Amansala Eco-Chic Resort

★★★★★

Never having been to Tulum, it didn't take us long to figure out why it's such a hot-spot right now. Just a quick 5 minute drive from Downtown Tulum and you are transported into a place that makes you forget you're even in Mexico. Tulum has become the mecca for Yogi's, a place to be seen for celebrities, and an Instagramer's paradise! Amansala, does an amazing job at taking away the stigma's of a "tourist trap" by creating an environment that is exclusive, spiritual, and sophisticated. 

Location: As mentioned before, Amansala is a 5 minute taxi ride from Downtown Tulum (Cost: 100PESO). The taxi drivers are very familiar with this hotel so you will have no problem traveling around and getting back. Amansala is situated beach-side on a long stretch of beautiful white sand and crystal clear water. There are 2 different "wings" of this resort: The main hotel being, Amansala Grande, and the newest edition, Amansala Chica (only a short two minute walk between the two). Amansala is located between all of the beach clubs, the best restaurants, and a plethora of specialty boutiques (including there own boutique onsite)! The Mayan Ruins are a short 20-minute bike ride away and the Gran Cenote takes 10 minutes by taxi (Cost: 120PESO there, 170PESO back). 

Arrival: We arrived at Amansala around 10am which was early and weren't expecting to get into a room until check-in around 3pm. The front desk associate had a gentlemen help us with our bags from the taxi and welcomed us to the resort. We explained that we had just booked online so they might not find our reservation. He said, "No worries," looked us up and processed our payment. He made a few contacts on the walkie-talkies and assured us our room would be ready in an hour. This was an unexpected surprise and a great first impression for this resort. We were told to leave our bags up front and were escorted to the beautiful dining/lounge area which faced the ocean. Lastly, we were told to get comfortable and when our room was ready they would send someone to come get us. Left to just simply chill... we had a moment to take it all in and ultimately realize we made the right choice of where to stay! 

Room/Accommodations: Our room was part of the sister hotel, Amansala Chica. As the newest addition, we were excited to be some of the first people to ever stay here! Our room was Chica #0 which is ocean front and a few steps away from the sand. The room was all concrete, dark wood accents for shelving and the bed frame, and rustic yet chic decor. It was very cozy and intimate. As a couple not participating in any of the fitness camps, this was the perfect room for our getaway. As mentioned in previous reviews, the Aircon only worked for us between 10pm and 7am. The concrete walls were such a positive in this circumstance because it worked as an insulator. We were able to sleep in past the 7am shutdown because our room remained cool until we started moving around opening the doors and windows. I'm not sure if the concrete was meant for this purpose, but it's a great Eco-move for Amansala! 

Amenities: Unlike many of the resorts we came across beachside, Amansala did have a pool. It's not a huge resort-style pool, but all you need for a cool-down and a place to relax while you stare at the waves. As part of Amansala Chica, there was a roof-top terrace that had the most amazing view of the sunset setting behind the vast mangroves! The terrace was our little peaceful place to share a bottle of wine and wind down. They offer bikes for getting around which can be rented at 10USD per day or 25 for the entirety of your stay. There were newer and older bikes. We did not have a preference, however as a "Travel Hack" it's best to not always have the fancier bikes because they stand out more and are more likely to be tampered with or stolen. 

Yoga/Fitness Rooms: All the rooms were open aired and very zen. The Yoga room in Amansala Grande is a large space that faces the ocean. Here we observed a class as they meditated quietly with the sound of the ocean heard clearly throughout the room. It seemed so tranquil. The Yoga room in Amansala Chica had a "Indie" vibe to it with buddha statues and Bollywood designed pillows. This room faces the ocean as well, but is set a bit further back tucked away. The fitness room lured me in on our first day, I could hear faint music coming from this huge circular bungalow and I was intrigued. I walked right into a full-on fitness class that looked like so much fun! The instructor was Josh, a celebrity fitness trainer, and he was motivating these girls through an obstacle course. Overall, the amenities here focus highly on their signature retreats. I can tell (as an outsider) that this would be exactly what I would be looking for in a fitness/health wellness escape. Now, as a couple, this focus on camps did not bother us at all. We actually quite enjoyed watching people be active and motivated to feel stronger and better on vacation. It's nice to be around that sort of positivity and drive. It's contagious!

Bikini Bootcamp/Retreats: Amansala is sought after for it's famous Bikini Bootcamp. The camp is for anyone looking for "a healthy holiday with a purpose." It's developed from the idea behind your own individual freedom and that you make your own choices. If you choose to be a part of the camp, the end goal is for you to leave feeling happier and healthier than you when you arrived. We had the opportunity to see these classes take place around us during our stay and from our observation everyone was feeling proud and completely dedicated. A few of the group members spoke with us and said how great they felt and what a beautiful setting Amansala was for their retreat. I will be recommending the Bikini Bootcamp to anyone looking for that peaceful escape away from the norm! Who knows, maybe I'll even suck it up one day and do one! (*Pricing varies depending on room type and Private vs. Double occupancy based on a 6-night stay. Classes + Room/Board + Additional services start at $2,650USD (tax, service & tip not included). Bootcamp on a Budget is offered where you can stay at their budget location, BoHo house just a short bicycle ride away for $1,875USD.)

Staff: Everyone from the cleaning staff to the Owner (Melissa) are constantly hard at work throughout the day! This resort is a machine and it's run exceptionally well. Darlene (PR Manager) was who we encountered the most. She ran the yoga classes and probably a hundred other things. She was always friendly and helpful with all of our questions. Kate became a great point of contact and friend as well from our stay. She was usually found working on their website answering chat room questions and reviews. I've mentioned him previously, but Josh (Fitness Instructor) is one of the most positive people you'll meet. He loves his job. He is very passionate about what he does. That's the perfect quality in a person running a fitness camp. Josh is a great addition to this resort and he is treated with great respect by the other staff because of it. 

Food/Drinks: We were happy to see that the menu was adventurous yet healthy. We always go on vacation and eat whatever we want (meaning the fattiest foods). The onsite menu sort of kept us on track with the regimen we had before vacation! The prices were very moderate and yes there is a sales tax, but you will find that the tax is everywhere in Tulum. We ate mostly in the afternoon at the resort and explored off-site for dinner, but what we did grab to eat was delicious! Everything was so fresh! As for drinks, we mostly drank beers (we're lightweights so hard liquor is not usually our thing). The few cocktails we did have were very tasty. The smoothies are the highlight of the drink menu! You can mix fresh fruits and create your own or just keep it simple with one flavor, but I couldn't get enough! In the heat of Mexico, after a night of many libations... the smoothies hit the spot. Absolutely refreshing.

Side notes: Wifi is available ($25USD per person) and it worked quickly for us. The "no-lock" policy is in effect for this resort however this should not be looked upon as a negative. Even hotels with keys have people that can access your rooms at all times. We had all of our camera/drone equipment, laptops, and personal belongings that couldn't fit in the safe and we never had an issue or felt insecure about leaving it unattended. 

Overall: Our stay at Amansala was different than most, in a way that left us with positive energy and a higher sense of self. Tulum on it's own will recharge your brain with thoughts of becoming a better person to yourself and to others and Amansala is able to capture this atmosphere for it's guests. Choosing to be an Eco-Friendly resort truly set's them apart and invites guests that see the value in that choice. Amansala hit all the marks from our arrival to our departure with Josh (fitness instructor) hailing us a taxi to make sure we got where we needed to go. We left feeling like we were a part of something special and will definitely plan on a return visit in the near future! Thank you Amansala Staff!