Kaaba Luum: Hotel & Retreat Center — Hotel in Quintana Roo

I stayed here 12/2023 for 2 days with a friend

OVERALL RECAP: The location is off the beaten path. If you want a modern villa in the jungle and are okay not being able to get around on foot this is a good option, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ANTONELLA AND THE PRIVATE DINING EXPERIENCE. Without Antonella, I would say that bc this area is very much up and coming, its convenience does not exist.. YET. Also, I felt very safe being in the middle of nowhere. (33yo, female). Keep on reading for more details of stay.

Here are some facts:

This place is off a pretty worn and bumpy dirt road approx 15 minutes off of a main road past the town of chemuyil. There is a ton of construction that is presently happening on the surrounding roads. It is minimally disruptive. The road is not really friendly if you want to explore on foot. ATV rental is an option and you can make it to the small town to explore. There is also a really cool Cenote off this dirt road that you can check out if you want.

This is definitely a destination retreat. We had to rent a car to be able to drive to Tulum, the surrounding Cenotes, etc. If your main intention is explore Tulum, it may behoove you to stay closer to Tulum center. If you want to get lost in the jungle and do something remote, stay here.

Ideally, it is meant for a group of friends, as individual villas are for rent and include a kitchen + 2 rooms. A practical scenario is that you come here to get away from all of the crowds and you are looking for somewhere in the middle of the jungle that is not developed.

The villas are awesome and brand new- they are lined by white stone inside and the finish outs are modern and well-functioning. Each room has its own AC and modern appliances. There is a communal kitchen, and it may be nice to bring groceries here to cook. The villas are very private. Each villa has a small pool and rooftop space that is ideal for relaxing.

There is a private chef that can host you and your guests. He makes delicious food and you feel extra special sitting amongst the treetops while being served delicious food. It was nice knowing that we were going to finish our day off with this, after running around exploring the Cenotes and Tulum.

Here are some opinions and suggestions if considering this place:

THE PRIVATE DINING EXPERIENCE DEFINITELY HELPS MAKE THIS PLACE WORTH COMING BACK TO. It also helped offset the remoteness of the location, as there aren’t a ton of places to eat around here. This was a life saver if you don’t want to stay in Tulum all night.

Antonella is the property manager, and without her, this place would struggle. SHE IS AMAZING. She essentially served as a private concierge for us and pulled together a rental car with pickup, scheduled us a private temezcal in Tulum, and organized a sound bath in our villa all with less than 24 hours notice !! WOW!! She knows how to get things done and has wonderful connections. Also, she’s extremely genuine, reliable and she cared about you and your experience. 1000/10. WE...

We recently returned from an unforgettable family trip to the Yucatan Peninsula, and our experience at K’aaba Luum exceeded all expectations. From the outset, Antonella's personalized approach made a significant impact. She proactively reached out to us upon booking, ensuring our stay was tailored to our interests, especially during the bustling New Year season. Antonella provided an extensive menu of activities, flawlessly coordinating every detail well before our arrival.

Our group of 14 family friends, including children aged 5-16, embarked on a week of adventure and relaxation. Antonella arranged a luxurious transportation service that accommodated our larger-than-usual luggage load, ensuring prompt arrivals and departures. We explored the Tulum ruins, embarked on an exhilarating ATV tour of stunning cenotes, and indulged in wellness packages, including IV treatments and holistic massages.

The highlight of our culinary experience was the #teaprivatechef, Dorotea. Her meals were a gastronomic delight, introducing us to new flavors while catering to everyone's preferences. Dorotea crafted a menu that left us eagerly anticipating each meal, accommodating our requests for repeats and schedule changes with grace.

K’aaba Luum is truly enchanting, welcoming guests with a giant bird sculpture and resort-wide music that sets a magical tone. The well-lit pathways and meticulously maintained gardens in the jungle provided a serene backdrop for our week. While the plunge pools in each unit were a hit with the children, the lack of water heaters made them less appealing for adults during the colder season.

One of the most delightful aspects of K’aaba Luum is the friendly wildlife. During our stay, we encountered a fox family, glimpsed a monkey and a beaver in their natural habitats, and marveled at various other creatures.

The villas, named after the elements (Aire, Agua, Fuego, and Tierra), are identical in setup. Comfortable sofa beds on the bottom floor, soft double beds in two separate rooms on the second floor connected by a balcony, and a terrace on the top floor with lounge furniture. The entire resort embraces a beautiful and earthly Tulum-inspired aesthetic, creating a reenergizing and dreamy atmosphere.

Antonella's flexibility and responsiveness were notable as we made adjustments to our itinerary. Whether adding more people to tours, making trips to the supermarket, or modifying attendance for booked experiences, Antonella ensured our requests were accommodated to the best of her ability.

The maintenance staff was consistently available to address any issues, maintaining impeccable outdoor spaces, while the housekeeping team ensured our living quarters were consistently tidy. Our entire stay was a seamless and enjoyable experience, creating lifelong memories for each member of our group.

As our children excitedly declared, "this is the best place I've ever stayed at," we wholeheartedly agree. K’aaba Luum is truly incredible, and we are already counting down the days until...

I recently celebrated my 40th birthday at Kaaba Luum, and I cannot express enough how exceptional my experience was. Over the course of a year, I worked closely with Andrew and Antonella to plan this special event for 24 guests. Their support was invaluable, especially as I navigated my anxiety and concerns about the costs involved. They consistently reassured me that they would provide an unforgettable experience, and they truly delivered.

While I did end up spending more than I anticipated, with add on experiences especially considering the distance from Downtown Tulum, I can confidently say it was worth every penny. Andrew expertly handled the logistics and bookings, while Antonella and her team ensured that every detail was meticulously taken care of. She was incredibly responsive, helping us adapt to any last-minute changes and coordinating food, transportation, and activities seamlessly.

One of the highlights was our boat day, which, despite the rain, turned out to be the most memorable part of our trip as organized by their team. Afterward, Kaaba Luum arranged for a fantastic DJ to keep the celebration going after dinner. They also organized a last-minute request from a friend for a fire dancer to entertain the kids was met with enthusiasm, and the performance was spectacular.

Antonella also went above and beyond by contacting a friend in the beach district to keep their restaurant open for us after sunset, following a visit to La Zebra Beach Club with the kids. The food at Hotel Umi was outstanding, and we enjoyed a wonderful evening filled with dancing, singing, and delicious meals, all thanks to the impeccable organization by Kaaba Luum.

The accommodations were lovely, and the kids had a blast exploring the villas and pools, turning the whole place into their personal fortress. While the jungle did bring its share of bugs, it was a minor inconvenience compared to the overall experience.

Lastly, Kaaba Luum suggested we make a trip to a private cenote and bat cave which was a magical highlight of the trip that I’ll never be able to explain with words. Swimming in the cenote surrounded by bats, enjoying the natural pool, and ending the evening on the tower at sunset was an epic way to conclude our adventure.

Overall, I highly recommend Kaaba Luum. Despite the expense, the experience was nothing short of incredible. I am immensely grateful to the staff and team for making this a memorable occasion for both kids and adults alike. Thank you for an unforgettable...