunch. Dinner hits the plates between 6pm and 8pm; drinks are served in the bar from 8am until 8pm.
Room Service
Order dishes from the main menu to your room (or preferred sunbathing spot) between 8am and 4pm, and from 6pm until 8pm.
Planes
Fly into Cancún International Airport (www.cancun-airport.com), which is just under a two-hour drive from the hotel. Take your pick of airlines that fly direct from the US, including JetBlue (www.jetblue.com), American (www.aa.com) and United (www.united.com). From London, British Airways (www.britishairways.com) and Virgin Atlantic (www.virgin-atlantic.com) have non-stop flights out of Gatwick (www.gatwickairport.com).
Automobiles
Valladolid and Tulum are about 40 minutes away by car. Hotel parking is free. Drop your luggage off upon arrival and make use of the valet service. (Be warned though, the last half-kilometre leading to the hotel is bumpy and unpaved.)
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
The pre-Columbian Coba ruins are on your doorstep – so visit them. The ruined Maya city sprawls around two lagoons, with sacbe (elevated roads and pathways) branching off from the central site. Look out for the cluster of pyramids, some of which stand 42 metres high, and the two long courts, once used for ball games. Apart from the ruins, there’s not a massive amount to do in Coba itself – the small village houses the local guides and their families. However, you can follow the sacred sacbe trails that snake through the jungle. Pack towels and swimwear for a spot of cave-diving at the cenotes, 6km away. Beach bunnies should drive to Tulum’s sociable, seductive stretch of sand, 40 minutes away (but worth it). To glimpse authentic Mexicana, drive to Valladolid, the same distance away. This lively, colourful town has an art gallery worth popping into at Casa de los Venados, a restored hacienda on Calle 40. For mid-day dips, Cenote Zaci in the centre of town should be on your radar.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
