Fan-favorite Mexican holiday destination Tulum has been enjoying its moment in the international spotlight for some years now, and only continues to grow in popularity. While some mourn times gone by in this once-sleepy seaside town, others are thrilled with the new developments, like gourmet restaurants and boutique hotels. Speaking of which, here are Tulum’s most out-of-this-world boutique accommodation options.
This luxurious hotel and wellness center overlooks a long stretch of white sand and the warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. With a name that means “you will heal” in Spanish, the hotel is explicitly focused on wellness and relaxation. As part of this philosophy, the location boasts a spectacular yoga studio that overlooks the ocean and contributed to the hotel winning the 2015 National Competition for Architecture and Interiors for Hotels. Sanará’s 19 suites, rooms and private villa blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment. The hotel restaurant, the Real Coconut, offers excellent dishes prepared from the freshest local produce.
The self-proclaimed most exclusive boutique hotel in Tulum, Be Tulum is most definitely one of the best. Snuggled in between the opposing sides of Tulum itself – white-sand beaches and lush, verdant jungle – you’ll be treated to the best of both worlds at Be Tulum. This feeling of duality extends to the décor, which is at once modern and fresh, yet delightfully natural and simple, all the while being subtly luxurious. A distinct benefit of staying at Be Tulum is the onsite wellness center, Yaan, and the adults-only atmosphere.
Forming part of the Colibri Boutique Hotel Company, which has several properties in and around Tulum, the Mezzanine Colibri is one of the region’s most impressive hotels. This luxury beachside venue offers gorgeous views of the ocean, and the chic interior design gives the place a bright, welcoming vibe. The hotel restaurant is run by Garn Surasak, a chef from Thailand, who produces a fascinating blend of Thai and local cuisines.
Another of Tulum’s top exclusive accommodations is El Pez, part of the Colibri Boutique Hotel Company that have several properties in and around Tulum. Situated in craggy Turtle Cove, El Pez is blessed with large windows and a light, airy feel, which is complemented by the chic atmosphere and authentic palapa-roofed restaurants. Pops of color brighten up the place, both inside and out, and its legendary Community Nights (which celebrate art and music) are something to behold.
Alaya Tulum offers stunning palapa-roofed cabins near the beach. Each suite comprises a spacious bedroom with handcrafted furniture and exposed wooden flooring, with a bed facing the sea. The ecofriendly hotel also has an excellent restaurant, with ingredients sourced from the local area so as to reduce its environmental impact. Guests enjoy their food near the beach, in a beautiful garden setting. The hotel will even provide you with a private yoga session or massage in the comfort of your own deck. And if all this relaxation sounds a bit too much, the hotel also has a jungle gym, with weights and other equipment made from natural materials.
Situated in secluded Soliman Bay, the Italian-owned, eco-friendly Jashita Hotel is the epitome of Tulum boutique accommodation – with a design that looks to be lifted from the pages of a magazine, Jashita is all airy modernity and understated luxury. If you’re lucky, you’ll be in a suite which offers views over the turquoise waters of Tulum’s Caribbean coastline, as well as its verdant jungle, and even if you’re not… well, we’re sure you’ll still be pretty darn impressed.
A well-known boutique hotel on the Tulum scene, colorful Zamas is also the home to one of Tulum’s best restaurants, ¡Que Fresco!. Zamas is one place you can truly switch off in Tulum, given that the place operates on generator power, phones, air conditioners and televisions are ousted from the rooms, and wifi is limited to common areas. As you may expect, things at Zamas are simple, sleek and authentic, with thatched-roof rooms and hammock-lined balconies… and beds, of course.
This elegant boutique hotel in the thriving tourist hub of Tulum offers the perfect Caribbean coastal getaway. Yet the property was once owned by Pablo Escobar – one of the world’s most ruthless drug lords and the subject of the popular Netflix series Narcos. The 42-suite estate is currently owned by New York-based art collector Lio Malco.
Just 13 delightful suites make up Posada Yum Kin, which is the only non-beachside boutique hotel to make our Tulum accommodation guide. Instead, you’re in the heart of the jungle at this gated paradise, and you have the option to stay in one of the treetop rooms if you so choose. With its beautiful Mexican tile touches, and off-the-beaten-path credentials, Posada Yum Kin is the ideal spot for travelers who don’t relish being on the beach all the time, or who want to see a slightly different side to touristy Tulum.
Homeliness is the selling point of NEST Tulum, a relatively new addition to Tulum’s hotel zone. Here you’ll find beautifully – but simply – prepared cuisine, an unrivaled convivial atmosphere that doesn’t cross the line into overfriendliness and annoyance, all while nurturing an overall atmosphere of laid-back tranquility. Luxury and cosiness come together in perfect harmony at NEST Tulum, creating a boutique hotel that’s modern, fresh, and yet entirely familiar.
A collection of beach bungalows make up the Cabañas La Luna property, which is the ideal boutique option for low maintenance guests looking for a laid-back escape. Easy access to the beach is a given, so self-professed beach bums will also feel right at home here. Foodies won’t fail to be impressed by the onsite restaurant, which churns out all manner of exotic fare, from tagines in the evening to ceviche in the day.
Cabañas Tulum is a very different cabaña experience to that at La Luna. Here you’ll find 24 spacious rooms complete with all the mod cons, with the option of added extras that are attentive to detail and practical, like yoga mats and beach bags. As this is the sister property of nearby The Beach Tulum, guests here can not only take advantage of the private beach swings, yoga classes and pool, but also The Beach Tulum’s spa and wellness center. A notch below full-blown luxury, Cabañas Tulum is the ideal middle ground for discerning travelers.
Casa de Las Olas pride themselves on being a boutique hotel run by travelers, for travelers and prioritize the experience of your stay above all else. With a minuscule capacity of just eight exquisite suites, all of which come with an impressive sea view, a modern, pared-down aesthetic, and softly draped fabrics, Casa de Las Olas makes for the ideal boutique Tulum hotel if you want a relaxing, tranquil escape from the hubbub of daily life.
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