Reconsidering Azulik. Questions...

[Anthony]

I was all set to reserve the Casa Buena Suerte for our first visit to Tulum, but it's apparently up for sale and is only being booked three months in advance. For a variety of reasons, I need to start planning now for a November trip, so I'm back searching for a cabana to stay in.

The first place I learned of in the Tulum area was Azulik, and it still looks very inviting to me. A bit more rustic, but being right on the water, soaking tubs, room service, clothing optional, and in-room massages has a lot of allure to it. :) It's rather pricey, but we only need 4 nights, and it is a vacation afterall.

The proximity of the cabanas concerns me, but I guess I can live with that.

So, I guess I'm looking for first hand experience from someone who has stayed at Azulik (Photos a plus!).

Do all of the sea villas on the cliffs have stairs down to the "beach" below?

Is the "Honeymoon" villa worth the extra money?

I can't tell from the Azulik web site what is special about the "Romance" villa, other than the LAN access (which I don't need).

I've heard the "beach" villas are a bit farther apart, but farther back on the beach. How do these compare with the sea villas?

I'm also considering "Tierras Del Sol", but they seem to be a bit farther back from the beach, and I haven't been able to determine how close the cabanas are to each other. I'm also curious about their clothing optional status. So, info on Tierras Del Sol would be appreciated too.

Thanks,

Anthony

[playaguya]

Just back from Tulum so I'll give what help I can. All the properties where you're looking are right on the beach. The 2 you've mentioned are at opposite ends though. Tierras is much closer to the Sian Kaan preserve than Azulik. Azulik is much closer to the road to Tulum City, the ruins, etc. Both looked nice to me, both have great beaches, but I don't know anything about the cabana interiors other than what I saw on the websites when I was researching my trip. I do know that Azulik is more than double the price per night, which would make my decision very easy.

There a lot of other choices between the two, both in location and price. We chose Retiro Maya, which is very quiet and romantic, has a beautiful beach, but very basic cabanas. As I said, there are many more, and I think you'll really enjoy Tulum no matter where you wind up.

[JaPlaya]

My wife and I stayed at Azulik for our honeymoon last april. We loved the experience and would recommend the place. The cabanas are close to each other but you kinda forget because no one will bother you as they are there for the same reasons. I would definitly stay on the sea view units over the bluff overlooking the sea. The breeze for these units are alone enough to make that choice. However the beach while very good is not as nice as the beached further south past maya tulum. This last week we stayed at Coqui Coqui on that beach and loved it as well. www.coquicoquispa.com (http://www.coquicoquispa.com) . only has seven rooms and the rooms are done very well. prices are in line with azulik. Other notable hotels that we took note of last week were Casa Magna(amansala's newest hotel) , Amansala, and Ana y Jose's and Suenos(which may have the best beach in front but not by much). these are all on the southern beach. hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.

[petecat]

We are leaving this Tuesday 4/18 for Tulum, we will be staying this year at Tita Tulum. We have stayed at Ana Y Jose, Los lirios, Posada Margherita, and Nueva Vida. We chose these locations as we do alot of beach walking and being more south the beach goes forever. The Northern end from Zamas to the Tulum ruins the beach is not continuous and I feel not as nice. The issue with nudity, we have seen many people lying on the beach south of Los Lirios nude and in the water nude, we have never seen anyone strolling the beach nude as in Orient beach, but as you walk south and get close to Biaan Kaan everything is deserted and you could walk as you wish, my wife takes our walks (for hours) topless in her thong and I carry a small camera bag with our T shirts and water in it, this comes in handy if we want to pop in somewhere for a drink, never have had any issues and just love the area and return at least twice a year. I personally would stay south of Zamas for the beach.

[NorthernExposure]

Just returned from Tulum and we stayed at Azulik.

In regards to the cabanas, 1, 2 & 3 are on the Northeast side, closest to the clothing optional beach at Copal. The Cabananas near Zarha face their beach (sister resort) and is well posted "no nudity". The rest of the cabanas face are perched on a rocky cliff with no beach between the aforementioned cabanas.

We stayed in a cabana on the cliff, and although they are close to each other - privacy really wasn't much of an issue. I didn't feel too comfortable being nude on the deck, but we did soak nude in the tub - which seemed to spur our neighbors on to do the same the next day. Still, the tubs are private enough that in most cabanas you can't see into the tub.

I did go nude on the deck one morning, and I was clearly visible to the young woman and her mother staying next door - but it wasn't an uncomfortable situation in any way (I'm male).

Although the resort is clothing optional, I never saw anyone nude on their deck or around the very limited grounds. We spent a few days on the beach at Copal and went nude every day, as did many others on the beach. One couple even did laps on the beach every day - walking up and down wearing nothing but straw hats and smiles.

I think the nudity you'll experience while at Azulik and Copal is completely dependent on the crowd while your there. On our last day there were 30 people on the beach and most of them were nude - men and women.

There is a great little spot closest to Azulik on the Copal beach with three palm trees and a sand terrace that can afford you a little more privacy if you are too modest to lay on the beach in front of the bar at Copal.

As far as the best Cabana at Azulik - I would choose #1 if I had a choice. It has a private stair, a great view of both the beach and the cliffs, and a bit more privacy than the other units. If you like being nude, you won't want the cabanas near the beach at Zahra.

[Anthony]

Northern Exposure,

> As far as the best Cabana at Azulik
> I would choose #1 if I had a choice.

Thanks for the detailed response. That's just what I was hoping for.

I booked the romance villa (#1) this morning for 4 nights in November.

We're looking forward to our trip, but have a long wait ahead of us... :)

Anthony

[NorthernExposure]

Great!

You'll love it... It's a great place. I'll try to post some pics soon.

[firecop680]

My wife and I are going to book at Azulik for Feb. I am really excited for a change of pace. From the way northern Exposure talks the end to be on might be closer to the Copal. Is the Honeymoon villa near that end or is it at the end closer to Azhra? The clothing optional thing is cool and I am looking forward to trying it, so I want to make sure I am on the right end. Thanks for all the help you can give.

[Anthony]

Firecop,

> Is the Honeymoon villa near that end or is it at the end closer to Azhra?

As I understand it, the "romance" villa (#1) is the first villa on the Copal end (clothing optional), and the "honeymoon" villa (#12) is the last villa on the Zahra end (suits required). The rest of the Azulik villas are in between (I think there's another beach villa or two on the Zahra end).

I chose the "romance" villa for our trip in November. Will be interesting to see where it sits in relation to everything.

Anthony

[firecop680]

I appresiate it... HAve a great time!!!

[heater]

we stayed for two nights last year in the honeymoon villa. it's for sure the best location of all of the villas. i thought that i would have a problem with the clothing optional, but ended up really enjoying the free feeling of it all. definitely a very romantic place. the next place that i would like to stay at is mezzanine.