Choosing where to stay in Tulum can be difficult, but only thanks to the sheer number of incredible Tulum hotels, B&Bs and guest houses to pick from. Whether you’re looking for a place to stay along Tulum beach or more centrally in Tulum town, you’re in for a treat!
This post lists the best areas to stay in Tulum, as well as my favourite picks of available properties to base yourself in for a wonderful Mexico vacation.
The Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Tulum
Chiringuito Tulum
Chiringuito is a luxury hotel right on Tulum’s beachfront. The owners call it a wild paradise and that’s exactly what it is.
Depending on your budget and taste, you can choose from the ultimate oceanfront suite with a private pool, down to a deluxe room with a private terrace complete with hammock and private seating. All rooms are fitted out with stylish, rustic decor, which marries perfectly with the wild jungle-like gardens surrounding the resort.
The rooms aren’t the only draw, with guests gaining exclusive access to Chiringuito’s private beach club and its parasols and sun loungers set on silky white sand in front of the rolling waves. If you like your beach vacation with a little more action, the hotel’s kitesurfing school offers all that you need.
A delicious breakfast is included in your room rate, made by talented local chefs from the freshest ingredients. Though the hotel’s onsite restaurant is excellent, you’ll find numerous restaurants just around the corner if you fancy a change of scenery or menu.
Orchid House Tulum
Located on the edge of the town, Orchid House is much more affordable than beachfront Tulum hotels but just as special. This central accommodation prides itself on its lush home comforts, perfectly balanced with the luxuries of staying in a boutique hotel.
The hotel’s namesake, the beautiful orchid, is present in motifs across the interiors, including on rustic decorations behind the super comfy beds. Choose from a Master Suite with plunge pool that sleeps up to 4 (the room, not the pool), a Garden Suite with private pool and outdoor lounge, or my personal favourite, the Jungle Suite with tropical interiors, small pool and outdoor terrace set amongst the palm trees.
In terms of facilities, you’ve got plenty to occupy you thanks to this Tulum hotel’s fantastic swim-up cocktail bar, exquisite gardens and restaurant. But if that’s not enough, you’re around 5km away from both the aptly named Paradise Beach and Tulum’s famous archaeological zone.
Copal Tulum
For a stay in Tulum that feels slightly more like home, consider staying in one of the stylish apartments at Copal Tulum. Set amongst a jungle-like garden on the outskirts of town, you’ll feel right at home in this tropical paradise that’s just a few minutes away from the centre of town.
The aparthotel offers three different room types, each with their own king size beds, private bathrooms and outside space. If you upgrade from a double room with jungle terrace to a studio, you’ll have access to a fully stocked kitchenette and lounge with sofa bed. But for the ultimate in luxury living, you can opt for an apartment with a lounge, a spacious kitchen (it even has an island!), a dining room and your very own swimming pool.
All guests can enjoy exclusive access to the hotel’s gym, sun terrace and shared pool if you’re not lucky enough to have one in your room. Copal also offers discounted rates at Taboo Beach Club and bikes and scooter rental to help you get there. Massages and beauty treatments are also available, either in your room or at a secluded spot set amongst the trees. But something tells me you’ll be too relaxed here to need them…
Rosa del Viento
At Rosa del Viento, you can step outside your cabaña-style room and land directly on the sand. It doesn’t get much more beachfront than that in Tulum!
The rooms are split out over individual houses with thatched talapa roofs and balconies that have views of either the sea or the jungle. Furnishings and decor are simple but great value, especially for a hotel on a private beach. Each has a private bathroom with free toiletries and air conditioning to keep you fully refreshed after a day out sightseeing.
Rosa del Viento’s restaurant serves up tasty local and international cuisine including fresh wood-fired pizzas and a hearty American breakfast. Once you’ve had your fill, head to the beach to swim, snorkel or simply relax on one of the hotel’s loungers or hammocks. You won’t need to do much else!
Ikal Tulum Hotel
Ikal Boutique Hotel is a truly sensational place to stay in Tulum. With the owners calling it a Mayan sanctuary, it’s no surprise the hotel values community, mindfulness and wellness. This is clear from the Ikal’s events schedule, which includes yoga, spiritual ceremonies, sports and music that guests are free to partake in.
But if you’re simply looking for somewhere to stay, don’t let the hotel’s focus on spirituality put you off. The rooms are incredible.
Each of the secluded conical cabañas is traditionally thatched and furnished with large beds and outdoor bathing facilities to help you reconnect with nature. Some suites have their own private plunge pools, skylight roofs and look out towers for the ultimate jungle experience. For something a little more traditional, opt for a clay-walled bungalow with thatched roof set around the central pool.
If you can tear yourself away from your room, the white sand and turquoise waters of Playa Paraiso (paradise beach) are calling. Even better, a short 1.5km stroll away, you’ll find the Tulum Archaeological site in all its glory.
Hungry? The hotel’s Maia restaurant uses ancestral ways of cooking with fresh, organic and local ingredients to craft exquisite cuisine that’s both delicious and healthy.
