Tulum is a vibe and a half, full stop. With buzzy beach clubs, Mayan ruins, boho-chic boutique hotels, and freshwater cenotes that allow travelers to swim in enchanting sinkholes surrounded by caves and lush foliage, the area is one of Mexico’s most sought-after vacation spots. It’s the antithesis of the hyper-commercialized mega-resorts you see in Tulum, which, as you know, we love. Read on for the official Hotels Above Par guide to Tulum.
TO STAY:
Hotel Panamera
Hotel Panamera’s thatched-roof buildings, stripe-on-stripe sunloungers, refreshing saltwater pool, plus ivory-white walls, evoke a soothing presence. The 14-key stay sits right on the beach — make sure to grab a sunset nosh at the establishment’s atmospheric beach club & restaurant.
Encantado
Tulum is a scene, but this 8-suite boutique hotel is an oasis of calm on the busy south side of the beach. Here you’ll enjoy a small private beach area, just for hotel guests, and because the hotel is so small, employees can take your cocktail orders via text message.
TO EAT:
NÜ
Right across the street from Encantada, NÜ is the vision of seven chefs to bring Mexican cuisine to a new level while incorporating new flavors and techniques. The pork belly tacos might just be the best you have in Tulum.
Wild Tulum
Dwarfing the bar, the concrete leaf sculpture makes stepping into this restaurant feel like entering Wonderland. Meanwhile, the menu is determined to introduce you to new Mexican flavors in dishes like the Huitlacoche Ravioli and Hoja Santa Ice Cream.
TO DRINK:
Gitano
Gitano Tulum Jungle is the place to be on a Friday night. It’s a boho-chic escape where sipping cocktails accompanies the thrum of a live DJ spinning disco tunes.
TO VISIT:
Tour the Tulum Ruins
These Pre-Colombian Manyan ruins are unique because they overlook the sea. The best view of them is on the water, so consider taking a sunset boat tour to see them during golden hour.
Visit Casa Cenote
Cenotes are freshwater sinkholes that are amicable for swimmers and divers alike. Located right off the roadway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Casa Cenote stuns visitors with its environs: lush foliage, mangroves, and a nearby beach. Swim, kayak, or paddleboard here. If you’re game to snorkel, this spot is great for that, too.
Visit Xcacel: a Beach, Turtle Sanctuary, and Cenote
As we said before, there are many cenotes with crystal-clear water near Tulum. One of our favorite cenotes to dip in is at Xcacel, which triples as a white-sand beach, turtle sanctuary, and swimmable cenote.
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
For a big jungle adventure, you can day trip down the beach road to this truly wild region where mangroves and ruins abound in a place so beautiful the Mayans named it “Where the Sky Was Born.”
