Stay Away from Mayan Beach Garden!!! When I arrived at…read moreMayan Gardens, a remote beach resort in the jungle about 40 kilometers from Mahahual, the owner Marsha was very accommodating, and the grounds were beautiful. But I soon realized things were not as they seemed. The Internet was almost nonexistent. The water only drizzled from the shower head. The power outages were frequent, so there was no electricity or even when they ran the generator, the A.C. did not work in my apartment. But the worst part happened just before my departure when a young man she employed to clean my room stole $12,000 worth of personal valuables. The safe she provided was non-functional, but she had assured me that she would fire any of her employees that stole anything. I had gone to a festival that day and when I returned I checked my suitcase where I had hidden my cash, jewelry and coins and they were gone. When I reported it to her and asked her to confront her employee, she said she did not want to interrupt him while he was serving dinner! I asked her to call the police and she said she would take me in the morning. That night, when I found other things missing, I told her, and she and her husband came into my room around midnight. Her husband told me I had been causing problems since I arrived, and I had to leave or he would turn the power off to my room! I said I wasn't leaving until I reported this to the police. The next morning I packed my bags and left, but I did report it to the Mexican police who will be investigating Mayan Gardens. The young man who stole from me is still working for there and she refused to accept any responsibility for what happened. I suggest you steer clear of Mayan Gardens!!!

This place truly is paradise. It's scary to book a hotel, particularly one so out of the way,…read morewithout seeing it, but MBG is totally worth it. We were nervous on our way out because it's so remote. Plus, we had just been at another hotel that was not as advertised and felt a bit traumatized. However the second we arrived on the MBG property we were in love. The private beach is absolutely gorgeous, and the property is perfect. Kim designed and built it in a way that makes each room private with a beautiful view, and they all get a cool breeze. The photos don't do the mosaics that cover the property justice either. Marcia designed all of them and they add character but are also simply gorgeous. The staff is also wonderful (Hola, Martin!). Everything is kept perfectly clean, and the staff was so nice, responsive to our needs, and not pretentious. It's hard to describe how great MBG is. The set-up is like an all-inclusive because you can pay ahead of time for meals and never have to carry cash, however the vibe is the exact opposite. I've never been so relaxed in my life sitting and reading on that beach, or sleeping with all the windows open to hear nothing but waves. The clientele varies night to night, but the constant is that everyone is quiet, respectful, and the food is always delicious. Particularly that bean dip that's served with every meal. Though dinner is served with the whole group, Marcia and Kim are flexible and will serve dinner in your room if you want privacy. We always chose to eat with the group and met some really interesting people. One of the other things we loved was their dedication to sustainability. The whole hotel is run on solar, and the water is all recycled rain water. The owners also seem to have a lot of local pride, using local ingredients whenever possible and they hire local people. At the end of our trip, we were already trying to figure out how to get back.