My mother booked a reservation with the Esmerelda K through the property's sales staff in Miami. When we arrived at 3:30pm (check-in starts at 3pm) the desk staff told us we did not have a reservation and that they were sold out. We showed the staffer our pre-paid reservation confirmation and pled our case, but to no avail. She said she spoke with Sabrina, their Miami-based sales person, and that Sabrina mistakenly booked us at their sister property the Diamante K. It was very important to my mother to stay at the Esmerelda K because it was her "dream resort," so she was crushed. On top of that we were bitten up by hordes of angry red ants. So we drove up the road to the Diamante K and were told no we didn't have a reservation there, we were booked at the Esmerelda. Sheesh. After two hours of negotiating with the Diamante staff, they offered us one cabana with a king-sized bed and two with single beds. That would not work for our party of six (me, my teenage sisters, my parents, and my mother's boss). Additionally, mom and her boss looked at the single huts and they were horrendous. Then mom happened to glance at the Diamante's reservation paperwork and saw that, in fact, our names were down for a reservation at the Esmerelda!!! The staffer at the Esmerelda flat out LIED to us when she said we had a reservation at the Diamante. It then became apparent that they had overbooked but chose to lie rather than admit that. At that point the only thing the Diamante staff offered was to give us a cash refund and send us on our own to find a new hotel (since they couldn't accommodate us and neither would the Esmerelda). It was getting late and we would not be able to find anything on our own, so we were incredibly frustrated. Thankfully another staffer (not management, just a nice enough guy) listened to our story and offered to call around to other properties. He got us two huts at the Copal, and one at some place that started with a Z, and arranged for a free dinner for all six of us at the Copal that night. The Copal was nice, from what we could see with our flashlights anyway. But the other place, where my mom and stepdad, was horrible and did not have a private bath.

The only time we actually "stayed" at the Esmerelda was when we checked out their beach on our last day in Mexico. Our week was split between the Esmerelda (for one night) and then the Catalonia Riviera Maya (for six nights, and that was a reservation disaster as well). Mom wanted us to see what her dream resort looked like in case we ever came back. The beach was nice and private, except for a topless photo shoot right in front of the guests.

My mother contacted Sabrina back in Miami, via e-mail, to tell her that the Esmerelda staff lied and blamed the reservation problem on Sabrina. Sabrina, of course, was surprised ...... especially because the Esmeralda assured her they had given us a "super suite." Sabrina offered my mother a free two-night stay in their presidential suite anytime except Xmas through New Year's, but my mother doesn't know if she'll take Sabrina up on her offer because of how poorly the on-site staff treated her.

Very nice cabana in Maya/Thai style. If you want peace and quiet and a sunny beautiful beach on the Riviera Maya, this is the place. We had a bed hanging from the 7 m high ceiling, with mosquito net (although we had no mosquitos). Quiet beach, with roughly 10 people on the beach each day. Some chairs, matrasses, hangmats to choose from on the beach. The cabanas are large and clean, have a wash basin and mirror, plus toilet and shower. A hangmat up front allows you to linger in front of your room if desired without being exposed to the sun. There's hot water 24/7, electricity from 6-11 PM, and candles & matches for the rest of the time. Daily cleaning of the cabana. Restaurant on site, bit quiet and expensive though. Location is on the beach road 4.5 km south of the T-junction with the road to Tulum town (3 km). Getting to Tulum town (4.5+3=7.5 km) is easy by car and a good and cheaper option for dinner, groceries, diving, and internet access. The ruins are in the other (3 km) direction from the T-junction on the beach road, also at (4.5+3=7.5 km) distance.
PS. This town is charming (probably still the most quiet and charming of the Riviera Maya), and developing rapidly. The beach road was paved/asphalted during our stay in Feb 2006.
Asking price without reservations USD 110 a night if available (this area fills up fast); you can negotiate if staying longer.

I just returned from a trip to the Yucatan with my mother and my sister. We are three very different people with very different standards (mine fall between theirs). While my sister was nostalgic for her nights spent on a hammock without electricity, private bath or even walls, my 75 year old mother needed something a little more civilized (me, too). The Esmeralda fit the bill perfectly and even Mom got in some "hammock time!" It did not hurt that my sister was determined to be in Tulum and places along the busier stretch of road were all filled up - we felt so fortunate to find this place and savored every moment. I LOVED the candles and the hanging beds and the general atmosphere of the place - very family-friendly, not a disco/party scene at all. Gracious staff. Pulgas, the black and white dog who lives there, also gets high marks for general cuteness and sociability. Miss Madeleine.

Very dark inside even during the day. Unable to see your belongings etc.
Shower and toilet not separate to the point where the toilet paper gets damp. Woke up and there was a rat which I was told was not a rat but a baby possum.
Definitly would not go back.