My wife and I spent a week at Piedra Escondida. It's a small Posada directly on a quite beach. The beach is wonderful, because it's a little cove with rocks to the right and the left, and it gives a feeling of cozyness and protection.
The rooms are simple, clean and fresh (no a/c but a fan on the ceiling does the job). There is hot water. Energy is eolic and there is a generator for the village, that you can't hear.
The restaurant serves food above average, reasonably priced. The staff is really very nice and helpful. The owners, Riccardo and Andrea, very kind and good host.
This is a great place to relax: you can literally walk 100 yards a day and do everything you want.
If you'd like to do something special, I'd recommend doing the cenote snorkeling or diving. It's a difficult dive, but the guides of Mexi Divers, just around the corner from Piedra Escondida, are very professional and make it easy(er). They also guide you for snorkeling tours and it's really worth it.
We definitely recommend Piedra Escondida for a nice stop during a Maya tour or for a longer stay. You'll only be able to relax, eat well and enjoy the nature!
There is an internet wireless connection, but it's not that fast. It's ok to check you emails, not to work (why would you work in such a beautiful place anyway?) downloading heavy attachments. Andrea and Riccardo allow their guests to use their computer, which is faster.

This small unpretentious hotel is a little jewel on the Riviera Maya. It was our second time at Piedra Escondida, a beautiful simple hotel with a private beach and everything you need.
The rooms are minimally furnished to leave space for you, they are clean, full of sunlight and so close to the ocean you can't resist falling asleep at the sound of the waves.
A giant sea turlle found its nest in the sand under our window.
The restaurant serves great food, offering both Mexican and Italian dishes. On weekend nights the chef grills delicious seafood, beef, chicken or only vegetables for vegetarians.
The yogurt and fresh fruit crepe has been my breakfast for 8 consecutive days, while my husband ate yummy waffles and my son american classic bacon and eggs.
It's perfect for couples and families with children of all ages.
It's run by Ricchardo and Andrea, two very pleasant Italian hosts.
We just can't wait for our next trip to Tulum and to Piedra Escondida, our favorite destination in the Riviera Maya.

we spent 8 nights at piedra escondida,it was very laid back and very enjoyable.the beach is beautiful but a little too much seaweed,we swam down the beach a little farther,the restaurant was very good,the chef and waiters very friendly,nothing is ever the same 2 days in a row,so we thought that was fun.
the rooms are rustic and give a great feel of being in mexico,it took a while to figure out the shower,but plenty hot water.i was concerned that it was going to be too hot at night with no air conditioning but it was very comfortable,the first night we required an extra blanket!!
i recomend getting up to see the sun rise,it was beautiful,it was paradise in a rustic sense.
caution to those renting a car the police near playa del carmen are very corupt,we were pulled over twice,first time driving 90 in a 80 zone,this officer let us go,but second time going to airport,and we were not speeding we were pulled over and the officer tried to extort 120 american dollars out of us the other option was to turn around and drive back 45 min to police station,and they take your licence,we were told by a local that the price of a speeding ticket is 120 pesos[12 american $].i refused to pay the officer and told him i new the price of a ticket and was willing to return to the police station to pay the ticket[even if i missed my flight]i also got him to wright his name down on paper,at first he wrote his first name i asked him fo his last name and badge #he gave me the last name,then i wanted to see his id[he became nervous at this time and let us go without paying anything.they can tell the rental cars from the locals as the have no licence plate and a sticker in the back window,so your basicaly a sitting duck so be carefull!!

We did a lot of Comparison Snooping once in Mexico, and we were very happy we chose Piedra Escondida. It is quiet and secluded, but very accessible. The beach is nice, the rooms clean, the restaurant charming.

ROOMS:
Very basic. The beds are unbearably hard, but I slept through the night. Peaceful and quiet at night. The water pressure is awful, but so what. There's only electricity from 6-11pm, but you get used to it--it's like camping indoors. And if you are busy during the day (everyone was), you'll be asleep by 10:00pm anyway. The 2nd story rooms are the best.

BEACH:
Lovely. You are 20 yards from the beach, max. The ocean breeze is omnipresent. You won't want to snorkel here, but it's a great place to play in the waves, boogie board, or just sit under an umbrella and read. It feels very priavte.

FOOD:
Above average. Breakfasts are priced strangely but great. Dinners are decent. The place is owned by Italians, but the Italian food isn't quite right (I'd know). However, you can walk 3 minutes to Zamas and get a damn good pizza and bruschetta in a spacious, lively atmosphere (Piedra's hotel is better). Overall, the food in Mexico is no longer cheap (like 10 years ago), but it's gotten better. For Mexican, go into Tulum Pueblo. For Italian, got to Zamas. For good bread, go back home. Piedra is perfectly good, just not great.

LOCATION:
GREAT! 5 Minute drive into town, which is really charming and has towns of little shops and restaurants. And there is so much to do in this area: Mayan ruins (Tulum, Coba), adventure (Altournative), snorkelling (Xel Ha), shopping (Tulum town, Playa Del Carmen), etc. As long as you can live withou TV and air con, this is so much better than the impersonal all-inclusive monstronsities along the Mayan Riviera (you might as well be in Florida or Vegas!)