What "boutique" means at our house
For us it means a small, privately owned hotel where the rooms have names instead of numbers and the people looking after you are the same people all week. We're on the Tulum-Boca Paila road at Km 8.7, on the beach side, and we're a Member of Design Hotels.
We're not a resort and we don't try to be one. There's no kids' club, no buffet line, no wristband. What there is: a beach out front, a rooftop, a spa down the path and a concierge who's on 24 hours a day. Think of it as our home, not a hotel.
Our rooms, by name
Every room is different, so here's the short version of each. You'll hear these names again when you arrive.
| Room | What sets it apart |
|---|---|
| Caracol: Beachfront Suite Lower | On the dune itself, with direct beach access from a private living room |
| Coco: Beachfront Suite Upper | Sea views from the living room and an upper balcony among the coconut palms |
| Casa Playa: Ocean Suite | A veranda that runs toward the Caribbean, plus a living room and balcony |
| Coqui: Ocean Suite Upper | Golden tones and wide ocean views from the balcony |
| Xela: Master Suite | Front-row sea views, a private balcony, living room, office space and a chukum-walled freestanding tub |
| Venus: Junior Ocean Room | Sea just outside the window, a private balcony and terrace, and an outdoor bathtub |
| Sian & Zama: Upper Ocean Room | Two upper ocean-view rooms among the tropical planting |
| Palmas: Garden Room Upper | Under native palms, with its own plunge pool and private terrace |
| Coral: Garden Room Upper | A garden room with a bathtub, surrounded by greenery |
| Selva & Ceiba: Garden Room | Two garden rooms that keep things simple and close to the plants |
| Icaro & Ixchel: Garden Studio | Studios with a patio, steps from our private beach and looking onto the beach road |
If you want the sea in the room, look at Caracol, Casa Playa or the Xela suite. If you'd rather be tucked into the garden with water of your own, Palmas has the plunge pool.
What's in the house
The short answer: more than you'd expect from a small hotel, all within a few minutes' walk of your door.
- XELA Beach Club: guests only, with palapas, loungers and towels included. Breakfast is served here and comes with your stay. Lunch runs 12 to 5 daily.
- XELA Izakaya: an Asian-inspired menu by the sea every evening.
- NÜ Tulum: our jungle-side sister restaurant, recommended by the Michelin Guide, cooking modern and traditional Mexican food.
- La Valise SPA: open 9 am to 7 pm daily, in one of two spa cabins or in your suite. Products are 100% natural.
- The rooftop: open sunrise to sunset, with jungle on one side and sea on the other.
- Pool and gym: an outdoor pool with beach towels, and a small, well-kept gym.
- Yoga and ceremonies: private classes and breathwork with Samadhi Studio's instructors, and Mayan-rooted ceremonies from cacao and sound healing to a Temazcal by a cenote.
- Room service: 1:00 to 10:00 pm, to your room or terrace.
- A coworking space: plus in-room office space if you're staying a while.
- The XELA Market: handcrafted objects by artisans from across Mexico.
We also run two five-day weeks during the year: Of Spirit Week, built around mind, body and soul, and Culture Lab Week, with local creatives.
Who we're right for, and who we're not
We're best for couples, friends and solo travellers aged 12 and up. We love children, but the house is small and quiet, and we'd rather tell you that now.
Pets are welcome: up to two per room, each up to 25 kg, with a USD $90 fee per pet per stay. Tell us when you book, bring vaccination records, and you'll sign a short waiver at check-in.
If you want nightlife on your doorstep, we're probably not your place. If you want to read on the sand, eat well and go to bed hearing the sea, we probably are.
What the press has said
We'd rather you hear it from someone else, so here are a few:
- Condé Nast Traveler included us in "19 Best Hotels in Tulum, From Luxury Resorts to Beach Bungalows" (May 2026).
- Forbes wrote about us in "Design-Driven 'Micro' Hotels in Mexico Reimagine a Resort-Heavy Hospitality Scene" (September 2025).
- Vogue listed us in "The Best Hotels in Tulum, From Lush Sanctuaries to Coastal Retreats" (December 2025).
- Design Stays featured us in "The Best Boutique Hotels In Tulum" (June 2024).
- Wallpaper covered our opening in "Tulum welcomes Xela: a Mexican coastal escape" (September 2023).
What to budget for beyond the room rate
Our prices are in US dollars, and three things are added on top: a 21% hospitality tax, a destination fee of 30 USD per night and an environmental fee of 3.2 USD per night. At check-in we hold 100 USD per night on your card for incidentals, released within 24 hours after you leave.
We're cash-free on property, so cards or a room charge cover everything here. Tulum itself still runs largely on cash, so bring some for the town.
Getting to us
We're about 30 miles from Tulum International Airport (TQO) and about 90 miles south of Cancun International Airport (CUN), along Highway 307. We can arrange a private transfer from either; ask us between 30 days and 24 hours before you arrive. That's an easy one to arrange.
Once you're here, our shared bikes are the easiest way up and down the beach road. For anything further, especially at night, take a taxi.