12 Best Hotels in Yucatán and Campeche States, Mexico

At this hotel on the beach, which opened in 2021, the restaurant and reception area have a boho vibe, the rooms are very basic, and the service is more friendly than polished—a description that fits much of El Cuyo. Still, there are few places in Mexico where you can still find a room just a few steps from the sea for under $100 a night. Just keep your expectations in check (or stay elsewhere and pay more). 

Surrounded by lush gardens, this property has two-story, thatched-roof, stucco duplexes that house rooms with tile floors, an overhead fan, screened windows, a wide porch or balcony, and one king or two double beds. There's a library with a television, a swimming pool, and a lookout tower for bird-watching. The proximity to several ruins makes it a great base for exploring, and the restaurant can prepare a picnic lunch so you can save time on the road.

With its contemporary design in concrete, the Courtyard by Marriott is a commanding presence amid the other major-brand hotels along Avenida Colón near Paseo de Montejo. Rooms are efficient and comfortable, if not especially interesting, though some on higher floors offer sweeping city views, which both guests and nonguests can enjoy while indulging in drinks and snacks at the rooftop Kioyú Sky Lounge. The rooftop pool is also a favorite feature of many guests. 

A longtime favorite of international travelers, this family-run spot with a small motel feel is the best budget choice near the ruins. Spartan-ish rooms have hard beds and chunky, colonial-style furniture, but there are also two pools (one with palapas and hammocks) plus a family-style restaurant. The convivial vibe, along with cheap prices, is the big draw here. Free transportation to Chichén Itzá is provided daily. There's a small discount for reservations made online.

Mixing the colonial with modern Mexican, this hotel's whitewashed rooms have wrought-iron fixtures and hand-carved furniture. The nicest standard rooms have orchard-view terraces; junior suites have balconies (overlooking the parking area), small kitchens, a living-dining area, and spa baths. The property also has a game room, communal computers for guests, an arboretum with local flora, and a fenced-in area for ducks. You can borrow tennis rackets and balls to use on the cement court. There's a lively palapa bar and the main restaurant has a big menu ranging from nachos to filet mignon, with Yucatecan favorites represented, too. 

This popular choice, a branch of a dependable Mexican chain, attempts to evoke the grandeur of the mansions on Paseo de Montejo with colonial accents, plush armchairs, gleaming marble, and a stained-glass ceiling in the lobby. The subdued rooms have extras like balconies, bathtubs, hair dryers, and coffeemakers, but be prepared to pay surcharges on Wi-Fi and bottled water. Some rooms face the street and are a little noisier; others, though quieter, face a dull inner courtyard with the hotel pool. Downstairs you'll find a mall with stores selling souvenirs, crafts, and clothes; a couple of restaurants (including a Chili's), rental-car agency offices; and other services. Occasionally there are events, including dinner shows and dances for children (inquire at the front desk).

Close to the Ek Balam ruins, this simple retreat is modeled on local dwellings—cabins of stucco, wood, and thatch surround a casually maintained open area with a ritual sweat lodge, meditation room, and bio-filtered swimming pool. Several rooms have outdoor eco-showers and bathrooms en suite, while four economical options have shared bathrooms. Unique accommodations range from the two-story Maya temple (ideal for families) to the "birdhouse" with a spiral staircase leading to a tiny room perched in a tree. The owner organizes artisan tours of a nearby village where you'll grind corn for tortillas and learn about weaving and other traditional crafts. If you'd rather explore solo, bikes can be rented. The restaurant offers organic produce directly from the owner's farm.

Just over 1½ km (1 mile) from Chichén Itzá in the town of Pisté, this two-story hotel surrounding a pool feels like a motel in a very unlikely setting—a large grassy area edged with banana plants and other tropical trees and flowers. The nicest rooms have contemporary rustic Mexican furnishings of iron and wood, larger bathrooms with tubs, and minibars; standard rooms have showers only. (Only $30 separates the best rooms from the basic rooms, so it's worth splurging here.) The restaurant is open from 7 am until 10 pm, but there's no room service. Request a courtyard-facing room away from the main road.

Just outside the entrance to Reserva de la Biósfera Calakmul, this ecological retreat has gravel pathways that wind through the jungle to 15 private cabanas, each rustic in design with palapa roofs, tree stump nightstands, and parchment paper lampshades inlaid with leaves and bits of bark. Although there is no air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cement floors, and windowless walls (screens enclose each cabana) keep things surprisingly cool. There's a small pool and a decent restaurant that's open until 10 pm, but guests are mostly drawn to the property for its proximity to wildlife and neighboring ruins. Couples traveling together might want to request Cabanas 9 and 10, which are built as a two-story bungalow.

Right on the plaza, this hotel has a bright center courtyard covered with skylights that allow light to shine on the tables where breakfast is served. The downside, however, is that all guest rooms face this atrium and noise carries all hours of the day. Although rooms are rather dated, they have comfy beds and a squeaky-clean paint job. Only a few rooms have balconies, but all have air-conditioning, fans, and cable TV; two rooms have kitchenettes for those who want to prepare their own meals. The water is only a few blocks away.

The outwardly rustic, thatched-roof buildings here have red-tile floors, hand-carved doors and rocking chairs, stained-glass windows, and local weavings—the effect is comfortable yet luxuriant, making the property feel like a peaceful ranch. All rooms have TVs, canopy beds, bathtubs, and screened windows; suites have king-size beds and Jacuzzi tubs. Most guests catch the sunset from the long balcony that wraps around the rooms. Request one in Block 1 (Rooms E–G) on the second floor; these offer great views of the pool and ruins in the distance.

Located directly across from the beach, the Playa Linda not only has great views but also rooms that look like something straight out of an IKEA catalog, with recessed lighting, modern furnishings, and sleek kitchens. Suites have an added dining area and balcony, but not all have ocean views. Room 2 is the largest, and discounted rates are available for long-term stays. Although there's no restaurant or bar here, the hotel has arrangements with local properties for food delivery upon request.