As many of you will already know the area of the Riviera Maya, south of Cancun, is rapidly becoming the hub of much of the tourism to the Caribbean area of Mexico. Apart from the spellbinding beauty of the area with its crystal-clear waters and wonderful white beaches, there are some of the finest hotels in all of Mexico along with incredible restaurants to cap it all. This month we have decided to take a look at some of the new resorts which have opened, plus a few of the vast array of gourmet restaurants. We hope this will tempt some of you to think about this destination for your next program to Mexico!

Whether you're looking for a posh suite set on the bustling beach road or a tucked-away treehouse amidst the verdant jungle, Tulum offers an ideal stay for every type of traveler. This once-secluded destination in Mexico's Quintana Roo state is now in the spotlight. Its array of hotel options proves it: some set near flashy boutiques, others hidden from the crowds. No matter which you choose, expect to feel at once sedated and mesmerized by the balmy conditions, tropical foliage, and white sand beaches of this Yucatán Peninsula hotspot.

Sánara

This boutique property on the Tulum beach road is barefoot luxury at its finest. Though Sanará’s minimalist beachside suites and villas and jungle-pool compounds are idyllic (some even have private gardens and claw-foot tubs), the real reason most guests stay here is for the property’s Ayurveda-inspired wellness center. Immersive healing programs include massages rooted in Indian healing rituals, yoga classes taught at a beachfront studio, and clean cuisine served at its plant-focused kitchen, the Real Coconut.

Tulum Treehouse
Top creatives in their field gathered to create this secluded, five-room oasis on the jungle side of Tulum’s beach road. Something like a hotel-concept store hybrid, the Tulum Treehouse is a celebration of modern Mexican design. A sleek, minimalist respite, the concrete property is built with artists of all types in mind: Centered around a pool and open-air kitchen (run by Noma alum, Edoardo Fiaschi), the guesthouse includes a working studio with an outdoor ceramics kiln for artists in residence and a shop by Xinú, the top Mexican perfumery. During a stay, guests are privy to the property’s diverse programming like weekly talks, live music performances, and craft workshops.

Hotel Bardo
Nestled within the jungle, Hotel Bardo offers contemporary luxury rooted in wellness, with regular rituals like sound healing ceremonies and yoga classes on rotation. Though life at this adults-only hotel is centered around a thatched-roof bar and an outdoor pool lined with sun loungers—guests can meet here every evening, pre-sunset, for an intention-setting ceremony—the rooms steal the show. Each of the loft-style villas features its own private plunge pool and outdoor garden with a hammock made by artisans in the Yucatán Peninsula. Pair that with decorative cotton artworks and ceramics by the Mexican designer Caralarga and you have a contemporary lifestyle destination in the heart of the Mayan jungle.

Olas Tulum
This tucked-away beach bungalow borders the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve at the very end of the beach road, evoking the Tulum that existed when the property first debuted over a decade ago. There’s no pool or flashy beach club at Olas Tulum, and that’s exactly what makes it so charming. With only eight suites, arriving here feels like you’re visiting the home of a dear friend. Delightfully secluded away from the noise and crowds, the property’s meals are organic and served at a communal table. It’s the type of place where you make genuine connections, both with other guests and the staff.

Casa Maya Kaan
Set within a 10-acre plot of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve along a long stretch of private, white-sand beach, Casa Maya Kaan rises from the jungle like an ancient, secluded paradise. Set well beyond the beach road’s recent developments, a stay here—in either a brick-and-mortar suite or one of nine outdoor bell tents—is centered around wellness. All bookings include a bespoke organic menu according to the group’s dietary preferences, and an extensive catalog of both spa treatments and excursions are available, from a temazcal sweat lodge ceremony to a private boat tour through the Boca Paila Lagoon.

Habitas Tulum
HOT LIST 2018 READERS' CHOICE AWARDS 2019, 2021
Upon arrival at Habitas Tulum, guests are whisked behind a stone façade and greeted with a copal cleansing ceremony. This sets the tone for a stay at this spiritual-chic hideout, located at the beginning of Tulum’s beach road. The heartbeat of the hotel is a central lounge area with low-slung seating in the sand and a bar and restaurant offering vegetable-forward Spanish cuisine. The space opens to an oceanfront pool and lounge with one of the only secluded beaches in the area thanks to two natural rock barriers. The safari-style, low-impact suites are simple yet functional, each with a nearly identical design, save some that offer plunge pools while others have jungle or ocean views.

Holistika
In the heart of the jungle, this boutique hotel and holistic center offer a respite rooted in transformation. Guests of Holistika often eschew the late-night parties on Tulum’s beach road in favor of the property’s vast wellness programming, from kundalini yoga and breathwork classes to cacao ceremonies and sound baths. Each of the 24 guest rooms is peaceful and minimalist, with an added option to stay in a communal bunkhouse known as the Beehive. A stay here is also about gathering, whether at the vegetarian restaurant, Tierra, or by the outdoor fire pit for live music in the evenings.

Hotel Panamera
If the terra-cotta-and-cream-checkered pool at Hotel Panamera looks familiar that’s because it is—this property was purchased by Mexican entrepreneurs and rebranded from the old Casa Pueblo into a brighter, chicer version of itself. Within the three-story, oceanfront structure are 14 sunlit rooms. With design touches inspired by historic estates of the Caribbean, each room is austere with polished floors, long white corridors, and minimalist furnishings, as the star of the show is the view of the sea. New to the property is a swanky rooftop terrace, known as The Roof, where craft cocktails are paired with seafood dishes categorized by their preparation: raw, grilled, or atop a crispy tostada.
Hotel Esencia
GOLD LIST 2018, 2019 READERS' CHOICE AWARDS 2019
A luxurious hideaway for the international jet set, Hotel Escencia is set thirty minutes north of Tulum and feels a world away from it all. Once the former home of an Italian duchess, it’s now a thoughtful boutique hotel with three restaurants, two pools, and a spa that overlooks a cenote. Set within a secluded 50-acre estate with flourishing tropical gardens, the property’s focal point is the main house, a three-story building known as Casa Grande, set just steps from 45 suites and three private villas, all with private terraces and some with plunge pools and ocean views. The property borders the Xpu-Ha cove to the south, a haven for the area’s sea turtles.