Uno Astrolodge

[beachreader]

Totally forgot to talk about Uno in my report, but I took a few pictures. Not as many as I meant to, but it's a very cool place.

It's right between Shambala Petit and Esmeralda K, gorgeous property but not much in the way of beach furniture other than a couple of hammocks by Electra and Gaia's own porch hammocks. Woven mats and pillows seem to be intended for the whole property, but they're right in front of Electra, so I'm not sure. No screens on the windows that I could see. It's completely eco, using composting toilets and solar panels. Here's an e-mail I got from Nuno when I asked for info back in February (so these are high-season rates):

Thanks for contacting us! All our cabanas have sea view from the king size bed, private bathroom with hot water and continental breakfast included. Our cabanas: Electra and Supernova are the only ones with a second bed. Electra is the biggest, and the nearest to the sea, together with Maia. Gaia is the one with the porch with 2 hammocks, and people love it! Sitar is not too big, and the one more distant to the sea.
Prices would be:
Sitar: $100
Maia: $145
Gaia: $150
Supernova: $140
Electra: 190
In any of them we can add an extra bed.
We could also offer you our tipis; a big one (3 people) and a small one (2 people), with sared bathrooms with hot water. Prices for the small one u$ 40, the big one is u$ 60. Adding breakfast would be extra $8 each.
This is an ecological place, so we have ecotoilets (compost), not the ones you flush. We're also setting up the solar panels, and we're working on our organic garden as well.

We have healing therapies such as reiki, different kind of massages, and also yoga lessons, in goup or private, temazcal (sweat lodge); also astrological readings, and others.

There are some pictures in the web site www.unoastrolodge.com (http://www.tulum.info/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unoastrolodge. com%2F).
There's a map in the web site, this place is two -hour drive from Cancun's airport, to the south (one hour from Playa del Carmen). We are very close to the Tulum Ruins, a bit more to the south. Please let me know if you'd like to make a reservation. Regards,Clara www.unoastrolodge.com (http://www.unoastrolodge.com)
(+52)(+1)9841347180


The "tipis" are in a little camping area (there were a number of private-looking tents next to what I assumed where the "tipis" behind the primary dune, down by the road. I imagine it would be pretty warm down there.

Darn, I don't know why, but I didn't take any pictures of the camping area, their shared bath (which looked nice enough, and up at the top of the dune but behind what I assume is the owner's cabana) or their new yoga/activity space. Might be a restaurant too, but it's big. It's also behind the units, but two stories, and I'd guess if you're up on the second level you'd get nice breeze.

Here's Electra, the biggest unit and right on the beach. It is enormous inside as well. I didn't take a picture in there because I promised the young English girl who told us about it that I wouldn't, but it's huge. There's a king-sized bed on a platform at the back of the main floor, then up in a sleeping loft (immediately under the triangular window at the top) is a queen-sized bed. The whole front area on the main floor is like a living room, open space with a rug and chairs. The bathroom is set apart in the back of the unit, plenty of air, she said, to keep any odors at bay (because it's a composting toilet). Oh, and they have hot water now, if anyone remembers them from 2006, when they didn't.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664bd5a5af000000025108Aas2rVo2ZuS

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664b9bbdb2300000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS

I believe this one is Maia (the other beachfront):
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664b0bf9bbb00000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS
Supernova, the next one back:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664b4a59ba300000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS

This is Gaia, with a great shady porch with two hammocks (I took the most pictures of this one):
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664b0319b3500000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664bc801ab200000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664b0ab9baf00000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS

The bed (notice the open wall--no screens, so you'd really need the netting in skeeter times):
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664bef29bf100000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS

That open wall led to the outdoor bathroom (toilet was in the little hut to the left):

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127cceb664b0999b9d00000026108Aas2rVo2ZuS


Sorry I didn't take pictures of the camping area, but overall it has a beautiful and very peaceful feel.

