The Best Villas in Tulum, Mexico

If you’ve searched Tulum on Instagram, you’re familiar with the mystical treehouse aesthetic of Azulik. Barely distinguishable from its surroundings, its 48 villas are built from natural materials; wooden pathways bend around trees cocooning guests in a nest-like design. Accommodation is exclusively candlelit; the perfect way to unplug and find harmony with nature. As with most things at Azulik, dining is an art. Head to restaurant Kin Toh, one of four on site, to sample Maya-Mexican cuisine at its most attractive.

You’ll feel right at home in the 6,000sqft (557sqm) four-bed Kasa Feliz, which sits in the jungle neighborhood of Aldea Zama. Its luxury, modern kitchen boasts custom-made German cabinetry, granite countertops and top-of-the-line appliances such as Le Creuset and KitchenAid. Use the villa’s dumbwaiter to send supplies to the rooftop, which has its own kitchen, palapa bar and a mosaic-tiled infinity pool overlooking the expansive jungle ahead.

When the bottom line is under consideration, Villas Akalan is perfect. Its adobe-fronted one- and two-bedroom apartments come with all the necessaries plus a little bit more. Each has its own kitchen, air conditioning and access to a shared pool. Located a block back from the bus terminal, it’s on the banks of lively Avenida Tulum, the town’s main thoroughfare and home to shops, restaurants and bars.

Inside the Sian Ka’an, Tulum’s Unesco-protected biosphere reserve, pristine beaches and unspoiled nature wrap around the eco-luxe Villa Playääkun. The five-bedroom beachfront retreat comes with a curvaceous dipping pool practically on the sands. Four bedrooms overlook the Caribbean, while the fifth has garden views. Four full-time members of staff – a house manager, private chef, housekeeper and gardener – cater to every whim. Call ahead to organize a personalized menu and have your villa pre-stocked for your arrival.

Three cabins sheltered within Tulum’s lush jungle provide a private escape away from the masses. Spread across 33,000sqft (3,065sqm), the property has a covered common area (with a kitchen and 12-person dining room) and an outdoor recreation space (with a pool, furnace grill, foosball table and hammocks). Have a particular menu in mind? The lodge’s private chef can sort it for you.

In a quiet enclave in downtown Tulum, Villa Flor De Mayo’s 2,500sqft (232sqm) is surrounded by the serene Maya bush. Its terracotta-floored villas push nature to the fore with thatched roofs, marble counters and parota tabletops. There’s also a pool, housekeeping and spa services. In keeping with nature-loving Tulum, the property has banned single-use plastics, composts all food waste, and only uses eco-friendly cleaning and personal products.

Tulum’s first condo-hotel boutique draws inspiration from three art greats. There are no prizes for guessing that Frida Kahlo – Mexico’s ubiquitous icon – has a property named after her. But Van Gogh and Chagall may take a little longer to predict. Replica works and quotes decorate the neutral walls. During your stay, enjoy a healthy complimentary breakfast in the garden with the chef’s homemade jam before riding the property’s bicycles to the beach. Spa services – including massages, manicures and traditional Maya healing treatments – are a luxurious extra.

On the pristine white sands of Tulum National Park sits Villa Pescadores. More beachside cabanas than traditional villa, these rustic retreats feature handmade furniture, canopy beds and private balconies. In the bathroom find locally sourced toiletries. But the real win? Its spot on Playa Pescadores. A stay comes with access to the beach club where sunbeds and hammocks make for lazy days. The dining experience is typical Tulum – relaxed and forward thinking. Head to the beach grill for mezcal-infused fish and catch of the day.