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dleach

Jun 19, 2004, 12:43 PM

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Balamku Inn at Mahahual??

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We have reservations at the Balamku Inn just south of Mahahual for a last minute trip coming up next week. We came across Balamku via Mexicanwave.com. The place (Balamku) sounds pretty nice, but I haven't been able to dredge up much info. other than at www.balamku.com and Mexicanwave. Mahahual sounds laid back and small except for the days the cruise ships dock to the north. It sounds like there are a few decent restaurants there as well.

Can anybody give me any info/imprerssions about Balamku and Mahahual?

Thanks

David

trishandglenn

Jun 27, 2004, 10:24 AM

Post #2 of 7 (823 views)

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Re: [dleach] Balamku Inn at Mahahual??

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Have you left yet? We stayed a couple nights in Mahahual last spring. When the cruise ships aren't in, it is VERY laidback. Dogs-sleeping-in-the-street laid-back. There was not an ATM; there wasn't even a gas station. (There was a Pemex under construction, but it wasn't finished; we bought gas from a place on a back street where the guy siphoned it out of a big barrel.) We preferred it that way, actually; when there was a ship in, all kinds of street vendors popped up from out of nowhere.

The restaurants were pretty basic, but fine. Good fish. I don't recall seeing the inn you are staying in; most of the accommodations were very basic as well. I think we spent $20 or so per night at the Hotel Mahahual, and there were some basic palapas down the road that seemed to be even cheaper.

Would be interested in seeing how it has changed in a year and a half, please post some impressions when you return!

Jim in Cancun / Moderator

Jun 28, 2004, 6:54 AM

Post #3 of 7 (809 views)

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Re: [trishandglenn] Balamku Inn at Mahahual??

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Was just reading an article in tday's Novedades de Quintana Roo (online version http://cancun.novenet.com.mx/)and they mentioned that there is a 60-room hotel under construction now that will open next year and that it, and future hotels will all be inland and not on the beach so as not to cause pollution or damage to the acological system of the area. There are currently only 193 hotels rooms in the whole "Costa Maya" that covers that area down to Chetumal. Future hotels will be small, ecological and limited to "cabaña-type" hotels.

dleach

Jul 1, 2004, 4:26 PM

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Re: [Jim in Cancun] Balamku Inn at Mahahual??

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We just got back from Balumku Inn located 5.7 km south of Mahahual. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I didn't see anything as nice in the Mahahual area and we drove all the way down to Xcalak.

The rooms cost US$65/nite for 2 and that includes a delicious full breakfast. Carol, one of the owners, is a gracious hostess from Toronto. If it weren't for the accent, I would'a sworn she was from the Deep South....that's how hospitable she is. The rooms were very nice and very clean. We always had a great breeze and the rooms are located on the beach. I was concerned before going there about there not being air conditioning. Living in the Houston, Texas area you get used to the good ole A/C. I was honestly very comfortable there. I was also impressed with all they are doing to be eco-friendly. If you like the Mahahual area....and I did, you won't do any better than Balamku.

Mahahual is definitely a sleepy beach town until the cruise ship shows up. Then the place is hopping for the day accommodating what they call "the boat people".
We found some very decent restaurants there. Tirovino's, on the south side of town, is run by a couple of Italians. They made the best shrimp pasta I've ever had in my life. I wasn't sure it was real so I tried it three times.

We made some day trips from Mahaual down to Chetumal to see the Mayan museum. It's closed on Mondays so we didn't see it. But we did see some ruins and Bacalar lagoon, a fresh water lagoon famous for its 7 shades of blue (OUTSTANDING!).

The bottom line is that if you want a laid-back but nice place to go that's a little off the beaten path, great snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, day trips and nice people, this would be a good place to go. If anybody has any questions, I'll be happy to follow up. The Cancun airpot is an easy 31/2 - 4 hour drive.

David

Jim in Cancun / Moderator

Jul 1, 2004, 4:37 PM

Post #5 of 7 (782 views)

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Re: [dleach] Balamku Inn at Mahahual??

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Thanks for the great trip report. Sounds like a great area and I am sure it will be growing--just hope it doesn't grow tooo much! Thanks.

KarenShelver

Sep 1, 2004, 5:05 PM

Post #6 of 7 (716 views)

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Re: [dleach] Balamku Inn at Mahahual??

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Hi,
Looks like we had a similar plan and path. I stayed in a cabana in Majahual last November for about 5 days. If I'm not mistaken, the Italians are Mateo and Monica and a small baby, perhaps? Monica was pregnant when we were there. We dined at their restaurant alot and made friends with them. Great folks, great food! Also down the road about 2 miles toward Xcalak we met a very nice American named Robert living with his Mexican wife and 4 small kids. Beachfront shack, very laid back. Didn't go all the way down because the bus on those pot-holed roads in the heat sounded just miserable.
Majahual is an enjoyable place when it's just you and the locals. The obnoxious tourists bring out the worst in the locals, all vying desperately for the same dollars, but when the cruiseships depart in the evening, all is relatively calm and nice and the people who remain are open and hospitable and wonderful.
I know development for the Costa Maya is inevitable, but I hope it's delayed as long as possible as this is still a lovely, serene, un-Americanized place and it's ancient Mayan charm is still intact despite this being the 21st century.
I too went to Chetumal and found it a little sketchy, and also missed the Mayan Museum as it was closed. Can't see much reason to stay there except to continue on to Belize.
Bacalar was great. Cenote Azul was great. In fact the jungles of the mid-Peninsula are fascinating and great too. The Mayan Riviera (sans Cancun--could NOT deal with that place except to fly in and out) is wild and mysterious and rich in culture and history. Fascinating! I cruised to the southeasternmost corner up through the middle to the farthest northwestern corner of Sisal, the oldest port in Mexico and sleepy little fishing town. And then everything in between--Playa del Carmen, Merida, etc.
Greatest pina colada on the planet--the last beach bar northernmost on the Peninsula in Playa del Carmen. I don't know the name, perhaps it doesn't have one, but it's right by the boat marina and you can put your feet in the sand while you sip the World's Greatest Pina Colada.
Looking forward to visiting the Peninsula again one day. We made some great acquaintances and have only the fondest memories of our experience in the Yucatan & Quintana Roo.
Next we are off to the Bahias de Huatulco in 4 weeks. Buena suerte, no?
Saludos!
Karen

Jim in Cancun / Moderator

Sep 2, 2004, 5:41 AM

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Re: [KarenShelver] Balamku Inn at Mahahual??

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Enjoy Huatulco!! Another beautiful place--somewhere in between Playa and Majahual as far as development goes but very beautiful with lotos of places in the area to visit--mostly undeveloped and bohemian.