[graceland]

Totally kool reconnaissance mission, BR...
I love seeing all the options offered on Tulum, esp.since I have not been. Sure are a lot more cabannas than I ever imagined!
You do a great service taking pics, writing the reports, interviewing the staff...I think there is a backup job in there someplace when you get sick of your current gig.
Can I drive the car?:bus:
Gracias, Gracie

[iainmary]

I'm completely new to this forum and feel like I've discovered a gold mine! Thank you all so much for all of your guidance, it has been more helpful than words can say! This will be our first trip to Tulum (recommended by my dad who used to go on lots of backpacking trips back in the day). :)

My husband and I have actually booked Gaia for a week in May and I haven't been able to find much more info on the place other than their website and what I've seen here. I will most definitely post a trip review once we get back. We are super excited, not only to visit Tulum, but also to get the opportunity to stay at Uno Astrolodge. I usually do extensive research before we book anything but I have to say, Uno Astrolodge just struck my heartstrings and sometimes you just have to book places on feelings alone!

[Lynnette]

These look so charming, but I just can't do camping on the beach anymore. ;) Thanks for the info and as usual, great photos!

[susan]

"These look so charming, but I just can't do camping on the beach anymore."

I chuckled when I read this because to me camping is a tent and sleeping bag. This is close to luxury. However my kids think anything without a TV is camping. We stayed at Zulum and when I told my older son he couldn't use a hair dryer he said "you said this wasn't a camping trip!":)

[Julie in PA]

[quote=susan;20847]"These look so charming, but I just can't do camping on the beach anymore."

I chuckled when I read this because to me camping is a tent and sleeping bag. This is close to luxury. However my kids think anything without a TV is camping. We stayed at Zulum and when I told my older son he couldn't use a hair dryer he said "you said this wasn't a camping trip!":)[/quote

Funny! My Aunt always told me that her idea of camping was a Holiday Inn with no hot water!

[Lynnette]

[quote=susan;20847]"These look so charming, but I just can't do camping on the beach anymore."

I chuckled when I read this because to me camping is a tent and sleeping bag. This is close to luxury. However my kids think anything without a TV is camping. We stayed at Zulum and when I told my older son he couldn't use a hair dryer he said "you said this wasn't a camping trip!":)[/quote

Funny! My Aunt always told me that her idea of camping was a Holiday Inn with no hot water!

OK......when the kids were little we camped a lot in our camper. I can cook over a campfire, take lukewarm showers (if lucky) in a public bathroom, deal with the bugs.......but I just had to have electricity to run my blender for afternoon margaritas!! :D

[beachreader]

We rough-camped a lot when I was a kid, and my girl scout camp was more like Outward Bound when I got older (8 day canoe trips with mile-plus portages, 5-day backpacking trips in the Adirondacks, etc.), and I even did a 26-day Outward Bound tour in high school. As recently as a few years ago, we did a lot of houseboating trips where we pitched tents on the roof of the houseboat, letting the "softer" people take the bunks inside.

After an adult lifetime of good beds, though, I've decided I like to sleep, and if I'm paying for a vacation, I want a good bed and a pillow under my head.

[alush]

Hi,

I've been reading your reviews and they all have been very helpful. My girlfriend and I are going to Tulum on 03/20-03/24. However, we still haven't chosen a place and we don't have much time left. There are sooo many nice cabanas but we seem to be too late as most of them are all unavailable. We are in between Uno Astrolodge, Retiro Maya, Jade and Om Tulum but we are also open to other suggestions really.

I first really liked Electra in Astrolodge. The manager told me that the rate is 220USD but I was able to negotiate it down to 200USD:) However, it still looks too much for that room bc it honestly looks like a primitive one.. especially composting toilets worry me:)

Retiro Maya has so many negative reviews that i think it's a little risky.
Jade looks really good but it looks very isolated and honestly i haven't seen too many reviews about it and therefore I'm not sure.
Lastly, I couldn't see a lot of pics of the beach cabanas in Om Tulum..

We are currently in between Astrolodge and Jade..Which one would you recommend for a romantic, relaxing vacation? We don't really want the whole resort/hotel feeling. That's why Astrolodge was very attractive at first. But now I'm thinking it might be too isolated..

I would reaaally appreciate your help as I feel stuck in between all these choices:)