Na Balam

Na Balam descritpion

Surrounded by tropical gardens, on the small island of Isla Mujeres, only minutes from Cancun, this hotel is located on one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
Na Balan, Mayan for The House of the Jaguar features an outdoor pool and shady palm trees with hammocks. Guests can attend of the hotel's yoga classes, then relax with a massage.
Zazil Ha restaurant at Na Balan serves Mayan and vegetarian cuisine. Visitors can also enjoy a drink with a Mexican snack while watching the sunset at the beachfront Palapa Bar.

Recommand

Low rates——Best price for 2 guests: $217.50+ • No booking fees • Save money!Best price guarantee — enter dates to see these prices!
44 properties in Isla Mujeres——Including hotels, apartments, villas and more.
Manage your bookings online——Sign up for a FREE account·View a single booking.
253 independent reviews——We verify all reviews from guests who've stayed at Na Balam. Find out more about Booking.com Reviews.
The staff speaks English——Na Balam's staff speaks:Spanish,English
Booking is safe——When you book with us your details are protected by a secure connection.

Facilities of Na Balam

Outdoors ：Outdoor Pool (all year) | Grounds

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Diving | Snorkeling | Massage | Beachfront | Bicycle Rental

Food & Drink ：Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu | Buffet-Style Restaurant

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

General ：Newspapers | Safe | Non-smoking Rooms | Family Rooms | Air Conditioning

Languages Spoken ：Spanish | English

Reviews for Na Balam

Review 1：wifi sometimes intermittent, but to be fair it was everywhere on the island

Review 2：large bedrooms (we had a Deluxe sea view), hotel is right on the beach, lovely onsite restaurant, GREAT beach and sunbeds, staff on the beach to take food and drinks orders at the sunbeds, good quality spa treatments, lovely pool area - a total Paradise - Mrs and Mrs Smith or Tablet worthy property - Highly recommended !

Review 3：A Wonderfull place in Playa Norte. We love the decor Bali style and is Just in the withe sand. The included breakfast is simple but the restaurant have the Best cooking in Isla Mujeres. We love Our stay.

Review 4：They were putting on an extension to the kitchen all the time we were there. There were no notices about this and no apologies for all the noise and drilling all day , hardly relaxing when you have to lie on the beach and listen to that. Understand it has to be done but a notice or apology to guests takes very little. Disappointing. Bar shuts a a bit too early.

Review 5：Great location and really good service in the restaurant

Review 6：The hotel clearly lacks management. The staff is highly unprofessional, almost trying to avoid Client contact. The restaurant staff share toilet facilities With guests and we could see they did not Wash hands after visits to toilet. Total chaos in the breakfast area. Customers were clearly unsatisfied with the hotel, daily incidents of frustrated loud complaints. We had booked a room for 1 child and Three single adults, only received two double beds, and they offered us to sleep on a Beach bed mattress on the floor. We decided to leave the hotel after half Our stay because it was so not worh the prize. A shame really, because the scenerey and the buildings are so beautiful.

Review 7：The location is amazing, with the hotel being situated at the beautiful Playa Norte. The lay out of the hotel, With bungalow style buildings, a secluded pool area and the restaurant overlooking the Ocean is also fantastic.

Review 8：no wifi in the room. the breakfast is very poor. the stuff is not up to par to what you would expect for a 5 star hotel. no hot water during the day.

Review 9：the beach is amazing. the room is large and very comfortable (we had a see view room) close to the center.

Review 10：Internet is a little week even in the common areas. The lock system gave us some problem but the staff was always there to help. Rooms could need a renovation but still nice and clean. Breakfast is only continental but with option to order more (charged).

Review 11：Great location and best spot on the beach! You can spend the entire day here relaxing.

Review 12：Apart from the really hardworking, wonderful staff at the beach, who were super efficient, service was much less professional than what I would normally expect from a similarly priced resort. It wasn't awful, just not very good. While the continental breakfast was sufficient (when you actually got it...) it was far from anything I have tried in other resorts. It felt like if you didn't order extras (and thereby tipping 20% on your order) the staff really couldn't be bothered with you. This really needs to be fixed. Offer a bigger breakfast - eggs for instance - and don't make it the visitors responsibility to pay the waiters. Maybe American visitors are used to this, but for a European it's just weird. Either you include breakfast (and breakfast service) or you don't - not this in-between weirdness. Also, I emailed for us to be picked up at the airport and taken to the ferry, but no car came and no apology was given.

Review 13：The beach is divine and our large, airy room was lovely. It's close enough to the restaurants in town to walk, but not so close that it's noisy. The location is pretty much perfect. We had a wonderful vacation (9 nights/8 days) but the service at Na Balam - as mentioned in the next section - could definitely do with an overhaul.

