Where to Stay in Tulum, Mexico
I always tell people that Tulum is such an interesting place because it has something for everyone, and that’s true when it comes to travelers of different budgets as well. Here are the options I would recommend for a Tulum Vacation:
AirBnb in Town ($ to $$)
To get the most bang for your book and a more local experience, I'd recommend an Airbnb in the town proper of Tulum, a short way inland from the beach strip. Lodging here tends to be cheaper with plenty of Airbnbs, and you're within walking distance of local restaurants and stores. Plus, you're closer to many of Tulum's most gorgeous cenotes and jungles.
If you’re hoping to have a more adventure-centric trip (exploring cenotes, Mayan ruins, etc.) this will be the more convenient option as well.
Tulum Airbnbs are in one of two neighborhoods: La Veleta and Aldea Zama.
La Veleta ($):
La Veleta is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of Tulum, and likely the cheapest area you'll be able to stay. The neighborhood is very much in the process of developing, so you'll find construction sites, new condos, local homes, and everything in between there. La Veleta is in a good spot to walk or bike into the middle of town, and you're especially close to one of my favorite restaurants in Tulum, Burrito Amor (link to restaurants blog). La Veleta also has a lot of character with local stray dogs and cats, and small shops (where you can buy touristy trinkets) and supermarkets peppered around the neighborhood.
Aldea Zama ($$):
Aldea Zama is largely developed with new condos and houses, and it's what La Veleta will look like 10 years from now. Because the neighborhood is slightly newer and slightly closer to everything, you will pay a bit of a premium for it. However, it is super nice to be a few blocks from the center of Tulum and while also being situated right along the main road to the beach strip. Plus, the condos and houses tend to be a bit nicer than anywhere else in the town of Tulum.
A few pointers we wish we knew before booking airbnbs in Tulum:
A lot of Airbnbs will have small pools that look like hot tubs. These are NEVER heated, and you wouldn’t want them to be anyway. Soaking in our private cool tub was one of our favorite things to do in Tulum.
Some Airbnbs don’t include the price of running the AC, which you’ll likely want to use since even our time in September + October in Tulum was incredibly hot and humid. Some Airbnbs will have daily AC prices listed in the description, but your best bet is messaging the host to confirm the AC situation. Just a heads up, electricity is quite expensive in Tulum, so AC prices can get high for longer-term stays.
Because Tulum gets a lot of tourists, it generally has good infrastructure for wifi. We had generally positive experiences, but because the town is so close to the coast, storms will sometimes hit and knock out wifi and other utilities (especially during hurricane season). Always message hosts about wifi speeds, and in a pinch, there are plenty of cafes in town with usable wifi. Just keep all of this in mind if you’re planning on doing work-from-home from Tulum long term.
Hotel on the Beach Strip ($$ to $$$$)
For a totally different Tulum experience, you can stay right along the beach, in Tulum’s hotel zone. There are a TON of hotels here, and the area is accordingly touristy and expensive. Prices are around what you’d expect in a major US city for food, drinks, and lodging. There are some incredibly nice hotels that have garnered a large name such as Nomade (famous for their wellness offerings) or Papaya Playa Project (famous for their festivals and parties). My favorite option on the beach strip is the Selina Tulum, which is a great hostel chain for digital nomads and social travelers. Selina is a great value for what you get, and you’re sure to make some new friends there.
Hotels are a great option for anyone focused on relaxation or partying the night away.
I’ve have personal experience staying at these two hotels and would highly recommend either as boutique options:
La Valise: La Valise is a member of Small Luxury Hotels. This hotel only has a select number of rooms, so service is incredibly dedicated and in general, the hotel grounds are quiet. It’s great if you want a calmer escape after a night of partying on the strip. The interior design and architecture of the rooms is truly one of a kind. The hotel recently expanded to include jungle suites, so you can have your pick between beachside views and a more tropical immersion.
Encantada: Similarly to La Valise, Encantada boasts a mere 8 rooms on their property. Again, this makes for super dedicated service and a quieter stay. This hotel is so stunning, that you’ve probably seen it grace your Instagram feed at least once.
Both hotels are a part of the Namron Collection and have taken part in the Tulum Pledge, which is a pledge to use sustainable practices in order to continue to preserve the magic of Tulum. If you decide to travel to Tulum, I hope you take the pledge yourself, as I have done! For 10% off your stay at these options and more, use Safara for your booking. For every Safara booking, Safara invests in a portfolio of carbon offset + removal projects.
Please note, there are many hotels in Tulum that boast sustainable practices. I would highly recommend that you do your research to determine whether theses hotels are truly “eco hotels” or if they're doing the bare minimum in order to attract tourists. When you’re at the hotel, I’d encourage you to talk to the staff and learn more about how they feel about the impacts of tourism on Tulum. It’s been very eye opening for me to have these conversations, and the soft heart inside of me hopes that you will seek them out too.