We have taken many vacations in our lifetime a few are easily recalled, but our trip to Cabanas Copal does not leave our memory, that alone makes it worthwhile. Whenever something good happens or we do something fun, we add "almost as good as Copal".
We are not campers or make friends easily with jungle creatures so the 1st night (dark upon arrival) was worrisome. I had to examine our no bath, no floor $35/night cabana at least a dozen times for unwanted creatures, tried to figure out how to make the netting as secure as possible and slept on top of the covers not wanting to deal with what might be under the sheets. We never did see any scary creatures, I stayed 11 days and my wife came down later.
I could write a book on how this place changed our lives, but for fellow travelers I'll keep it short.
Getting unplugged was odd then different then totally wonderful. Not having all the things we usually look for in a vacation took a couple of days to get used to, and then all the glorious natural FREE qualities God has provided became the focus of our time. Rediscovering nature, sharing that with each other, spending the days without distractions (unless we sought them out) was the best vacation we have ever had. The beach is beautiful, the water unbelievably beautiful, the sky (especially at night) awesome, getting unplugged ...priceless.
Negatives? There might be some, it all depends on your state of mind, we did not find any. The community bathroom was always clean, brushing your teeth in outside sinks, no problem no one cares.
I asked my wife if she were going to go to the free yoga class at 7 AM she said "no way, I'm sleeping in". Well the sun rises are brilliant beautiful and eye opening no way you want to sleep thru that so we got up (5:45AM) enjoyed the beach, she went to yoga and for the rest of the day she couldn't stop talking about how great it felt, the quiet jungle, the smell of the air in the screened in yoga cabana, the sound of the birds, the coolness of the floor, she did not miss even one morning.
The staff was wonderful, the food delicious, the surrounding dreamlike. I talked to many fellow vacationers and never heard a complaint, all were friendly and relaxed
It is the quality of life Copal brings back to you, reminding you, simple IS better.
After Copal we went to the Moon Palace for 3 days ($455/night front row) no comparison, the emphasis is on the wrong things.
We talked at great length that we would have been happier to be at Cabanas Copal.

In the 4 months since we left Copal, we have not had one day that we have not reminisced about out time at Copal and cannot wait to go back for another couple of weeks in Dec. Yes to the same no floor, no bath little cabana and Paradise.

Hi, I have just discovered an amazing little paradise! we had recently booked a week`s vacation in one of the hotels in Tulum area, amensala I think it was, so bad that we only walked in and out and since we had rented a car started looking for a place to stay and drove into a little restaurant named Zahra along the paved road for the most delicious ceviche ever and asked the young waiter for a good hotel, he was so gracious to take us directly to the Copal Front desk (I thing he was going there to pick up some groceries and wanted a ride because we saw him going back with some) the receptionist was fantastic, took us to see the cabanas and they were great ! ! No TV, electricity, phones only birds, fantastic beach and clear waters, after negotiating the price a little with Monse the front desk clerk (our dear friend now) we had the most amazing week ever, the guys at Copal know their business, the attitude of the employees, the food, the service were wonderful. We highly recommend it!