At its core, this a simple budget hotel, but there are a decent number of features here for the category of hotel, which helps make this an attractive beachfront value option for those who want to be outside of Mazatlan's center. Interiors are subtly contemporary, and details include curved hallways, updated lobby furniture, and a full pane glass door in the restaurant. However, the hotel’s age is especially evident in the pool terrace and swim-up bar, which both feel well past their prime. The location on Isla de Piedra is just a few miles from the city center, yet it feels worlds away. Consequently, guests tend to be in-the-know domestic couples seeking a quiet, basic beachfront getaway without the hectic atmosphere of Mazatlan’s tourist strip.

Isla de Piedra (literally “Stone Island”) is only a few miles from downtown Mazatlan. However, the narrow and unbridged channel that separates the two means getting there requires a long car ride or a boat ride, plus two short taxi trips. The latter is the shorter alternative but still requires almost 45 minutes. As the island is a quiet, rustic destination, there is little within walking distance of the hotel, except for a few surfer bars and small hotel restaurants.

A handful of brand name car rental counters is available at the nearest airport -- Mazatlan International Airport (MZT). However, the area of Sinaloa outside downtown Mazatlan can be dangerous for tourists to navigate. Taxis are the safest, most convenient alternative and fares for the 30-minute ride to/from the airport are quite reasonable.

While rooms are well kept, the somewhat dated style is simple on all counts. Budget furniture, abstract art, and yellow accent walls adorn every space, along with details like maroon bedspreads. It's nothing much, but makes for a fine place to rest at night for those planning on spending most of their time on the beach. That being said, we spotted some peeling paint, chipped plaster, and scuffed walls -- in many rooms.  

Entry-level Single and Double Rooms feature tight, one-room floor plans with square footage comparable to a small, budget chain hotel room. Both have tiny, almost unusable balconies which are slightly larger than a Juliet balcony. Suites offer a bit more floor space (yet still feel small) and feature larger, unfurnished balconies. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, however, we found the in-room service to be unusable. All room categories offer cable TV service with Spanish language programming on old, tube-style sets (though Suites upgrade to flat-screen TVs). There are limited electrical outlets in most rooms, including just one in the sleeping area that requires unplugging the television to use. Air-conditioning is also standard.  

Bathrooms in Single and Double Rooms are tiny with little room to maneuver and both feature stand-up shower stalls. Suites upgrade to bathrooms that are almost as large as the sleeping areas and include a shower with a jetted tub. Generic bath amenities are provided in every category. 

While this hotel is compact and fairly no frills, there is enough on offer to keep most guests happy for a couple of days. The pool is dated, but clean and reasonably well maintained. A small bridge crosses over the center of the freeform layout, and a handful of plastic lounge chairs line the edge of the pool, though the seating seems woefully inadequate relative to the property’s size. The adjacent swim-up bar promises a full liquor menu, however, it was closed during our stay.

The adjacent beach is also clean and well-maintained. However, the hotel is set back more than 200 feet from the water with no seating or any facilities on the sand. The hotel is also adjacent to an ATV outfitter that runs their tours along the beach. While we didn’t notice a tremendous amount of noise pollution, this could prove bothersome for some guests.

Restaurant Los Delfines is a small, mostly clean, non-air-conditioned space with limited views to the pool. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served a la carte with an even mix of Western and Mexican fare. Hours are tied to the season and occupancy, however, so the restaurant can close inexplicably.

Off-street parking is available in a dedicated lot, but the provided gate was never closed during our stay. The available Wi-Fi in the restaurant and lobby were the only two places where we were able to connect successfully to the internet during our visit.