Hotel Smiling Crab

Hotels
8 (29 reviews)
Calle Villa de Punta Sal - Lote 5A-A, Mz. 3, Balneario de Punta Sal Grande Km.1187 , Tumbes , pe

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Non-smoking rooms
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Tour desk
Ironing service
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great views
Friendly staff
Cons:
Internet issues
Food portion sizes

Categories

Cleanliness
7
Cleanliness issues mentioned regarding pool and overall maintenance.
Service
9
The staff is described as very friendly and attentive.
Location
8.5
Location is ideal, close to the beach and well integrated with the environment.
Room Quality
8
Rooms were good, but some mentions of problems with water hotness.
Amenities
8
Amenities like pool and room service positively noted, with some comments on food prices.
Value for Money
8
Generally good value, though breakfast options were limited.
Food and Beverage
7
Food portions criticized as small and breakfast lacking in variety.
Overall Experience
8.5
Overall enjoyable with relaxing atmosphere and good customer service.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-11 03:07

Property Description

Stunning Beachfront Location
Hotel Smiling Crab, nestled in the vibrant beach resort of Punta Sal, beckons with its mere 30 meters proximity to the glistening beach. Enjoy breathtaking panoramas of the sea from the terrace while sipping on refreshing beverages from the bar.

Luxurious Amenities
Indulge in the ultimate relaxation at Hotel Smiling Crab with an adult pool boasting a hydromassage tub overlooking the sea on the third floor. Families can rejoice as children splash in their dedicated pool. Plus, relish in a complimentary Continental breakfast and stay connected with free WiFi.

Comfortable Rooms with Views
Unwind in cozy rooms featuring private bathrooms, satellite TV, and some with the bonus of a sofa bed and terrace showcasing mesmerizing sea views. For added convenience, savor delicious meals in-room or on the beach at your request.

Ready to experience seaside bliss? Book your stay at Hotel Smiling Crab now!

Important information:

Please note in order to secure your reservation, a prepayment deposit of 50% of the total of your stay is required within 24 hours after booking. The property will contact you after booking with further instructions.
The other 50% must be paid 30 days before the arrival to complete the process.

A surcharge of USD $5/hour applies for early check-in and late check-out hours. Late check-out cannot exceed 2:00pm, otherwise it would be charged as an additional night of stay. All corresponding requests are subject to confirmation by the property

Children under 2 years old can be accommodated for an additional fee of USD $20.00 per night.


Based on local tax laws, Peruvian citizens (and foreigners staying more than 59 days in Peru) must pay an additional fee of 18%. To be exempt from this 18% additional fee (IVA), a copy of the immigration card and passport must be presented.

Please note both documents are required for fee exemption. Guests who are not able to present both documents will be required to pay the fee.

Foreign business travelers who require a printed invoice, will also be charged the additional 18% regardless of the length of their stay in Peru. This fee is not automatically calculated in the total costs for the reservation.Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for US$18 per person per night when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 11 years old stay for US$23 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 11 years old stay for US$22 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    People 12 years old and over stay for US$30 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 29 reviews
Cleanliness: 7
Service: 9
Location: 8.5
Room Quality: 8
Amenities: 8
Value for Money: 8
Food and Beverage: 7
Overall Experience: 8.5
R
Rosaura extended_group pe
7
Es acogedor y bastante familiar.
Pros:

la limpieza de las habitaciones y el trato cortes del personal del hotel

Cons:

Se fue el agua en dos oportunidades, aunque solucionaron el problema, tuvimos que esperar con este calor.
El anuncio es con vista al mar, por ello deben recortar o amarrar la paja caída del techo para que no interrumpa la vista desde la terraza. Por lo demás estuvimos cómodos.

2026-02-28 via Nuitee
B
Brenda Lizbeth couple pe
6
2026-02-24 via Nuitee
I
Ismael couple cl
10
Muy hermoso lugar, cómodo y agradable
Pros:

La atención del personal muy buena.
Ubicación muy cómoda y hermoso

Cons:

Un poco de calor en las habitaciones

2026-02-12 via Nuitee
M
Michela couple de
9
2026-01-28 via Nuitee
N
Nikolas couple pe
9
Amazing visit, would love to come back in the near future.
Pros:

I liked how clean and close the properly was to the beach.

Cons:

Nothing really it was beautiful.

2026-01-27 via Nuitee
B
Baxter solo_traveller co
9
Pros:

La tranquilidad y comodidad del hotel

Cons:

Todo está bien

2026-01-26 via Nuitee
M
Mateo couple ec
8
Pros:

Muy buenas vistas

Cons:

No tuvimos internet, el agua no era fluida, mucho olor a gatos

2026-01-06 via Nuitee
P
Paul Steven extended_group ec
8
Cons:

No funcionaba el internet en el cuarto

2026-01-04 via Nuitee
M
Manuel Jose family_with_children pe
8
Relajante
Pros:

La vista desde la suite y el personal de servicio siempre atento y muy serviciales todos.

Cons:

Un poco alejada de la playa central, toma 10 a 15 min llegar caminando .

2026-01-02 via Nuitee
H
Hannes couple se
7
Nice place
Pros:

Very nice hotel, close to the beach, very friendly staff.

Cons:

The breakfast included in this price is “continental” and only includes 1 coffee, 1 juice, some bread butter and jam. No protein, no vegetables. It’s okay but I would’ve liked to know about it before.

2025-12-11 via Nuitee
N
Nixon solo_traveller pe
8
Pros:

La amabilidad del personal en total y la comida del chef muy buena.

