Tulum is a great place for a getaway. It's surrounded by incredible scenery, historic Mayan ruins, and phenomenal restaurants and bars. Yet, while it's definitely tourist-friendly, it's not yet as "touristy" as places like Cancun. Accordingly, many of the hotels—maybe even most of them—are smaller, locally-owned boutique affairs. Here are some great hotels to make your stay in Tulum a memorable one.
Encantada Beachfront Boutique
Encantada is a beachfront boutique hotel that's as dedicated to eco-friendly as it is luxury. It sits between the Sian Kaan biosphere reserve and the Tulum ruins. The hotel is relatively new, but its service is already legendary. Encantada has 8 rooms, half of which are beachfront rooms with enormous sliding glass doors to offer a 180-degree view of the beach. There's a restaurant and spa, but you're probably going to be spending most of the time on that gorgeous beach. It's no wonder that the rooms are designed to make you feel like you're already outside when the setting is this beautiful.
Mezzanine Hotel
Another boutique, Mezzanine has only nine rooms, and they like the extra time that affords them to care for their guests. The master suites include a private terrace, the Sea View rooms offer incredible views, and the reading nook-esque Buddha Rooms are more secluded yet still lavish. They all come with king-sized beds, use of the dipping pool, and the use of the hotel's snorkeling equipment. Massages are available by appointment, and Thai chef Dim Geefay helms the restaurant.
Las Palmas Maya
Las Palmas Maya offers traditional Maya palapa-style bungalows with thatched roofs for an authentic experience—provided that electricity and Wi-Fi can still fit in your view of authentic. Every suite and cabana has at least a king-sized bed. Some of them have a king and a twin or a queen or even a second king. Calm, vaccinated pets are welcome, and while there isn't a restaurant at the hotel, there's a communal kitchen where you are welcome to prepare a meal. This hotel is a little less cushy than some of the others, but the prices are among the best in the region (especially with the 10% returning guest discount), and Tom, the owner, is frequently cited as a reason to stay.
El Pez at Turtle Cove
El Pez belongs to the same family of boutique hotels as Mezzanine, and it offers the same attention to detail. There are five different kinds of accommodation, from luxury rooms to an entire 3-bedroom beach house. Could you find a beach house on Airbnb? Probably. Would you have turn-down service and a 24-hour concierge at your Airbnb? Absolutely not. There are also things like 24-hour electricity, daily breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. They have a private pool, but you can also always swim in the beautiful sea stretched out in front of you.
Ahau
Ahau is less of a traditional hotel and more a collection of beach cabanas. Still, the suites offer plenty of luxury, with 16-foot palapa ceilings, private decks, enormous windows, king (or queen) beds, and two-person hammocks. Plus, you can rest in good conscience—the hotel lays out the policies they follow under their commitment to eco-friendliness right on their website. For the more budget-conscious, there are also several "Bali huts" situated in a garden on the beach with full-sized beds and a shared shower and toilet.
