Unique Hotels – The Shell House in Isla Mujeres

Located in the small island of Isla Mujeres is one of the most beautiful hotels in the entire Caribbean. Resembling something that looks likes the city of Atlantica in the Little Mermaid Cartoon; the Shell House is a striking white hotel that is designed just like conch shell.

At the Shell House, guests are treated to spectacular 180 degrees views of the sea (just across the road), gentle winds that caress the coast at all times; and some once in a lifetime experiences like spectacular sunsets and watching the full moon rise over the ocean.

The hotel is very famous with visitors and locals alike. The alluring beauty of the hotel attracts many passersby to stop and take snap shots of the structure. Though the hotel may not meet the standard requirements of your modern day luxury establishment, the originality and creativity that have been put into designing the hotel and its decors are enough to attract visitors to stay here.

Location: The Isla Mujeres is located 9 miles from the coast of Cancun in Mexico. Boats take about 20 minutes to reach the island. The island’s port is located about 3 kilometers from the hotel and the airport is 25 kilometers away at Cancun.

Getting around the island can be quite feasible by car and there are plenty of rental agencies that rent out cars and bikes.

Accommodation: The hotel comprises of two giant white shells. One of the shells resembles a conch and stands upright while the other is circular in shape and is horizontally positioned next to the previous shell.

The entire hotel has been painted a brilliant sea shell white color that may tend to blind your eyes at first sight. And its interiors defy imagination too. A giant clam tree stands in the middle of the hotel in addition to a bleached tree trunk that acts as the balcony’s railing on the first floor.

The rooms of the hotel are also painted white and decorated exquisitely with white and black sea corals. Guests can choose between the single bedroom and double bedroom rooms at the hotel and the rooms are furbished with standard amenities, most of them interestingly shaped in the form of shells. Most of the rooms have a private pool.

The rooms feature shell like beds, air conditioning, ceiling fans, linens, wireless internet access, satellite televisions, radios, DVD players, movies on demand and en suite bathrooms that come with baths and showers designed like shells. Complimentary bottled water, towels and toiletries are also provided.

General Amenities: The hotel comes with a fully equipped kitchenette and a common dining area that seats 4 guests at any one time. The hotel’s picturesque garden surrounds the structures and offers plenty of places for guests to have picnics and enjoy outdoor barbecues.

Some of the necessary facilities available near the hotel include a Laundromat, hospital, grocery store, medical services, massage salon and babysitting facilities.

In addition to the private pools, there is a large outdoor swimming pool within the hotel premises and the public areas are completely wheel chair accessible. There is an on site computer with internet access for guests to use. An on site housekeeper tends to the daily chores of the hotel and its guests which include cleaning the rooms, providing meals and running errands.

Recreational Activities: There’s so much to do in and around the Shell House that guests will be left wondering how the vacation ended so soon. The close proximity of the hotel to the beach (just 160 meters away) enables guests to enjoy a plethora of water sporting and beach activities. These include beach volleyball, swimming, sailing, fishing, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boating, beach combing, whale watching and jet skiing.

There are several tennis courts available near the hotel in addition to an 18 hole golf course which guests can make use of. In addition to these attractions, there are several nature trails near the beach for avid walkers, joggers and cyclists.

Some of the other attractions located close to the hotel include a botanical garden, several churches and museums; historical ruins, a recreation center, water parks, nude beaches, shopping malls, restaurants, a fitness center, the marina, a library, and several movie theaters.