Alma Tulum Hotel Boutique
The eco hotel, Alma, is in an enviable location, right on the beach. It’s only right, then, that the rooms are set in thatched wooden cottages featuring private terraces overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
If the view from your bed isn’t enough to satisfy your beach cravings, Alma’s beach club provides great music, delicious food and tasty cocktails and plenty of places to sit and relax in the sun or after sunset. At dinner time, the restaurant is also the perfect place to tuck into a fusion Mediterranean meal, made with local ingredients under the stars.
Back in your spacious room, you’ll find an ensuite bathroom, beautiful decorations, super comfy beds and all the facilities you’ll need for a comfortable stay in Tulum. And with the ocean stretching out in front of you, and the jungle paradise surrounding you, you’ll never want to leave.
Lamat Tulum
Another beachfront hotel, Lamat Tulum treats guests to ocean views from rustic balconies overlooking the white sand. This laidback accommodation boasts 13 suites featuring super comfy king size beds, en suite bathrooms, a lounge area and natural decor. On your terrace, you can feel the sea breeze on your face as you relax, book in hand, or venture out to take a dip in the pool that’s just steps from your door.
Much like Ikal, there is a serious focus on spirituality at Lamat. Its yoga and relaxation area hosts guided meditations, yoga sessions and other spiritual experiences to help you unwind in this piece of paradise.
Once you’ve built up an appetite, Lamat’s restaurant serves tasty food inspired by Mexico’s southeastern cuisine for breakfast and lunch, but being in the hotel zone means you’re spoilt for choice for places to eat if you fancy a change of scenery. I’d be surprised if you did though…
Head to booking.com to check the latest prices for this hotel
Hotel Bardo
Bardo is one of the most luxurious hotels in central Tulum, but it’s worth every penny.
Guests stay in loft-style villas featuring a bedroom, lounge and private bathroom, all decorated with artisan crafts and surrounded by private jungle gardens. Outside, there’s a private plunge pool and an open-air shower from which you can set yourself up for a day in paradise.
This Tulum hotel also invites guests to partake in mindfulness events, featuring yoga lessons, sound healing, sunset sessions and Temazcal – an ancient Mayan tradition that’s guided by a shaman and designed to help you heal and find forgiveness. Sometimes, nothing can beat a simple dip in a pool. Bardo’s large central pool is as beautiful as it is inviting, set amongst the hotel’s jungle-like gardens.
Milum is the hotel’s signature restaurant, featuring a menu packed with beautifully presented dishes. The food’s beauty is matched by the restaurant’s interior, as it’s decorated with traditional Mayan motifs and bright green plantlife. Head to The Kinky Room Bar for a pre-dinner drink in one of the best cocktail bars in Tulum. Just like the restaurant, it’s housed in a beautiful thatched building that’s open to the elements and stylishly decorated. It’s the perfect place to enjoy delicious drinks made with Mexican spirits. So even if Bardo isn’t the place you choose to stay in Tulum, make sure you at least visit for a cocktail.
Era Hotel & Spa Tulum
Located in a quiet area of Tulum town, Era Hotel & Spa is a stunning hotel. Inspired by the beauty of nature, its rustic interiors and beautiful gardens make this a relaxing and tranquil place to stay in Tulum.
Rooms feature large beds, air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, seating areas and balconies overlooking the gardens and central pool. A delicious and beautifully presented breakfast is included in the room rate, served either in the restaurant or in your room.
The real difference with Era and other Tulum hotels is its Ritual Spa. From here, you can enjoy a range of massages, beauty treatments and a sauna – just in case you weren’t relaxed enough already.
Check the latest prices and availability on booking.com with free cancellation!
The Best Areas to Stay in Tulum: Beach vs. Town
It goes without saying that beach lovers should stay along the beachfront, but you are likely to need to pay extra for the privilege of this location.
Most Tulum hotels on the beach are located in the ‘hotel zone’, which is a 15km stretch of beach running from the Archaeological Zone down to the Arco Maya nature reserve. This area encompasses Playa Paraiso (Paradise Beach), with its pristine white sand and turquoise waters that, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see from your room.
Being such a large area, it’s important to know exactly where your hotel is in the hotel zone before you book it. Not all hotels are walking distance to the Archaeological area and Tulum’s ruins, so you may need to book taxis or hire a car throughout your stay if you choose a hotel in the southernmost parts of Tulum’s hotel zone.
Digital nomads or business travellers may prefer to stay closer to Tulum town to make the most of its transport links, shops and other facilities. The biggest disadvantage of staying in the pueblo is its distance to the beach, but many hotels offer bike rental to help you get around with ease. The distance also actually makes this area the most affordable, meaning it’s also one of its advantages.
Two popular areas to stay near Tulum town are La Veleta (a mostly residential area) and Alda Zamea, where a number of eco-conscious boho style hotels have popped up in recent times. Both are located in the southern outskirts of the town, making them quieter and closer to the nature reserve and the beach than central Tulum.
Whichever you pick, with this list of the best places to stay in Tulum, you’re in for a wonderful stay in one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations. See you on the beach!
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Now you know where to stay in Tulum, it’s time to plan your activities! Find out everything you need to know about Chichen Itza vs. Uxmal to decide which Mayan ruin to visit during your vacation.
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