The Coolest Jungle Lodges in Mexico

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Experience the beauty of the jungle from the luxurious confines of this chic boutique hotel. The Jungle Lodge in Tulum features whitewashed villas and suites, with minimalist interiors and perks such as private plunge pools, hammocks and freestanding tubs. The swimming pool is another Instagrammable spot, as are the delicious cocktails from the bar and the innovative restaurant dishes. Change up your scenery with a trip to Xcacelito, a beautiful virgin beach and popular turtle nesting spot just a short walk away.

Prepare to be amazed by this highly photogenic boutique hotel in Quintana Roo, hidden away on the edge of Tulum. You’ll have your pick from the resort’s five lofty, palm-thatched A-frame cabins, each with an outdoor shower, a private patio with a hammock and a meditation space. Kick start your day with a yoga class or slide into breakfast where local, organic produce is served daily with owner Kendall’s home-made chai.

This little piece of heaven, cocooned by jungle, is just a short distance outside Tulum. The 10 lovingly designed villas range in size, sleeping from two to eight people, but the common areas – such as the outdoor restaurant and serpentine-shaped pool – are the real showstoppers. Just across the street from the jungle lodge, you’ll also find several secluded cenotes, while the beach is just a 10-minute drive away.

Situated in the rainforest along the Pacific Coast, Tailwind Jungle Lodge in Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta is a sustainable residence comprising seven treehouse cabins in a stunning jungle setting. Founded in 2007, Tailwind also provides yoga and meditation sessions. You’ll have the opportunity to shake up the traditional relaxation experience with some hiking and kayaking, too.

About an hour’s drive north of Puerto Vallarta’s international airport, this idyllic retreat combines fantastic service, beautiful seaside cabins and a luxurious jungle setting. Haramara is open to private guests and often hosts organized yoga and wellness retreats. The excellent vegetarian menu offers flavorful and aesthetically pleasing dishes prepared using fresh local ingredients.

This jungle boutique hotel is the brainchild of Heinz Legler, a former production designer for films. It lies in the fishing village of Yelapa on the Pacific Coast of Mexico and comprises 10 handmade houses, each architecturally different, offering stunning views of the bay below. Here, you can book yoga and spa sessions, bird walks and even whale-watching excursions.

Reachable in no more than half an hour by car from Yucatán’s capital, Mérida, Chablé brings high-end elegance to the state, which has traditionally offered fewer luxury options than Quintana Roo. Surrounded by dense woodland, the hotel is visually stunning, with beautiful rooms and a glorious spa. Of course, you’ll be paying for the privilege.

Described as “the most famous all-inclusive ecoresort in Mexico,” this expansive Mexican eco-hotel in Playa del Carmen is a 45-minute drive from the Cancún International Airport on an unspoiled white-sand beach. It’s ideal for explorers, as the hotel opens into a lush jungle, surrounded by natural lagoons and cenotes.

Only 18mi (29km) south of Playa del Carmen is another luxury option residing in the jungle. Hotel Esencia is a vast estate arranged around a stunning hacienda (colonial-style main house). In addition to its 42 suites and three discreet villas, the hotel also has heated pools, a private beach, a fitness center, a spa and much more. Hotel Esencia’s seclusion makes it a popular getaway for A-list celebrities.

This boutique ecohotel in Quintana Roo has bungalows and suites that merge seamlessly with the surrounding Mayan jungle. Perfect for nature lovers, it also has a bird observatory from which to view a vast range of exotic birds and other animals in their natural habitat.

Set beside a sandy white beach on the Riviera Maya, Maroma offers a complimentary 45-minute bike tour of the sprawling jungle right behind the luxurious premises. Winding paths cut through the lush rainforest populated by exotic birds, coatis and spider monkeys.

With a matchless position on the Riviera Maya’s dazzling shores, Rosewood Mayakoba is an elegant hotel in Quintana Roo surrounded by an emerald jungle. In addition to its suites, villas and residences, the resort has a vast range of facilities, including several pools, saunas, steam rooms, a fully equipped gym and yoga and meditation classes.

This luxury refuge, just outside Playa del Carmen, extends deep into the surrounding tropical forest. The 41-villa resort makes maximum use of natural materials throughout, using palapa roofs and mahogany doors and windows. Viceroy Riviera Maya also offers excellent dining options, yoga classes and spa treatments.

Set along the sparkling turquoise sea of Tulum, Azulik is an adults-only resort that blends spectacular architectural design and impeccable sustainability standards. Chic and stylish with a distinctly new-age focus, the 48-villa hotel contains a clothing-optional beach, a cenote and a wetland on its premises. There are incredible onsite dining options, too, reflecting the area’s culture and ingredients.

A great option for budget travelers, this hotel consists of comfortable rooms, cabins with shared or private bathrooms, dormitories and camping areas. The jungle venue also has a restaurant boasting Italian and Mexican cuisine and is only five minutes from the stunning archaeological site of Palenque.

This Mexico ecolodge situated in the rainforest of Chiapas offers maximum contact with the surrounding natural environment. A number of excursions and trips are available to guests, including a kayak tour of the Lacantún River, a visit to a nearby aviary and a hiking tour through the forest. The site boasts elegant cabin accommodation and has a restaurant that offers a wide variety of regional and international dishes.

Looking for a different type of stay in Mexico? Check out our guide to the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, and book your stay now on Culture Trip. Alternately, book into one of the best resorts in Playa del Carmen, or one of the top resorts in Puerto Vallarta.

Kylie Madry contributed additional reporting to this article.