Review 14：nothing

Review 15：Perfect.Staff very kind, beautiful room with a beautiful view.The beach was super, the facilities ok. Near to the center.The restaurant of the hotel is really good and the prices are not high. We were really sorry we had to go after only 3 days!I really recommend Na Balam to people who want a perfect vacation!

Review 16：no wifi in the room

Review 17：I loved the beautiful beach at the hotel Na Balam and the pretty enviroment. The restaurant staff was super friendly and charming, more than the receptionists. You have the possibility to do yoga with a friendly teacher. The room was big and the beds comfortable. Designwise it's very simple. The hotel is quite and still close to the village. I will recommend it for my besties.

Review 18：This place has huge potenitial but is let down by the following.Front desk staff friendly but don't communicate resulting in promises made by one not being possible by the next and time wasted. Had to keep checking with staff when the room we originally booked would be ready, but kept getting given different times by different people. This also happened when they said I could have a late checkout for 2pm, the next day was told no 1pm.Breakfast is shocking, the toasted bread was cold and seemed like it had been made the night before. Put us off dining there. Staff need training on how to serve, again they are friendly enough but poorly managed.There were building works next to the restaurant during the day making it difficult to relax.Replacement room (which they called an upgrade) which we were given for our first 2 nights of a 3 night stay, stank of bleach, had an old cooker and family fridge in it and took 2 hours to get ready as the wardrope was broken, the views were also of nothing (we paid for sea view). Not the most romantic start for your last few days of your honeymoon.Finally got our plunge pool room on the last night. Room was nice enough although plunge pool is nothing like the pictures and we didn't bother using it. The toilet is also awkward to get in to due to position of door and toilet bowl.Very disappointed as we paid at least twice as much a night (approx £118pn) as any other place we stayed in our 2 week holiday and was by far the worst place. They could have emailed us prior to arrival to inform us that 1. There would be building works and 2. Our room had problems (which they said they had been experincing for a few months). We then could have decided what to do as oppose to having little choice once we had arrived.Ok they offered us our last night for free but I still felt we paid twice as much for the 2 nights considering our experience.

Review 19：Good location right on the beach. Offered our last night free without having to ask, as room we had paid had problems. Beds comfortable Pretty clean

Review 20：Location of our room next to road and service area so lots of noise plus building work next door and next to the restaurant on the beach. Not a great start to our honeymoon.

Review 21：Staff friendly and polite.

Review 22：The room itself was pretty ordinary. The staff in the restaurant were more concerned about their service charge than actually giving the service to earn it. International accomodation, no wifi in the room! I don't think so. Office provided minimum service needed to get away with it.

Review 23：The position.

Review 24：No Wifi in rooms - not ideal. Had to stand around reception to access wifi, it was very busy at times with many people making calls giving me very little comfort and peace to make my own. Staff were curt and restaurant staff repeatedly took liberties with tips, not bringing back change on beach drinks. I was more than prepared to tip 10% for the service they provided, but taking the liberty to assume I would tip was a bit much in my view - especially when the liberties taken in some cases were up to 30%. I let it go the first time, but it put me an a very uncomfortable position after that

Review 25：Location of hotel is good, with great access to beautiful beach

Review 26：We had a really bad experience one night where there was someone with a torch hanging around our room, tapping on the window for about 20 minutes. We couldn't get through to reception as they close at 12am and were quite scared by the whole experience as there was no one to contact. Just thought you should know!

Review 27：The restaurant Zaziil is difficult. They could make staying there much easier for the guests by charging to your room! Close out the checks now and several times thrip it the day. We would spend more money

Review 28：The location - beach

Review 29：Poor room maintanance, Cleaning of the room was insufitiont and had a weired smell.

Review 30：Great location and a Butiful beach.. Nice restuarant and friendly staff

Review 31：We had an upper level room in the pool side. The bongolo roof had a holein it and birds feces kept falling into the room. It didn't seemedthat the staff cared about it too much and we had to switch to a moreexpensive room in the beach side. No hot water

Review 32：Location great beach good restaurant the beach side rooms were great

Review 33：The room was very damp and unclean, with mould in the bathroom. Our room's power went out twice, the roof leaked and the door did not lock properly so we did not feel very secure, particularly as the safe didn't work either. Staff were just ok but certainly did not deliver the level of service you'd hope for- most were unfriendly and unresponsive to our problems.

Review 34：The location of Na Balam right on Playa Norte was excellent.

