Hotel Pepita, Adolfo Lopez Mateos

Safe, friendly staff (same staff for 12 years), clean, air conditioned, wonderfully located, diverse culture of customers, and partially covered central court for down time. Wouldn't stay anywhere else. It does help to speak just a little spanish.

My father started staying at Pepe's in the 1960's before Don Pepe came to such great importance on the island. I was introduced to Pepe's in 1975 and as my father, continued to stay there for several years. My father told all his friends and people who were serious divers about the place. We frequented Pepe's resturant which was just a hole in the wall place. My father considered Pepe a friend and would write him and ask if he needed anything. My father would bring kitchen knives or a special liquor or whatever Pepe would request. Now the rest of the story: One day my father was in the lobby area as a Mexican patron was paying and was paying much less than what my father was paying for the same accomodations. When my father inquired of Pepe of the difference he was told by Don Pepe who by this time was himself very prosperous by anyones standards that my father was a RICH AMERICAN and could afford to pay more. Needless to say, my very frugal father was angry and wouldn't ever go back to stay at Pepe's or frequent Las Palmeras or any other business Pepe had anything to do with. Even though my father is now deceased and I would like to stay at Pepe's for old time sakes, I can't dishonor my father in that way. As a note, my father paid $2.00 per nite his first time at Pepe's.

Hotel Pepita was great. The staff are very helpful, providing you with a map on arrival and marking out banks, tour agencies, pharmacy etc etc. The have a great library of books and mags in English. The double rooms are huge (even has a extra double bed) Nice outside patio area, extremely clean, desk and chair, Cable TV and free coffee in the morning. For the cheap price, I would highly recommend this hotel.

I heard about this hotel in 1984 and returned year after year to dive the reefs in Coz. The hotel is a family business, started about 40 years ago by Don Pepe, unfortunately deceased. He was one of the most important people on the island but had a very modest house which is at the entrance to the hotel. Hotel Pepita is not for those interested in Luxury but serious divers who still return year after year or for people travelling on a budget. When I first started coming so long ago the rooms were $15 a night, when I visited at Christmas 2006, the maids and I had a great little chin wag. Oh yeah, they raised the rates it's now $40US a night. Pepita is clean, safe, and is two blocks away from the city square. You can walk anywhere and everywhere, and rent a car or moped to go anywhere on the island. Don Pepe started the hotel and with his partners opened Las Palmeras and other restaurants on the island. Sadly he died about 6 years ago, but when I was there he made sure that everything was constantly tended to, from the parrots that used to be in the courtyard to the dunk tank to clean your gear. His widow, Dona Maria is carrying on the same tradition and when you come back to Pepitas, you are welcomed back as friends. Despite the fact that Cozumel is no longer the sleepy little village with a few divers that I remember, Pepitas is still very clean, safe, basic accomodation and the most interesting people stay there. The coffee pot is put on at 6AM and you can meet other travellers with your first cup of Java in the small courtyard.

It was not damaged by Wilma at all. Clean, no frills place that is close to everything. Get out of the AI's and try something where you'll meet Cozumelenos!