Cons:

Se fue la luz unas 3 horas y la piscina no estaba tan limpia.

2025-12-09 via Nuitee
M
María Soledad couple pe
8
Un hotel tranquilo y cálido frente a la playa para visitar Punta Sal
Pros:

El hotel es tranquilo y seguro, su personal es muy amable, cálido y dispuesto, y está a unos pasos de la playa. El hotel (su infraestructura, decoración) es muy coherente con el entorno. Pedimos el almuerzo en el restaurante y estuvo muy bueno, e incluso nos lo llevaron hasta la playa.

Cons:

Tuvimos un problema con el agua caliente de nuestra habitación, pero nos ofrecieron una buena solución. De todas maneras, no nos pareció vital, por el calor que hace en Punta Sal.

2025-11-20 via Nuitee
C
Carlo Antonio extended_group de
10
Pros:

Die Lage war sehr schön und ganz nah am Strand. Das Essen war hervorragend und das Personal sehr freundlich.

2025-09-14 via Nuitee
J
Jeff Norman couple pe
9
Maravilloso lugar, buen hotel, buenas vistas !!!
Pros:

buena vista desde la habitacion y la ubicacion cercana a la playa !!!

Cons:

Poca comida...

2025-08-05 via Nuitee
C
Cynthia extended_group pe
8
Great view of the ocean. Very quiet and private. Great staff.
Pros:

It was private and quiet with no crowds on the beach. The view from our balcony was incredible. We saw whales and dolphins every day. We had the pool area to our selves. The staff was wonderful and always helpful providing us with everything we needed. We loved that there was free room service for our room or pool area.

Cons:

As we were on the fourth floor there was lots of uneven stairs to climb. The food at the restaurant was good but a little high in price and the portions were small. Punta sal town is very small with few restaurants and stores.

2025-07-18 via Nuitee
D
David young couple ie
9
Very pleasant old-fashioned beachside hotel
Pros:

Nice rustic white buildings. Lovely swimming pool for cooling off. Large fridge for putting your own fruit and other food into. Good food served from the restaurant to your room and balcony if requested. Very helpful and friendly staff. The hot water didn’t work in the room we were given to begin with, but we were then moved to another even nicer room immediately. The staff arranged taxis for our arrival and departure. The location while being out of Punta Sal town allowed for a less crowded very quiet beachside holiday.

Cons:

A very skimpy breakfast: a glass of juice, tea or coffee, and two toasted bread rolls. The pervasive presence of cats. The giant open air cat litter (20 cats in the enclosure) on the way to the beach.

2025-02-09 via Nuitee
K
Katherine with friends pe
9
Superb
Pros:

The rooms and the view

2024-07-11 via Nuitee
I
Ivonne young couple pe
10
Exceptional
2024-03-12 via Nuitee
M
maryaC196LN Family
2
I do not recommend this hotel
Pros:

I stayed here several years ago with my husband and daughter. The view and style of the hotel were breathtaking. At that time, the host (Fermina) was very welcoming and did her best to make us feel special.
However, this time the story was very different. Despite the price, the hotel hasn’t improved at all. Furniture looks worn out and dirty, in the room, restaurant and around the pool area. The pool was dirty when we arrived and they only cleaned it after I complained saying that the last days had been very busy. The stay included continental breakfast that in the menu was shown for 18 soles (very basic), and American breakfast for 20 soles. We asked if they could change the continental for American breakfast (which included scramble eggs) so we could pay the difference (2 soles extra pp) however they said that was not possible and instead they had to charge us 8 soles pp for the extra eggs. The room included only three big towels and soap. We noticed there were no floor mats or little towels, we asked and they confirmed they didn’t have little towels. Sadly my husband slipped on the wet floor but fortunately he fell on the old yellow WC seat, which broke in two. They luckily repaired it quickly. On the second day we heard noises of two men taking loudly late at night. The next afternoon we heard them burping and making funny noises and I was alarmed when I went to the window and saw a man sitting on his toilet seat just outside my daughters window. Reception said he was the guardian of the hotel!
The restaurant, unlike the last time we visited, was a place we tried to avoid as much as we could due to the high volume of the TV and the volume of the mobile phone of the kitchen personnel. I tried an apple pie (16 soles per piece) which probably has been the worst I’ve ever tasted in my life.
We had problems with the water towards the end. My daughter was about to shower and there was no water coming. Nobody was there to help, except Carlos, who luckily fixed the problem quickly. I want to make a special mention to Carlos, he assisted us from the beginning and was the only person who made us feel welcomed and comfortable, he was always busy working on something and we definitely appreciated his hard work. Also he was the only person available at the hotel most of the time.
We were the only guests and as our flight was only leaving later in the afternoon we asked if we could have a late check out and they accepted but charged us the ridiculous amount of 20 soles. This is nothing but it could have meant a lot if they could have offered it as a courtesy.
In summary, we didn’t feel the love. We felt the hotel has been forgotten and we definitely believe is not worth the money they charge for. I do not recommend it and please read the other reviews, for what they charge you can definitely find a better place to stay.

2022-08-14 via Tripadvisor
R
ruudk2014 Couples
8
Perfect stay at Smiling Crab
Pros:

We had the hotel all by ourselves because the situation in the world so there where no other tourist at that moment. Our room was good with a wonderful view to the ocean. The WiFi connection wasn’t that good and that’s why I gave 4 stars because the rest was excellent. If you want te relax and come to rest then this is a very good hotel. Food is good and the swimming pool is also nice.

2021-05-16 via Tripadvisor