Review 35：We had some nights with no hot waters... not sure why. The staff was not very nice, it's depend on who you talked to... managers were fine. Beach side rooms costs more but worth the difference (pool side rooms are old and problematic according to friends that stayed in the hotel)

Review 36：The hotel is located near the most beautiful beach in Isla Mujeres. We ordered the pool side room, but we got the beach side one due to problems in our original room, this is the newer side and much better rooms. Breakfast is included, only continental one, the waiters will remind this over and over ("tips are also not included")

Review 37：No wifi in rooms. Onlt in the restaurant area and lobby.

Review 38：The location and their privaye beach is pricesless! The rooms on the beach side are great as well.

Review 39：There was a little bit of construction going on around the restaurant. Also, the sushi bar was closed.

Review 40：The restaurant staff are AMAZING - so friendly. The location is top notch. You're on the best beach on the island and only a 3 min walk from the 'downtown' restaurants.

Review 41：*No room WiFi for over 100$ per night ?! *The restaurant: unprofessional staff, slow service, (We had to ask and remind the staff at least twice of every little thing such as tea, tea spoons, juice, omelette). Also a guest can't charge the room so you have to carry money. *The room floor in room 10. *Air conditioner not very effective.

Review 42：*The private hotel beach. *Close to Hidalgo street (bars, restaurants etc...). *Let us leave our bags at the check-in counter before check-in and after check-out.

Review 43：No hot water. Over charged us because we cancelled after one night. We got a penalty night because we wanted to leave early the hotel. So we over payed for a hotel we didn't even wanted to stay in. We tried to talk to the manager but it didn't help

Review 44：- rooms totally outdated, damp, we had to view 4 different rooms until we found one that's acceptable - the included breakfast was very poor: 4 slices of stale bread with tabs of jam and a fruit plate. The waiters brought a menu so you could be more bit it felt like the breakfast was extra bad to make you buy more - the beach had some sunbed. However if you want to use the beds with a roof you were asked to pay extra All in all we were very disappointed. This hotel might have been nice when it was new but now it seems run down.

Review 45：Hotel was located on the best beach with the best water on the island

Review 46：No wifi in room. No front desk staff at night or until 7am in the morning. My room (beach view deluxe, ground floor) faced the main road and playground so it lacked privacy.

Review 47：Location! It's right around the corner from the busier side of North Beach. Their beach was just BEAUTIFUL.

Review 48：Wifi cut out a lot Water stopped a Few times Got a lot of insect bites in the room - might have just been bad luck

Review 49：Stunning location Helpful staff Great breakfast

Review 50：No bad experiences. It was clean and totally beautiful.

Review 51：This was our third visit to Na Balam -- after 20 years!! Many upgrades, new menu and chef (food is fabulous). Great staff. Will go back again -- next year.

Review 52：Staff was very attentive and quick to get us help when our air conditioner went out. I had a cake made from the restaurant that was probably the best cake I've ever had. Location is unbeatable. The Fenix bar is super fun on weekends!

Review 53：Everything about this hotel was fabulous. Unfortunately we were only there for one night, I wish we could have stayed longer. We had the king suite with the outdoor plunge pool and it was wonderful. The staff were very nice and the location of the hotel makes it easy to go to downtown and the beach. We enjoyed our stay at Na Balam and will definitely come back to this hotel.

Review 54：Continental breakfast included but you must pay extra for anything else. Wifi is only in public areas not in the rooms. yoga classes are not included either.

Review 55：Fab rooms. AMAZING beach!! Wifi in the beach

Review 56：Wi-fi only in the lobby area which was very hot! There was a wedding on so we couldn't use the bar or restaurant one night. Staff in the restaurant didn't seem very interested in serving the beach lounges.

Review 57：Good location, quiet on the pool side.

Review 58：Nothing, I just missed the yoga classes because there was a retreat for teachers and they did not warned that the day before. Wifi only in comun areas but is free.

Review 59：Comfortable, clean, and in one of the best beaches of CAribe, you can swim for hours and see tons of fishes around. Pool and jacuzzi and yoga classes allowed.

Review 60：La recepción parece descuidada con una fuente sucia a la entrada. El desayuno incluido no tiene comida caliente, sólo fruta y café. No hay internet en las habitaciones, solo en la recepción.

Review 61：Está a pie de playa.

