A stay in Yucatan’s Coba at Coqui Coqui Papolchac

The first time I heard of Coqui Coqui was through a limited collection of fragranced candles and home accessories released together with H&M Home. I purchased a scented candle inspired by the flowers of the Yucatan and looked at their campaign loving the setting the content was shot in. After a little bit of googling I realized that Coqui Coqui is not only a perfumery but also a lifestyle brand, owning four exclusive boutique hotels in Mexico and one in Bora Bora. As we were just about to book our trip to Mexico, this was a wonderful discovery I got really excited about. 

How to get there

As we wanted to visit the ancient Mayan ruins of Coba, we booked a 2 night stay at the Coqui Coqui Papolchac Residence & Spa. Coba is situated in a lush jungle, roughly 40 min inland from Tulum by car. The drive was easy and the roads were quiet at the time of our visit in October. You are passing through a small village and pass by the archeological site, and when you feel you might have already driven too far, you will find Coqui Coqui. 

Tip: Coba is a great stop to break up the journey on the way from Tulum to Valladolid.

Coqui Coqui Papolchac, an oasis of tranquility

Situated on a calm lagoon, the building in itself is impressive – inspired by the nearby ruins, two symmetrical limestone towers connected by a wooden rope bridge with two dipping pools on the base of either tower. Sunken into the natural stone, the water in the pools creates an unusual silvery-turquoise shade which was so beautiful to look at. 

Upon arrival, you head into the perfumery for check in. We had booked directly on Coqui Coqui’s website at a great deal which included credit at the perfumery. After the check-in, we were both invited to sample and pick one of their beautiful signature scents inspired by the nature and created with the ingredients of the Yucatan peninsula. It took me forever to decide, but I choose Tobacco, a sensual and warm scent made from Mexican tobacco leaves, Coqui Coqui’s most popular fragrance. 

To our delight, we were upgraded to stay in one of the two King Palapa suite of the property (the second time this happened within three months!). The suites are located in the very top of each tower, offering stunning views of lagoon, jungle, and even the ruins in the distance. Entering the room was real a wow moment. As we stepped in, we could smell the soft, warm scent of the Coba residences’ signature fragrance, Coco (spoiler: I had to go back to the perfumery and purchase the Coco scent, too). 

Furnished with a nod to the 1920s explorer era, the interior reminded me of chic safari lodge met boho hideaway. The two handmade, super comfortable hammocks and the huge stone bath tub sunken into the room made the suite really special. I loved the combination of dark stained wooden features, rich fabrics in soft beiges and browns, and the light grey tones of the structure. 

Featuring only five rooms, our stay felt very exclusive and intimate. I don’t know if it was the proximity to an ancient Mayan city, but the energy at Coqui Coqui was special: tranquil, inspiring, so close to nature, with the beautiful scents always lingering in the air. We ate all our meals at Coqui Coqui’s own restaurant and everything we were served felt authentic, fresh, and healthy. We especially enjoyed the smokey signature mezcal margaritas sipped from glasses dipped in lots of chili salt and the tacos con cochinita pibil. 

Things to do 

An absolute must do when staying at Coqui Coqui is – of course –  a visit of the Coba ruins. You reach the entrance after 10 minutes on foot. We went early in the morning and would recommend to do so, as it does get really hot during the day. The Coba site is nestled into the jungle, so you do get shade during the day and are not baking under the sun as you would in Chichen Itza, therefore an afternoon visit is also doable.

As we had planned to visit Chichen Itza after our stay in Coba, we chose to see the site without a guide, but in hindsight I would recommend hiring a guide at the gate, even if you  have already visited other sites. The guides are really knowledgeable and elevate your experience. Nonetheless, the site was very impressive and the walk through the lush greenery of the rainforest with all its sounds and scents an experience in itself and made me feel like a real explorer. Until recent years, visitors were able to climb the grand pyramid of Coba, breaking through the green roof of the jungle and offering the most amazing views, but this is unfortunately (fortunately for the preservation of the site) no longer possible.

Besides visiting the site, there is not much to do in the very small village of Coba. You will find a couple of simple taquerias and tiny supermarkets, but that’s about it. There are three underground cenotes nearby which you can visit within 15 min by car. For us, our stay in Coba was first and foremost an experience for our senses in the middle of the jungle that felt inspiring and left us deeply rested. To add to your level of relaxation, I can also recommend visiting Coqui Coqui’s spa, where I had a great hydrating facial that left my skin glowing. Our stay of two nights was the perfect amount of time to visit the ruins with no rush, and fully enjoy the beauty, the scents, and serenity of Coqui Coqui.