What the hotel zone actually is
The hotel zone is Tulum's beach road, the Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, the strip of small hotels, beach clubs and restaurants that runs along the coast. The town itself, Tulum Pueblo, sits inland by Highway 307. Driving in, you reach Tulum Pueblo first, then follow the signs for the hotel zone down to the coast.
At the southern end of the strip there's the Mayan Arch, the entrance to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. We're at Km 8.7 of the road, on the beach.
What it's like at Km 8.7
Our stretch of the road is inside a protected natural area. Wildlife is part of living here, and you'll sometimes meet animals around the house. We ask everyone to be mindful of the plants, the animals and the water, and it's one of the reasons this part of the coast still feels the way it does.
We're a house of twelve suites. Some are right on the sand: Caracol sits directly on the dune with beach access from its living room, and Casa Playa has a veranda that runs out to the Caribbean. Others, like Palmas with its own plunge pool, or Selva and Ceiba, look into the garden. Up top, the rooftop looks over jungle on one side and sea on the other, from sunrise to sunset.
The beach out front
The beach is the reason to stay on this road, and ours is right outside. The XELA Beach Club on the sand is for our guests only, with light, locally inspired organic food through the day. Beach towels come with the pool.
Be aware of sargassum. This seaweed is a natural occurrence on Mexican Caribbean beaches, including Tulum, and when and how much arrives is unpredictable. We have a dedicated team who clear our stretch.
Getting around the beach road
Most people bike or walk. We keep shared bikes for our guests, and the beach road is the best way to see the zone at your own pace. For anything farther, and at night, take a taxi. They're easy to find.
From the airports: we're 30 miles from Tulum International Airport and about 90 miles south of Cancun, both via Highway 307. If you'd rather not rent a car, we can arrange a private transfer from either airport. Book it with us between 30 days and 24 hours before you arrive.
Practical things to know
- Cash: Tulum still runs largely on cash. Bring pesos for restaurants, taxis and tips off property.
- Water: tap water isn't drinkable. We put purified drinking water from our own well in every room.
- Plugs: 115V, same plugs as the US and Canada, so no adaptor needed if you're coming from there.
- Medical: our doctor can come to the house within about 30 minutes, or up to an hour in December and January. CostaMed and Amerimed Tulum are the hospitals people use locally.
- Ages: our house is best suited to guests 12 and older.
- Taxes and fees: rates carry a 21% hospitality tax, a 30 USD per night destination fee and a 3.2 USD per night environmental fee.
When to come
January to March is high season, with temperatures from the high 60s to the high 80s F (about 20 to 32°C) and a slight chance of rain. December and January are the busiest weeks on the road, so book early if you're coming for the holidays.
Staying with us
If you want the hotel zone without a big resort, this is what we do. Condé Nast Traveler included us in its 19 Best Hotels in Tulum in 2026, and Forbes wrote about us in 2025 in a piece on design-driven micro hotels in Mexico. Twelve rooms means we tend to remember what you like.