Review 62：we had room no. 26 and it smelled really old and mouldy so we ask for another room - they only offered us a room next to ours where the smell was even worse. All our clothes were smelly and felt damp. We had to switch on the air condition that the smell would decrease. They tried to get the smell out of the room with air freshener, which worked just right after the daily room cleaning (that wasn't done properly); like in most hotels you have no hook for drying you bathing clothes or beach towels; the continental breakfast was really poor (fruits, juice, coffee and some cookies) - you could definitely forget it; we didn't even get juice on the first day and the personal forgot every day something to bring. One day we had to wait 20 minutes for our breakfast (before 8 o'clock), although they said that they would start earlier; personal wasn't as friendly as we would have expected

Review 63：the beach was really nice - with own sunbed & umbrella; service at the beach was more or less ok; pool ok. we liked it to go into town and eat out in some of the plenty restaurants;

Review 64：Dislikes? Having to leave too early. Could have stayed thereanother week!

Review 65：We arrived on a tuesday to find our room resvs were misplaced. Ricardo,give that man a raise!,appologized profussley and said he would give usa free upgrade if we could wait another day and take a lesser rommforthe first day. Wow! Some upgrade, the presidental suite(sweet).Likes, location, beach, restuarant, cleanliness of hotel, helpful staff!

Review 66：No wifi in the rooms and you couldn't charge meals and drinks to the rooms. There had to be a separate credit card charge every day. Weird for a good hotel.

Review 67：Location on the beach and very good staff

Review 68：Included continental breakfast was pretty poor. Considering this hotel's value and service, breakfast was dissapointed. you need to order for extra choice menu by cash.

Review 69：Warm pool and the garden was so nice in the night.

Review 70：Amazing location, you can hear the sea! Great beach. Quiet area, green atmosphere and nice staff. The rooms are spacious and comfy, the bed is perfect.

Review 71：Restaurant, rooms lacked charm.

Review 72：Great spot on Isla, but rooms were a little unlovable and dark. Wish they were true beach front and not 100 feet back. Restaurant was kind of lackluster with not a ton of energy or attentive staff. Considering options, it's a nice place to stay on the island and yoga across the street was wonderful. But it's not exactly paradise.

Review 73：Beach view from our appartment was blocked by our private plunge pool (which wasn't really a necessary feature given the close proximity to hotel pool and beach)

Review 74：Very nice location at the wonderful, well cleaned Playa Norte. spacious appartments, delicous breakfast.

Review 75：Restaurant staff was extremely slow and not very professional. High 15% obligatory tipping.

Review 76：Heavenly beach just a stonethrow from our front-row sea view room. 5 minutes walk from the center. Good food at the restaurant.

Review 77：except this everything was not good for the price. i couldn't belive but there are not hot whater in the room!! and whan i go to the recipt to complain they gave me an American breakfast that the difrence is an agg thean the kontinental breakfast that incloud only coffe bread and some fruits and if you what more glass of coffe you need to pay!! i have been in hotel for 40$ per night and i drink how much cofee I wanted!! after I complain i havent recived hot water. the most trouble thing is that at the end when i come to pay they converted the dollar per pesos for 13 while the real price was 11 maximum.

Review 78：we have been in the hotel for tree nights the room was nice the balcony was the highlight of isla but there are only 3-4 rooms with

Review 79：We booked suite with a plunge pool the pool In fact,was stupid and looked more like a big bath , we did not get into it all the four days we were there , the breakfasts are also very disappointing and not appropriate for the high price we paid for the suite . The suite itself was relatively large , but both she and the outdor terace looked relatively simple compared to the price paid and the images published . Another surprise is wating for anyone expecting a hot shower at the end of the day...

Review 80：gerat view and access to the beach

Review 81：Felt a little bit overpriced: Aircon either on "full" or "off", no phones in rooms for contacting reception (which was often unmanned), roof leaked a little bit during heavy rainfall. None of these would be issues if it weren't for the price, which seems to be based mainly on location.

Review 82：Location, restaurant, beach and rooms are all very good.

Review 83：We didn't have hot water until the third day, it was wet and pretty miserable for the first few days so needed the hot water. Breakfast was pretty average too for the money you would expect to get a little more than warm Bread and day old fruit. Facilities are definately a little tired and in need for a little update. We stayed here five years ago when it was much much cheaper. Facilities have not really changed since then so don't know what we are paying all that extra money for. We still enjoyed our stay as the location is unbeatable, just a few things let this accommodation down.

Review 84：Awesome location right on playa Norte.

Review 85：They have the best beach and beautiful room with a simple design right on the beach, if the watter in the shower were hotter it would have been the perfect hotel.

Review 86：The restaurant and bar of the hotel has separate billing. Annoying to have to pay for each meal and drinks at a time instead of putting on hotel room or keeping a tab until departure.

Review 87：Hotel is on the best beach on the island with amazing views. Restaurant food and drinks were excellent. Restaurant put together a special dinner for us on the beach at night- incredible !

