I sort of found this hostel by accident on the web. I was doing research into various Mayan ruins I was planning to visit. I was interested in the ruins at Ek Balam.

When I arrived, I found it a little hard to find. When approaching Ek Balam we came to a cross road. Going straight brought us in to the ruins. Going left brought us into the Mayan village of Ek Balam. Genesis Eco-Oasis Retreat is integrated into this small village.

The center has just opened for this year. The owner is Lee Cristie. She is an expatriat Canadian from Calgary. You can see it is a work of love.

She has really become a part of the community and is going good works such as having the stray dogs in the village neutered. She brought in a vetenarian and ran a clinic for the village animals.

She offers her guests an hour tour for $5 (she splits it with the village) where she has the locals demonstrate making torillas, hammock weaving and ceramics.

The ruins at Ek Balam are spectacular and are not packed with tourists like Chichen Itza. No tour buses.. no crowds..

Genesis Eco-Oasis Retreat is within an hours drive you can also see Chichen Itza, Coba, Tulum, Cancun and Merida.

Do not come here expecting Holiday Inn or a Cancun Resort. It is very much ecotourism. Bike rides: water is solar heated, waste is recycled, pool is from well water. The bathroom/showers are shared.

There are lots of animals, so don't come if you don't like dogs and cats.

Bob Russell, 2005 Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Genesis Retreat