Over the years, Tulum has been known for more of a bohemian atmosphere than its fancier neighbors to the north (like Cancun). This writer can still remember (from days gone by) of seeing mainly young carefree visitors in jeans and tie-dyes from all over the world hitchhiking around town and the tales of partying with members of the Grateful Dead jamming on the central town square there. While those days are gone, much of the hotel scene in Tulum still seems to carry over that same atmosphere today.
Unlike Cancun and Playa del Carmen, there are very few large luxury resort hotels in the town. If that style is your choice, Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is one of the better options. The hotel is actually located a little out of town, about 3½ miles north of the Archeological Park and roughly 5½ miles south of the Xel-Ha Water Park. It offers excellent snorkeling right at the hotel beach and beautiful grounds. All-inclusive guests can choose from 8 restaurants including a buffet and enjoy nightly entertainment provided by the staff or have a spin in the hotel disco. Expect your room to run in the neighborhood of $300 per night. Click here to find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa
While not a large hotel, luxury including an on-site spa can certainly be found at the Be Tulum Hotel. Twenty suites, with terraces and private pools are grouped in sets of 4 on a lovely beach and garden. It’s easy to do nothing except relax at the hotels beach club, where you’ll find a pool, bar, restaurant, restrooms and showers, as well as beach chairs for guests. Off-season rates start at $342 for a Jungle Suite, $410 for an Arena Suite and $547 for an Ocean Suite. Click here to find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Be Tulum Hotel
We’ve never stayed there nor toured the hotel personally but for the published room rates, the Blue Tulum Resort & Spa seems to get very mixed marks from guests. While some rooms offer a good ocean view, you can’t actually walk to the beach. Rather you have to get on a hotel shuttle, carrying towels and whatever else you want to have at the beach for a short ride to the shore. Food also gets mixed reviews. Click here to find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Blue Tulum Resort & Spa
One place we have stayed at and enjoyed in Tulum is Don Diego de la Selva. The hotel describes itself as “Maison d’hôtes a Tulum” and as that description suggests, the owners are French. They bring some of the European small hotel sensibilities that many travelers appreciate.
Some of the details: The beds were firm but not rock hard. The pillows were comfortable. The sheets were high thread count cotton. The towels were large and plush. We noticed that as the breakfast service was being set up, each plate and glass was wiped with a clean dry cloth before being set on the table.
This is a small hotel with only 8 minimally furnished rooms but it offers private bathrooms, air conditioning in some rooms, a small open air restaurant & bar along side a (small but) lovely pool. The hotel will loan bikes and snorkel gear and help arrange local tours. Breakfast is included in the price of the room. It’s located just south of the village of Tulum down a short driveway off of Highway 307. That puts it just under a mile south from the Tulum bus station.
Not too far from the Mayan ruins in Tulum, there is a crossroads, where if you turn away from the shoreline, you will be on the road to the Mayan ruins in Coba but if you turn towards the shore, you’ll find yourself on Boca Paila Road. As you progress down the road, it seems to get narrower and narrower but eventually you’ll find lots of lots of small hotels, many of them cabana style along with restaurants and bars. More than one of the hotels in that part of the beach describe themselves as “eco-friendly”, which is appealing in some regards but in many cases is simply a code word for “We don’t have 24-hour electricity in the rooms.” Prices run a large range from back-packer friendly to top drawer.
Don Diego de la Playa, brought to you by the same folks who own Don Diego de la Selva is an interesting Boca Paila Road lodging option. In addition to providing services like free beach chairs, towels and umbrellas and snorkel gear rental for their guests, they also offer 4 Bedouin tents with wooden floors and a queen bed plus 2 cabanas. There is also a nice restaurant/bar at their beach complex. The tents run roughly $75 per night and the beachfront cabanas are at $95; slightly higher for the holidays.
If you’re looking for a simple relaxing beach holiday, Cabañas Las Conchita is worth considering. It’s is a small hotel with 8 cabañas laid out in a semi-circle facing the beach. Rates include breakfast and bottled drinking water. As the electrical service is available only from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, the room comes with candles for light and an ice cooler for refrigeration. A solar hot water heater provides for the showers. Restaurants and other services are within walking distance. Small ceiling fans run from 10:00pm and 7:00am. Massage service is now available at the hotel.
Zamas is not for everyone and with rates starting at around $110 per night, less expensive accommodations can be found. You’ll need to go into town to find internet service. The cabañas are not air conditioned and the water in the showers and sink is salt water. Palapa roofs, bottled water and hammocks come with the rooms. In addition to the cabañas, Zamas also offers a very good restaurant, where on occasion, you’ll find live music.
Certainly one of the originals and perhaps the best known of the beach front hotels in Tulum is Ana y Jose Charming Hotel & Spa. We’ve seen this place grow over the years from a few beach front cabañas to the current 23 suites and cottages and a bit more formal atmosphere. Prices have also increased but are in line with the experience.
In addition to the beachfront hotels along the Boca Paila, there are quite a few other hotels in the village of Tulum.
Posada Luna del Sur is a small hotel with reasonable prices that consistently gets rave reviews from their guests. The hotel gets high marks for cleanliness, service and roof top breakfasts. The only drawback is that it’s not directly on the beach but the in-town location does allow guests to walk to local restaurants and food-stands and get more of a “real Mexico” experience than they would have at an exclusive all-inclusive 5-star resort.
Another nice slightly more expensive in-town option is the Teetotum Hotel, which offers 4 sleek, spacious and modern rooms and has a reputation for friendly helpful service. Among the amenities are Wi-Fi service, king-size beds, free bikes to guests and 24-hour electrical and A/C. Teetotum is also home to a lovely 2-level restaurant with a very original menu serving breakfast, lunch & dinner and with a thoughtful wine list and fancy cocktails