Review 88：The hotel is in dire need of a refurbishment and everything seems tired. We stayed in an ocean view suite and, although spacious, it was very basic accommodation. There was no hot water in the shower, it never got beyond lukewarm. The hotel staff - apart from one female receptionist - were really unfriendly, seemed uneducated and were largely unhelpful and inattentive, especially in the restaurant. The waiters all seemed like they'd rather not be there. The complimentary breakfast was awful: stale bread and cheap coffee every morning - we stopped eating it after day two. Overall given the price point, a disappointing stay.

Review 89：The location of this hotel is brilliant, right at the top of Playa Norte, with a beautiful beach, great swimming and easy access to all the beach bars and restaurants and also the main town. There is a restaurant and bar right on the beach and a swimming pool and hot tub across the road.

Review 90：Restaurant staff is not friendly (it's not part of the hotel, but is where you stay on the beach and have breakfast) Wifi could be improved and extended to rooms

Review 91：Location, beach, room are perfect. Ambient is nice Clean and comfortable. Good choice for a right price Restaurant on the beach is good and serves good food for reasonable price

Review 92：The beach is not crowded, but there are tens of boats and yachts clustered 30m from the beach line with loud party music - really a bad development for Isla Mujeres. W-lan only at the lobby.

Review 93：Hotel and beach are absolutely gorgeous. The pools are across the street, but that is fine. Breakfast in a beautiful location.

Review 94：Rooms not really nice furnished

Review 95：Very nice beach

Review 96：We wished that yoga classes were included in the price, as they were very expensive.

Review 97：Beautiful location, facilities, beach etc.

Review 98：We had a beach view room with a plunge pool. It was excellent!

Review 99：The location - it was very touristy and also a lack of good food choices (very touristy)

Review 100：LOVED my room, the view, the beach

Review 101：HARD beds

Review 102：Beautiful location and great food

Review 103：Wifi doesnt work

Review 104：Location

Review 105：On a very beautiful beach

Review 106：Restaurant staff poor service Turned off the water in the night

Review 107：No wifi or TV in rooms

Review 108：Good location and nice surroundings

Review 109：rooms were poorly designed worn out and uncomfortable

Review 110：location

Review 111：On site restaurant is pricey, average food and really slow.

Review 112：It is located on the best part of the island byway of beach/ocean.

Review 113：No wifi in the room, only continental breakfast

Review 114：Very good location, on the beach.

Review 115：No wifi in the room, only continental breakfast.

Review 116：Very good location, private beach.

Review 117：Beautiful beach, which the restaurant overlooked. The grounds were tropical and the pool and spa refreshing.

Review 118：The location is fantastic. It is right on the water and very relaxing.

Review 119：It's all good

Review 120：Very big comfortable rooms, plenty of hot water and an easy walk to the main drag. Great spot right on the best beach.

Review 121：North Beach with beach loungers Staff Rooms Jacuzzi Breakfast on terrace

Review 122：+location at the most amazing beach +nice rooms +great reastaurant at the beach +Isla Mujeres is great to spend holidays,

Review 123：there is absolutely nothing that I could complain about

Review 124：I love this hotel. Everything was great. The staff was excellent and the beach is world class.

Review 125：no fridge

Review 126：loved the location

Review 127：No where to hang stuff to dry. Door was flimsy, door latch didn't work properly - not very secure !

Review 128：Clean, quite, good price.

Review 129：Everything!

Review 130：This hotel has a beach club right next door .it does not belong to nabalam we were given room 12 ground floor on a block of 4'at 6pm music with huge speakers played out. Until pass midnight our Roman was like being in a night club people were screaming. And shouting. All the club goers arrive in golf carts. We complained the next morning and got room2' we heard no noise from room that or the next night.although the noise from the club was blasting out on the beach all day.this is a,shame anyone wanting a relaxing holiday should not go here and certainly not rooms.10.12 14 16 unless of course you are 17/25 don't be misled even if you have poolside room you will be very close to this club called the fenit.

Review 131：Hotel on a fabulous beach.rooms large.staff pleasant and attentive and very helpful especially Jonathan at reception.

Review 132：Honestly can't think if anything we really didn't like about it.

Review 133：Our stay at Nabalam was wonderful. It would be hard to find a nicer beach anywhere. The staff was great and accomodations very comfortable. Got an amazing massage right on the beach-perfect!

Review 134：I only stayed one night, I'll have to stay more next time :)

Review 135：Clean and comfortable room with a hammock, excellent beach, walking distance from the adorable town, and extremely helpful and friendly staff!

The Fine Print

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card are required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.