A Luxury Guide to Tulum: Boutique Hotels, Spas & Restaurants

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This luxury guide to Tulum is all about helping you pamper yourself in one of Mexico’s most famous Magic Towns.

If you are looking for a little bit of luxury in Tulum, you don’t have to look very far. From Luxury resorts in Tulum to boutique shopping in Tulum and everything in between.

There are world-renowned restaurants, beautiful boutique hotels in Tulum, and some of the best local shopping in the entire country.

Now that the Tulum Airport has opened, it has never been easier to enjoy a little bit of Tulum luxury.

This guide will help you discover the absolute best of the luxury hotels in Tulum, top restaurants to make reservations at before you arrive, and the best shopping around the town and beachside not to miss while you’re here.

Getting to Tulum

As of 2024, there is now a Tulum Airport that allows you to fly directly to paradise.

In years prior, you had to fly to Cancun Airport and then get yourself over three hours south to Tulum.

It will certainly make Tulum and the surrounding beaches busier and hotels more expensive during peak times, but it will also make it so much easier to visit for those that love this region of Mexico.

Officially called Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Airport code: TQO, Tulum airport is located 12 miles or about 20km southwest of Tulum. Check flights to Tulum Airport here.

From here you can organize pickup with your hotel directly if they offer it. This is the easiest and most convenient option since you will already be booking your room and other activities with the hotel. Sometimes it is included in your stay.

The second option is to book an airport transfer. Because the airport has only just opened, there are not many private companies available. You can organize a private transfer or taxi directly at the airport when you arrive. Here is the current cost of those taxis.

Top Luxury Resorts in Tulum

Tulum is home to some of Mexico’s most exquisite boutique hotels and luxury resorts. There is no shortage of rooftop views, infinity pools, boho chic decor, and epic Tulum beach clubs outside your hotel door.

The prices match the luxury here in Tulum, so if you’re looking for a budget destination, you should consider elsewhere on the Riviera Maya coast (or book a stay at the ever-stylish Selina Hostel along the beach).

However, if you are happy to splash out on a couples retreat, a solo adventure, or a girl’s getaway, Tulum is the perfect place for it.

• Our Habitas is an eco-boutique hotel with a huge focus on sustainability. You are in the middle of the jungle at this luxury Tulum hotel with a spa onsite, year-round pool, private beach entrance, and an insanely delicious breakfast included. Room start at $300 per night. Book a stay at Our Habitas Hotel here.
• Azulik is one of the most famous hotels in Tulum. You may have seen photos of it on Instagram before, but nothing prepares you for the childlike wonder you’ll have as you lay out on one of their hot tubs high over the trees and look out over the Caribbean Sea. This hotel is exquisitely designed and if you splurge on one of the ocean-facing rooms you may never want to leave. Rooms start at $400 per night. Book a stay at Azulik here.
• Mamasan Treehouses is one of the most Tulum experiences that you can have. This eco-hotel is in the middle of the Tulum jungle with beautiful treehouses and cabins available. If you are looking for a luxury hotel to get away from it all this is the place to do it. Rooms start as low as $180 per night. Book a stay at Mamasan here.
• Mi Amor Boutique Hotel is the best Tulum resort for couples. It is an adults-only resort with rooms that have private wading pools, stunning views of the Caribbean, and an onsite spa with tons of couples services available. The pool and lounge area is relaxing and well designed. Book well in advance because this hotel is one of the most popular in Tulum. Rooms start at $340 per night. Book a stay at Mi Amor Boutique Hotel here.
• Diamante K is a luxury hotel with an unbeatable location. One of only a few Tulum hotels located right in the Archeological Zone. You can see the ancient Maya ruins without going very far and the beach here is one of the most spectacular beaches in Mexico.The room prices and standard vary with budget options available for as little as $150 per night and ocean-view bungalows starting at $200 per night. Book a stay at Diamante K here.

Activities in Tulum

There are so many wonderful things to do in Tulum. If you are looking for a luxury vacation, you’ll find plenty of fun tours, private boat trips, and fascinating destinations to explore during your trip to Tulum.

Mayan Ruins

The Mayan ruins in Tulum are one of the absolute must-dos during a trip to this part of Mexico. You can book a private guide and explore the ruins without waiting in line if you book this tour.

This tour also includes stops at a cave cenote, lunch, and pick up and drop off at your hotel. Read more about it and book it here.

