In recent years, Tulum in Mexico has become a magnet for all things related to wellness and yoga, with studios, retreats and workshops galore. Read on to discover the best.
With clear blue skies, magical sunsets and a bath-water warm Caribbean Sea, it’s not difficult to feel tip-top in Tulum. But give your mind, body and spirit an extra reboot by visiting one of the many yoga centers, spa hotels or wellness retreats in the region, which draw visitors from around the world who are attracted to Tulum’s ancient spirituality and relaxed way of life. The tropical Mexican weather doesn’t hurt either. Here are the best places for an all-over rejuvenation during your stay.
Do as much or as little as you like at this beachfront resort with a firm emphasis on wellness. Join daily yoga classes in the oceanfront studio (try to make at least one sunrise session), bliss out at meditation sessions on the beach, and indulge in a massage using organic oils and locally made products. This is also a great place to sample traditional temazcal, the ancient ritual using Tulum’s healing waters to create a steam and sweat bath to cleanse your spirit.
Stay a while at these hotel apartments, where even the smallest studio suite has its own kitchen, garden and separate bedroom. From there, you can make the most of the airy alfresco yoga studio with its billowing white chiffon and thatched roof. Daily classes include vinyasa flow, hatha and ashtanga inspiration, but the studio also hosts sessions in chakra meditation and Tibetan singing bowls and offers healing yoga massages.
Not one for lazing on a sun lounger all day? Keep your toes in the sand while you stay active at this outdoor gym made of wood, bamboo and stone. A world away from city sweat boxes, it allows you to work out in nature, with unique equipment hand-carved by local carpenters using materials sourced in Mexico. Try the log bench presses, pulleys made of bamboo and rope, marble kettlebells and stone dumbbells for the full Flinstones experience.
Pampering is paramount at this stunning all-suite property sandwiched between the jungle and the sea. Stays include the use of the sauna, steam and pools, while guests can also head to the rustic-chic spa for herbal flower baths in custom-made copper tubs, traditional indigenous treatments and spa rituals using medicinal plants grown in the rooftop garden. Yoga classes are held in a treetop studio overlooking the jungle, and temazcal ceremonies take place every full and new moon.
At this adults-only, ecofriendly resort right on the beach, it’s easy to combine wellness with indulgence. There’s an organic healing spa using all-natural ingredients and a beachfront yoga studio offering meditation and temazcal ceremonies. Yet, you can also enjoy four dining options, snorkel tours, kitesurfing lessons, paddleboard excursions and three bars including a swim-up one for cocktails in the water. Because a little bit of what you fancy always does you good.
Get back to nature at this extraordinary treehouse retreat at the water’s edge, where 48 villas come without electric lights, air conditioning or television so you can really escape the rat race. Lit almost entirely by candlelight at night, the barefoot ecoresort offers a dreamy spa with holistic treatments, yoga lessons in a thatched dome and Mayan healing ceremonies including temazcal, Mayan intonation, chakra harmonization and sound healing. Be warned, though, clothing is optional.
Can’t choose whether to veg in luxury or try a devoted yoga retreat? This ecofriendly wellness hotel won’t force you to choose, with a plant-focused restaurant offering indulgent weekend brunches and suites packed with treats such as personal yoga mats, outdoor bathtubs and private decks. Elsewhere, there’s a beachfront yoga studio, weekly sound healing and a wellness center. Here, you can choose among a selection of complementary treatments including craniosacral therapy, reiki, reflexology and more.
Whether you’ve never attempted a downward dog or are a pro at vinyasa flow, this friendly studio in Tulum has a class for you. The weekly schedule includes sessions in candlelit yoga, deep hatha flow, pilates and morning rituals as well as private classes and sculpt fitness for something a little more energetic. Complete novices should consider signing up for the weekend workshop on yoga fundamentals for beginners.
Do as much or as little as you want at this beachfront, adults-only boutique hotel that offers lounging, partying and wellness in equal measures. Snorkel and swim in the turquoise waters, join a ceviche cooking class, try tequila tasting, or feast on a six-course poolside dinner paired with Mexican wines. Detox afterwards with complimentary ashtanga and vinyasa yoga classes, or spend an afternoon at the spa, where treatments are inspired by the four elements water, air, earth and fire.
Expect to emerge completely renewed from this beautiful boutique hotel and wellness center in the heart of the Mayan jungle. There are daily yoga lessons, a spiritual dome for sound healing and cacao ceremonies, a jungle artwork and even a treehouse for anyone who needs time to themselves. Feel better from the inside, too, with delicious toxin-free, plant-based meals at the onsite Tierra restaurant.
Looking for more? Finding the perfect stay is easy when Tulum has a hotel for every type of traveler or, if you’re traveling in a big group, a stylish villa to fit your needs. Best of all, you can book your next stay right here on Culture Trip. During the day, immerse yourself in local history, and explore some of the best ruins near Tulum. When evening rolls around, enjoy some delicious food at these top restaurants, and unwind with a drink at one of the best bars in Tulum.
This is an updated version of an article originally by Lauren Cocking.
These recommendations were updated on July 30, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.
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