Situated on the secluded shores of Tankah Bay, Hotel Nerea offers an exclusive escape from Tulum’s main strip. Created around the idea of balance being key to well-being, the property feels intimate, serene and luxurious. Its design elevates the neutrals-and-hammocks aesthetic Instagram has famed the region for — with statement lamps, lots of lounge space and local Tzalam wood adorning the interiors.
Designed to reflect its surroundings, the walls are covered in Chakum, a local Mayan stucco technique, and all the balconies, stairs and corridors are made from local wood zapote, which is traditionally used for piers and palapas.
The ground floor is a seamless indoor-outdoor living experience that flows around the meandering pool, connecting the reception to the swim-up pool rooms, second lobby, restaurant, pool bar, beachfront and pier with a walkway and garden populated with local plants like black mangroves and Chaca trees.
To keep the boutique feel, the property’s 21 rooms span three small staggered hexagonal buildings so all guests can enjoy a view. Each room has a private outdoor space and bathtub or plunge pool and comes equipped with a Nespresso machine and capsules, complimentary mini bar that is restocked every day and local organic toiletries. Thanks to dedicated bandwidth and individual antennas, all rooms have high speed internet, including the rooftops in the duplex suites, plus a TV and phone permitting complimentary worldwide calls.
Guests can freely enjoy the hotel’s kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling gear, and bicycles at their leisure, or join one of the hotel’s snorkeling or kayak tours to the nearby reef. And with both a private pier and beach, there’s no excuse not to go for a dip in the Carribean blue sea. The night sky is majestic, and worth soaking up from the beach or balcony to the soothing sounds of the waves crashing against the shore.
Nerea’s in-house spa boasts a menu of restorative treatments, including the option to have a massage on the pier overlooking the crystal blue waters of the bay. Plus yoga classes also run twice a week, allowing guests to curate their own retreat experience.
The onsite Umbal restaurant serves a creative healthy and locally sourced menu fit for meat lovers and vegans alike, featuring many dishes slow cooked in a charcoal oven to deepen the flavors. And just a short stroll down the beach is sister property Mereva, which is open to guests for local Mexican cuisine.
With its attentive staff, serene atmosphere and stunning beachfront, guests will find it hard to leave this hidden gem.
Top Takeaways
Location: Tulum, Mexico
Rating: Four-Star
The Vibe: Relaxed beachfront luxury and the best of indoor-outdoor living.
Food + Drink: Guests can enjoy a complimentary a la carte breakfast of healthy local treats at the restaurant, by the pool or delivered straight to their room, and order pool-side lunch, dinner and drinks all day.
Amenities: Concierge; Wi-Fi; Minibar; Organic toiletries; Breakfast; Spa; Bar; Restaurant; Snorkeling gear; Kayaks and bicycles
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Its secluded beachfront location and retreat-style design makes it a real hidden gem, and the perfect place to escape stress, relax and recharge.
5 Nearby Attractions: Manati Cenote; Mayan Ruins of Tulum and Coba; Tankah Bay; Muyil River Float; Tulum Beach
Any Personal Neighbourhood Recs? Just steps away from the hotel, is the stunning Manati Cenote. Given the remote location, there aren’t many restaurants within walking distance, but neighboring hotel Mereva has a killer Mexican menu. Arca is the top-rated restaurant on the main Tulum beach, and is well worth the taxi ride down for its delicious local and micro-seasonal menu. Vegan? Raw Love is a must for satisfying plant based fare and sweets, and with locations both in town and on the beach, there’s no excuse to miss out.
Rooms: 21 rooms across seven categories, each with a private outdoor space: pool view, ocean view, beachfront, deluxe swim-up, and duplex rooftop suites with private plunge pool.
Pricing: Rooms start at $255/night.
Closest Airport: Cancun International Airport
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