The Maya Ruins are breathtaking with the Caribbean Sea in the background and the sunbleached stone on the hill overlooking the rugged coastline.

If you want to skip the tour, you can just book some skip the line tickets here and wander the ruins yourself. Be sure to bring your bathing suit and a towel to enjoy the beach that sits below the ruins. It is one of the most photogenic places in town.

Cenotes

Pronounced like seh-no-tays, cenotes are geographical formations that are scattered all over the Yucatan Peninsula. There are tons around Tulum and a swim in this freshwater pools is one of the most luxurious activities you can do here in Tulum.

There are quite a lot of local Tulum cenotes you can visit on your own if you have rented a car. If not, consider taking a private tour like this one so that you can spend as much time visiting the cenotes as you want.

There are group tour options available as well, which you can see here. However, you will have limited amounts of time at the different stops.

The one we absolutely loved was an 8km cycle from the center of Tulum called Xacil-Ha. Most people head to the closer Gran Cenote, which you’ll spot as you head towards Xachil-ha (they’re on the same road).

Another nearby spot that is worth a visit is Dos Ojos Cenotes. This is best reached with a rental car. You can check rental car prices and book on on Discover Cars here.

Lay on the Beach

The beaches in Tulum are some of the most beautiful in the entire country. The turquoise Caribbean Sea laps gently against blindlingly white soft sand.

Grab a chair on the beach at your hotel or check out the different Tulum Beach Clubs. A few of my personal favorites include: Ziggy’s, Raw Love, and Cinco.

Go Sailing Along the Coastline

One of the most luxurious things you can do anywhere in the world, whether it’s the south of France or sunny Mexico, is get on a boat and relax along the water.

There are endless opportunities to get out on the water while you’re in Tulum. It all depends what sort of activities you want to enjoy while you’re out there.

If you love snorkeling, you may want to book yourself onto a snorkeling tour that also stops in the magical Si’an Kan nature reserve. You’ll snorkel in the world’s second largest coral reef network and see tons of wildlife as well. Book that tour here.

Want to lay on the front of a yacht, listen to great music, and have a few cold drinks with your friends, rent a yacht for the day. It includes the captain and stewardess, tons of drinks and food, and a few hours out on the water with your friends. Book the boat here.

If you want a boat experience, but don’t want to splash out on renting a private yacht, you can take a sailing trip with a group of friends instead. This is a group tour so there may be other people on the boat as well, but it’s a fun way to meet other people and get out on the water.

This sailing experience includes stops at different bays, the opportunity to swim right off the boat or go paddleboarding. There are drinks and food included as well. Book a ticket for this experience here.

Where to Eat in Tulum

We have a full article to help you choose the best restaurants in Tulum. There are so many wonderful places to eat while you’re enjoying the luxury vacation of your dreams.

A few places that you absolutely don’t want to miss include Cetli, Bal Nak, Nü Tulum, and of course, the place that started it all, Hartwood.

Where to Drink in Tulum

The nightlife in Tulum gets better and better each time I return.

We have a full list of the best bars in Tulum that you don’t want to miss. Many are places that you might enjoy during the day as well, especially at the top-notch beach clubs.

Most hotels along the beach front in Tulum have bars that are open to anyone, not just hotel guests.

The nightlife is best in the hotel zone, especially during peak season like spring break and around December and January.

Expect DJs, live bands, all-night parties, and probably being offered drugs at least once or twice. If you don’t want to party, be sure to stay at a hotel that is not also a bar along the beach because it will be impossible not to hear the music.

Some spots not to miss are Gitano, Kin Toh (located inside Azulik), and Caribe Swing in the downtown area.

Best Spas in Tulum

No luxurious vacation to Tulum is complete without a visit to at least one of the many wonderful spas here.

If you booked a hotel that has a spa, that should be your first port of call. The luxury resorts in Tulum have some of the best spas in town and you don’t have to travel anywhere. Some will even come to your room for the services.

Like everything else they have at this hotel, Azulik has an incredible spa. If you didn’t want to splurge on one of their $500+ hotel rooms, you can still enjoy a spa treatment here. Book a spa treatment at Azulik here.

Another spa that offers wonderful treatments and massages is Leaf Spa. Located in the downtown area of Tulum, the prices are lower than you’ll find at the luxury hotels, but the quality is still outstanding. Book a treatment at Leaf Spa here.