Eco-Hotel El Rey Del Caribe

The hotel is set in a cluster of bright white multi-level buildings with blue and red trim. The hotel has an open-air lobby with a fountain and a courtyard outside the lobby with a table and chairs. The property is gated and safe. Buildings have a clean, natural aesthetic. Some rooms are located on the third floor, note that the stairs are steep and there is no elevator. In keeping with local history, all the rooms are denoted by Mayan symbols instead of room numbers.

The most prominent and beautiful part of the hotel is its tropical indoor courtyard. All buildings surround the courtyard, making guests feel like they are in a quiet oasis. Palm trees, vines, waterfalls, potted plants, and colorful flowers populate the area around the pool. Hammocks hang from large trees and the hotel has various seating areas throughout the property. There's an herb garden with a view on the top floor of the east building. Peaceful music plays from speakers and chirping birds can be heard from the rooms. Even the air smells and feels fresher here. 

In keeping with a natural environment, the hotel employs numerous eco-friendly practices, including solar hot water heaters, a composting toilet, composting of garden and kitchen wastes, and a solar clothes drier.

The property is fairly small (the pool, for example, is tiny) and the hotel is not a destination in itself, like many resorts in Cancun. However, many travelers use this hotel as a home base for excursions and day trips, or spend a night here while flying in and out of the airport. 

Hotel el Rey Del Caribe is located in central Cancun, just off of a busy traffic circle. The hotel is a five-minute walk to the main ADO bus station and near a grocery store. There are a handful of local restaurants in walking distance. Although the grounds of the hotel are quiet and peaceful, its still located in central Cancun and the streets surrounding the hotel are bustling. It's an eight-minute drive to the nearest beach and there are taxis outside of the hotel. There are a limited number of parking spaces in front of the hotel.

• 18-minute drive to Cancun International Airport
• 15-minute drive to the heart of the Hotel Zone
• 33-minute drive to Puerto Morelos, with quiet beaches and great snorkeling spots
• 54-minute drive to Playa del Carmen, a laid-back and bustling town
• An hour-and-a-half drive to Tulum ruins
• Two-hour drive to Chichen Itza ruins
• Over two hours' drive to Coba ruins    

The rooms at Hotel el Rey Del Caribe are fairly simple with dated decor. They have brown or white tile floors, thin and colorful bedspreads, and dark wood headboards and furniture. Bright blue paint trim, curtains, and bed runners add an accent color and keep with the general color scheme of the hotel. Decoration is minimum, with a few pictures of Mayan symbols or herbs and flowers on the walls. The rooms have some interesting architectural details, such as arched doorways or nooks for the kitchenette. Many of the rooms are dark during the day because the plentiful foliage obstructs the sunlight. 

All rooms have a small seating area, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs mounted to the walls. The rooms also come with a kitchenette that has a mini-fridge, sink, cups, dishes, and silverware. Some of the kitchenettes have a small two-burner stove. Bathrooms are small and simple with a single sink, limited counter space, and an older stand-up shower. Hairdryers and wall-mounted toiletries are provided.

The hotel has a breakfast restaurant on-site that serves a small but tasty menu with good portion sizes. The food is a la carte, which is a nice change from the breakfast buffets that dominate most Cancun hotels. Served in an open-air restaurant on the left side of the courtyard, the space has lovely tropical views and keeps with the natural ambience of the hotel. Most of the hotel rates include breakfast.

The hotel has a small pool and whirlpool area located at the back of the courtyard. There are a handful of wood loungers around the pool. It’s a nice area to relax but not large enough for a proper swim. A small on-site spa holds one massage bed and the treatments are some of the most affordable in the area.

Sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices are a priority at this hotel, which has prided itself on its eco practices for over 20 years. 60% of water at the hotel is reused or saved, and the hotel saves 66 percent of gas through solar laundry and heating.

• Composting toilet near the pool (not in the rooms)
• Solar hot water heaters
• Garden and kitchen wastes are separated and composted
• Solar laundry dryer
• Expansive recycling program
• Solar panels
• Reuse of water -- for example, the water for the laundry goes to the garden, pool water is used to flush the toilets
• Reduced INVERT electricity system