I’ve been to Tulum several times, and I’ve always wanted to stay at the Papaya Playa Project. This time around, I decided to take a relaxing girls’ trip to Tulum, and I knew I had to stay at the Papaya Playa Project. Here are all the details of my stay, the property, and everything I loved about my experience.
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Getting to Tulum and Papaya Playa Project
If you have been to Tulum before April 2024, you know that it is a two-hour drive from Cancun. Most people opt to fly into Cancun and get transport to Tulum because of the availability and frequency of the flight options. Now, Tulum has its own airport! This was a very convenient option, and it is about 40 minutes from where we stayed. We used Amstar for transport, and it was the most affordable and convenient option.
The Rooms at Papaya Playa Project
When booking at Papaya Playa Project, you will find it on their own personal website, the Marriot website, or different travel platforms. I would select the option that includes breakfast. On the weekends, there is a breakfast buffet, and on the weekends, you can select a three-course breakfast with options. They also have a smoothie and coffee bar that is open 24 hours. They have one restaurant on the property that has a lot of options, and there are other restaurants off the property within walking distance.
The main thing that drew me to stay here is each room has its own private pool! Depending on which room you select the pool will either be on the rooftop, in the front, or Oceanside. Ours was in the front with a canopy and we had a jungle view.
The one thing we had to get used to was the open shower! We had a king size bed with a mini seating area in the front that could easily be another bed. The room could fit three people comfortably if needed. We also had a rooftop that was equipped with seating and a hammock it was perfection. The rooms are air conditioned as well.
About the Property
The one thing I loved was that although the Papaya Playa Project property is huge, they built the hotel and grounds around the jungle. I love how they respect nature, and many of the materials they used were sustainable. The property was about a mile long and had spots where you could learn about the Mayan traditions and plants around you. There were a few animals, like iguanas and two monkeys, on the property, but we did not see any!
In the center, there is a huge seating area with a restaurant, beach club, cabanas, and pool. On Saturday nights, they have moon celebrations, where different DJ sets play. The party opens at 8:00 p.m. and lasts until 3 a.m.! They rearrange the front to look like a whole outdoor club. Anyone can attend, but hotel guests get to party for free.
If you are interested in being a beach bum all day, they offer plenty of cabanas already on the beach equipped with a beach bar and servers. The beach area is open until 5 for convenience p.m. One day, I took a walk and discovered they had an outdoor jungle gym. It is pretty extensive and fun to use.
Transportation off the property
If you are worried about getting around off the property, there is a taxi station right in front of the doors. If you tell the staff where you want to go, they will negotiate for you with the taxi drivers. They can also arrange other experiences for you at the front desk. At the end of the night, even if it’s late, the drivers know to take you all the way inside the hotel before getting out. The property is heavily secured and guarded.
Wellness offerings
Every day they have yoga for hotel guests that is included in the stay at 10 am. The area where the yoga is a beautiful gazebo on top on a hill over looking the ocean. We practiced yoga just by listening to the sounds of the waves crashing and the sea breeze. It was a beautiful experience.
In addition, breathwork is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 4:00 p.m. Unfortunately, we did not get to attend these as we arrived a little too late. When no one signs up for the day, the teacher does not come. Finally, around the property, they have different reflection points, like a gratitude tree where you write down what you are grateful for and another tree to set your intentions.
Paid Wellness Offerings
Along with the included wellness offering for guests, Papaya Playa Project has its own spa and experiences that align with Mayan Traditions and natural treatments. They offer the Temazcal experience to cleanse the body and the mind. The Temazacal is an experience that has physical health benefits, including lymphatic system stimulation, blood circulation improvements, and respiratory tract cleansing. Mental health benefits include releasing blockages and removing emotional baggage.
Why Choose Papaya Playa Project over Others?
There is a similar hotel that is right next door to the Papaya Playa Project that I had a friend stay at at the same time so I experienced both. With this knowledge, I would choose the Papaya Playa Project 10 times over. The staff is very friendly, and it is more open and spread out. Although Papaya has a treehouse jungle feel, it is not claustrophobic, and it gives you room to breathe. We are allowed to have our visitors without overly excessive policies, letting our friends experience our hotel. Although a similar property offers more wellness healing experiences, both hotel guests and visitors pay the exact same price, so you can still experience what their guests can.
Overall, staying at the Papaya Playa Project is a great choice. Its combination of wellness retreat, relaxation, spiritualization, and partying makes for the perfect getaway. If you choose never to leave the property, you won’t feel like you missed out on anything outside for a restorative experience.
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