Interview with Jose Arreola, Branding and Marketing Director of Coco Village Tulum from Mexico

Lifestyle - Interview

by Melisa Kaya

Tulum, with its natural beauties as well as its cultural and historical texture, offers its visitors many places they have to see and many activities they have to do. Jose Arreola says that staying in Tulum downtown is important to reach these attractions and experience Tulum more closely. With its 12 rooms and suites located in 4 towers, the pool in the middle of them all, and the possibility to spend time in other Coco facilities located on the Tulum beach, Coco Village offers its guests the opportunity to experience both sides of Tulum. I talked with Jose Arreola about Coco Village and Tulum Town.

Before talking about Coco Village, could you tell us about your background and your career in Coco Group?

I got to Tulum in 2015 the same year where the company was starting to expand, so they were building Coco Village, and Coco Tulum was already a known hotel at the beach. I previously worked at the Central America and Caribbean games of 2014 as a designer for the layouts inside the sport facilities. So when I got to Tulum I start helping them with all the branding and marketing, since they have plans to grow with the Coco brand in Tulum, starting with Coco Village.

Coco Village Tulum

Coco Village is located in Tulum downtown. How would you define the advantages of being there?

Staying in Tulum town has many advantages, it's cheaper than staying at the beach, usually it's much more comfortable, Tulum is not just about the beach, there are tons of cenotes, lagoons, and parks around here, so staying in town makes easier to access all of this, also Tulum town gives you more that vibe of a Mexican town, so if you want the usual Mexican tacos, local food, get to know local people, Tulum town it's your choice.

Could you tell us about Coco Village and the overall concept?

Coco Village it's a luxury complex of residences in Tulum downtown, just a few steps from the main avenue. The complex consists of 4 towers nestled in a beautiful garden with a pool and terrace. The 13 apartments offer all the comforts of the modern world, different from what you get at the beach. We call it "Home away from home", it means being in Tulum but having all the facilities of your home at the city, this means a kitchen, laundry, super comfortable rooms, TV and Netflix, WiFi, A/C and gorgeous gardens with a pool, can't get better than this.

Coco Village Tulum

Please tell us about details of the building that hosts Coco Village.

Coco Village is settled in 4 towers (A-D) Tower A hosts 4 apartments and the rest 3 apartments each one. Each tower is 4 floors tall, and they are surrounded by beautiful trees. The garden has a beautiful pool with a waterfall and next to it there's a common area under a "palapa" ideal for barbecues and chill out. There are a hammocks area and an outdoor shower. There are 2 parking areas, and 2 entrances to the building.

Coco Village Tulum

What type of residences do you offer to your guests? What are their features and design concept?

All of our residences are similar to a modern design. The concept always was to feel inside of a city luxury apartment but surrounded by beautiful trees and gardens. We have 3 types: garden (ground floor) breeze (second floor) and penthouse (third and fourth floor) this last one has 2 rooms and a suite room with a beautiful rooftop.

Please tell us about your services and facilities. How could your guests spend time at Coco Village?

All of our residences have the same facilities: a fully equipped modern kitchen, laundry room, living room, and dining room area with satellite TV and Netflix, WiFi, A/C in common area and rooms. In the garden, there's the pool, sun beds, hammocks area, outdoor shower, and a lounge "palapa" area.

Coco Village Tulum - COCO Beach Bar

And Coco Village hosts a Beach Club. What is the concept of this club? Could you tell us about there?

All Coco village guests are welcome at Coco Beach Bar, the beach club at Coco Tulum Hotel, the sister hotel at Tulum's beach, you can get there driving or taxi in less than 15 min. Coco Beach Bar is a white pinterest dream that merges perfectly with the white sand and turquoise water of the ocean. We have a delightful social food menu, with seafood, meat, and vegetarian options and signature and colorful cocktails, and our super famous Instagram white swings.

Coco Village Tulum - COCO Villas

What can your guests do when they step out of the Coco Village and step into the streets of Tulum?

Walking distance you can find tons of restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Tulum has plenty of international food (Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese, Argentinian...) and Mexican food of course. Nightlife in town won't disappoint you, Tulum might be a "small" town but there are plenty of options, from salsa places, to house music clubs or just a chill bar to have some drinks. Also, Tulum is surrounded by lots of natural spots to discover: ruins, lagoons, cenotes, parks, etc.

And you have sister Coco hotels in Tulum. Please briefly tell us about them.

Coco Tulum Hotel is the oldest and most famous one, it started as a 26 cabañas complex on the beach and now has grown to 50 rooms, with 2 restaurants: Juanita Diavola and the super famous Coco Beach Bar, a zen zone offering spa, yoga and temazcal (like a mayan sweat lodge) and tours around the Riviera Maya. Coco Limited is located also at Tulum's beach, a 26 rooms complex, with a restaurant, beach club, and a pool, offering luxury at the beach. Coco Hacienda Tulum is the newest one, looking like an old colonial hacienda, it has 17 rooms located in a huge an gorgeous garden with 2 pools, a spa area and a restaurant called Paloma.

Coco Village Tulum

What kind of additional services do you offer for business travelers?

As I mentioned before, we have a parking area, free wi-fi, and the lounge "palapa" area that can sit around 15 persons. We are not exactly a business type of hotel, we are more a family and friends vacation rental type.

How can travelers make their individual or business/group reservations? Do you have any advantage packs that you offer to your regular and long-term guests?

Sure you can book through our website www.cocovillagetulum.com or through our reservations department sending an email to cocovillagereservas@gmail.com I'd suggest this last one if you are traveling in a group or you want to rent a lot of apartments for a large group.

Coco Village Tulum

Which services and features of Coco Village make it different?

The design and facilities that are taken out from the city, we aren't the typical rustic Tulum airbnb, Coco village was made to make you feel at home away from home, and also that you get free access to one of the most exclusive beach bars in Tulum.

Which is the top season for travelers who want to visit Tulum? What is the reason?

The best time would be between December and April. It's when a lot of things are happening, art festivals, concerts, parties, food and wine festivals, etc. And its crowded with people from all over the world, definitely if you want to get the most and have a not so hot weather that's the season you have to visit Tulum.

What are the most famous attractions near you?

Tulum ruins, Coba Ruins, Kan Loom Lagoon, Cenote Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote, and well all the hotels' zone and beach area until the Sian Kaan Biosphere reserve.

Tulum Ruins

If you have only one weekend in Tulum as a first-time visitor, in this limited time, what are the best things to do?

Tulum ruins, Akumal beach to snorkel and sight sea turtles, Cenote Dos Ojos or any of the cenotes around, and a good beach day at Coco Beach Bar, trust me, you want that famous swings pic.

How do you describe Tulum in one sentence?

Tulum is a boho chic paradise.

Anything you would like to add that I haven’t asked?

Tulum has plenty to offer you can come here and chill out and practice Yoga and eat super healthy food, meditate, etc. But also if you want you can find in Tulum the right spot to party at the Caribbean next to celebrities and models. The best of both worlds.

Thank you Jose for this enjoyable interview.

For more information, please visit the website of Coco Village Tulum

Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

All photos are the property of their respective owners.