My two sons (ages 17 and 20) spent 5 days at La Luna over Christmas week 2012. We absolutely loved it and will definitely be back!

PROs: the food (see separate review of Las Estrellas, the excellent restaurant we ate most meals at); the staff (super friendly and helpful); the ambience (laid back, uncrowded, just what we were looking for).

CONs: None for us, but for some travellers I could imagine that the lack of a pool might matter (it would have to us when our kids were younger, but not now); lack of AC in the cabanas meant that the upper level got pretty hot at night.

We arrived on Christmas Eve and were warmly greeted by Luuk, who was a constant presence during the week. He and the rest of the staff are just so warm and pleasant. Christmas Eve was a special three course dinner with a pinata afterwards - the entire staff and their families were there, giving the whole thing a really fun holiday feeling.

The room we were in (Captain Dale's Quarters) was just fantastic - about 150' from the ocean, with the calming sound of the surf a constant relaxing background. A breeze blew pretty much constantly, meaning the shaded deck and lower level were always comfortable - despite temperatures being pretty much constantly in the 80s during the days, 70s at night. The upper level, where my boys slept, got a bit warm at night because the breeze doesn't come through as well. They also had a bit more mosquito action - I had only a couple of bites on the lower level and didn't even use my netting at all.

We went to the ruins one day and Luuk told us at dinner the night before to be sure to get there by 8:30 AM before the buses from Cancun arrive around 10 - good advice. Another day we went to Atumal to go snorkeling (about a 30 minute drive towards Cancun) and one other day we did a kayak trip in the Sian Ka'an biosphere nearby - the staff made reservations for us on the sunset trip that leaves at 3 PM - we were back by 7 PM.

Almost all our meals were at the fantastic Las Estrellas restaurant that is part of the hotel. A simple continental breakfast of very good coffee, a plate of fresh fruit and toasted bread with jam and butter is included in the room rate. Other things including my son's favorite, french toast, is available to order a la carte. There is a full bar.

On Wednesday night, there was a BBQ with live music (which was just OK - the tough grilled skirt steak was the only miss on food all week at Las Estrellas).

We went down the beach for dinnner one night to La Posada de Margherita, recommended by my guide book, and the food was good (fresh pasta and fish) but the ambience was far more rushed and hectic than Las Estrellas. We ate a lunch at Akumal the day we snorkeled at the very good La Buena Vida, recommended by the La Luna staff.

For one son finishing college applications during his HS senior year and another who is pre-med in college finishing a very touch organic chemistry class, plus a dad coming off a busy work schedule, this was just what we needed. We joked that the theme of our week was "To The Hammocks!" - because after having breakfast 100 yards from our cabana, we'd usually return and the boys would each take a hammock, break out the Kindle and books, and just read, while I'd walk the beach, join them at the comfortable bench on our deck or sit down on the beach and read.

The night before we checked into La Luna we flew into Cancun and stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun. The night we left La Luna, we drove to Paradissus (an all-inclusive resort) in Playa del Carmen. Since it was our first real visit to Mexico, I wanted the boys to get a taste of both flavors - the luxury resorts and what I suspected we all would prefer, the more laid-back beat of Cabanas La Luna. By the end, the verdict was unanimous - Cabanas La Luna beat out the Ritz and the Paradissus easily. "This place is kind of soulless," I remarked to my son as we walked around the spacious grounds of Paradissus in Playa del Carmen after leaving La Luna. "Yeah, I miss La Luna," he said. The best endorsement for a vacation I can think of!

Can't say enough good things about La Luna. The staff was amazing... Luuk helped us organize the tours we wanted to go on, and Ruben was always around to answer any questions that we had. The accomodations are really the best on the beach, with lots of character and charm. It felt like a little community rather than a bunch of isolated huts. The restaurant is great, and we enjoyed the included continental breakfast every day, but I will say that the dinner menu is slightly limited. No problem though as there are plenty of other options only a few hundred meters away. The shower pressure was a little weak and the water smelled a bit because it's groundwater and has some salt in it, and their coffee is instant and not the tastiest, but these are the only nitpicky issues we had. The maids are fantastic and come to clean your room daily, the beach area is cleaned every morning and the recliners were very comfortable, every cabana has it's own hammock for relaxing... really just a superb slice of heaven if you want to relax and enjoy some beach time.

Just spent a week at Cabanas La Luna, in Marrakech and it was our slice of heaven. We read other peoples positive reviews, so our expectations were set pretty high. We loved our stay and delighted our expectations were exceeded. The hotel has a wonderful charm to it, the staff are attentive and diligent, the rooms were spotless, spacious and comfortable. The food was good, breakfast - yum yum. The beach was absolutely stunning. We were sad to leave and even sadder we are wearing socks again.

Thank you all at La Luna for a truly memorable stay

We truly loved this colorful little hotel, which speaks to all the best parts of what is Tulum, Mexico. If you want 5 star resorts and big restaurants and room service then head back to Cancun, but if you want to completely check out for a few days and do nothing but float in the sea, listen to the palm trees rustle and see the occasional sea turtle then this is the spot to be in. The rooms are not large because you should only be in them when you're ready to call it a night. The restaurant is outstanding for it's simple but delicious and perfectly spiced fare and the bar meets every need.

This is such a romantic spot. So far removed from our every day life. Rooms painted in bright colors with celestial accents, step straight out onto the beach and stay put or walk for miles. Your hosts make you feel at home but leave you be. We simply loved it and can't wait to go back.