Top 10 Boutique Hotels in Tulum
Image: Xela Tulum Courtesy of Expedia
In Tulum, a destination that has long drawn the free-spirited and design-conscious, a selection of boutique hotels offer a fresh take on barefoot luxury.
These stays offer relaxed, inviting spaces, with swoon-worthy interiors, delicious dining options, and unforgettable local experiences, in settings that range from secluded jungle retreats to lively beach clubs.
In this article we’ve rounded up our pick of the best boutique hotels in Tulum, based on their design, service, beach clubs, amenities, and rooms.
If you’re just starting to plan your trip, you might also want to read our guide to Tulum’s neighbourhoods.
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Our editors guide to the best boutique hotels in Tulum
Image: Hotel Panamera Pool Courtesy of Expedia
Hotel Panamera
With its red-and-white striped loungers and cinematic pool, Hotel Panamera cuts through Tulum’s sea of neutral-toned villas and “boho” sameness. Set right on the beach, the hotel is styled with some serious intention, arched hallways, patterned tiles, vintage rattan and warm wood. Rooms are compact but chic, with king beds, rain showers, and air conditioning (thank god).
The real draw is their restaurant and beach club, Distrito Panamera, a local favorite and a front-row seat to Tulum’s social scene. Expect slow brunches, mezcal late nights, and the occasional Wes Anderson-inspired pool party. Look out for their Zissou Splash series or MoonAmour, a full-moon celebration made for dancing barefoot in the sand.
Best boutique hotel for: A weekend getaway with friends
Image: Xela Tulum Courtesy of Expedia
Xela Tulum
XELA stands apart in Tulum for what it doesn’t do, no beach club, no day-pass crowd, no loud branding. Just 12 sizeable suites on a quiet stretch of So Tū beach. A hotel designed for travellers who prefer space and good design over gimmicks. In the rooms you’ll find curved plaster walls, large open-air bathrooms, and balconies perfect for watching the waves. Some have rooftop plunge pools, others have bathtubs hidden behind linen curtains, each suite feels like it was built for unadulterated relaxation.
The hotel’s strength is in restraint. There’s no spa menu pushed at check-in, but guests in the know can book a Mayan clay ritual led by healer Rosana Ortube, a private beachfront experience that feels more ceremony than treatment. The rooftop is open for sunrise yoga and jungle-to-sea views, while the low-lit ground floor has two pools and plenty of nooks to disappear into.
No one hovers, but the team remembers your name and how you take your coffee. It’s like the old Tulum, and we mean that in the best way possible way.
Best for: Travelers looking for a peaceful sanctuary with a focus on wellness
Alaya Tulum Hotel
Image: Alaya Tulum, Courtesty of Expedia
For something quieter and more conscious, Alaya Tulum offers a low-key retreat just off the party stretch of Tulum’s beach zone. Part of the Ahau Collection, the property leans into wellness with daily yoga classes, guided bike rides, and traditional Mayan temazcal ceremonies. It’s the kind of place where barefoot mornings turn into sound bath afternoons, and staff greet you by name.
Rooms are rustic-luxe, with palapa roofs, natural materials, and private terraces shaded by palms. Bonus: dogs are welcome, making this a rare option for design-minded travelers bringing pets or little ones along.
Best boutique hotel for: Families with pets
Hotel Ma'xanab
Image: Hotel Ma’xanab, Image Courtesy of Expedia,
Adults-only, Hotel Ma’xanab is where you check in when you’ve outgrown the “Tulum scene.” Located at the southern end of the beach strip, it’s far enough to feel removed, but close enough to bike to Hartwood or the ruins. The architecture layers terracotta tile, local stone, with carved wood for a naturally inviting, open space.
Every suite has a private plunge pool and hammock-draped terrace. Interiors are restrained, neutral palettes, polished concrete floors, Mayan textiles.
There’s no DJ, no day beds stacked five-deep, just a low-key beachfront, a small gym, and a spa offering reflexology and herbal compress treatments. Room service is fast, the coffee is strong, and the staff don’t hover.
Best for boutique hotel for: A rejuvenating solo escape
Image: Room with plunge pool at Hotel Ma’xanab
La Valise Tulum
Image: Aerial view of La Valise hotel and beach club in Tulum
Frequently named among the world’s best small hotels, La Valise is a cult favourite for couples, design insiders, and those picture-perfect honeymoons. The beachfront suites are the main event. Uninterrupted ocean views, private plunge pools, and signature open-air sky showers. Interiors feel custom rather than styled, tropical hardwoods, handwoven textiles, and carefully sourced art nod to traditional Yucatán craftsmanship without falling into pastiche.
Guests spend their days between bed and beach, occasionally surfacing for mezcal or a massage.
Best boutique hotel for: Honeymoons and small weddings **no children or pets allowed.
Image: La Valise Hotel Suite
Image: Be Tulum Hotel, Image Courtesty of Expedia
Be Tulum Beach & Spa Resort
Be Tulum is the kind of place people imagine when they picture a high-design jungle retreat. Set between dense palms and a pristine stretch of sand, the hotel pairs stone, wood, and leather interiors with low, moody lighting and private plunge pools. Rooms are generous and discreet, built for barefoot luxury and long mornings in.
The real draw is Yaän Healing Sanctuary, the on-site wellness complex known for its deeply rooted, pre-Hispanic approach to healing. Guests come for temazcal ceremonies, energy cleanses, herbal detox programs, and the kind of bodywork that takes days to process. The yoga shala is open-air, the spa products are made in-house, and the staff know their modalities.
Best boutique hotel for: A wellness retreat
Image: Be Tulum Hotel pool area
Kimpton Aluna Tulum
Image: Kimpton Aluna Hotel in Aldea Zama, Tulum
For those seeking a retreat closer to downtown Tulum, try the neighborhood of Aldea Zama. Perfectly positioned between Tulum’s Beach Zone, and Downtown Tulum.
Being centrally located, and a bit further away from the mayhem of the beach, Aluna Tulum provides a more relaxed getaway and offers exceptional location for first timers to Tulum who want to explore Tulum ruins, cenotes, downtown, cafes, and beach.
Image: Kimpton Aluna Hotel in Aldea Zama
Personally we loved the slower pace of the Aldea Zama area for a longer stay, and when you want to pop down to the beach the Kimpton Aluna has a partnership with Hotel Panamera. Guests can use the free bicycles available at the hotel, and bike along the beach to Distrito Panamera.
The hotel also has 2 pools, the main one set amongst lush jungle, and one rooftop pool that regularly hosts sunset sessions and morning yoga.
Best boutique hotel for: First timers to Tulum who want to visit all the highlights.
Image: Mi Amor Boutique Hotel, Image Courtesy of Expedia
Mi Amor Boutique Hotel
Perched above the cliffs of Playa Las Palmas, Mi Amor is an adults-only boutique stay. Regularly listed among Mexico’s best small hotels, it offers a polished, grown-up alternative to Tulum’s barefoot crowd. The art deco-inspired pool area is its visual signature, powder-pink loungers, in-water dining tables, and poolside cocktail service for those sun-drenched afternoons where leaving the water feels impossible.
Rooms feel romantic without veering into cliché, with playful touches like tantric books and in-room “romance kits” that somehow feel tasteful, not tacky. The cliffside cabanas are a highlight, offering uninterrupted views of the Caribbean and the crashing waves below.
Chef Paul Bentley’s serves up a small but well designed menu of Mexican inspired dishes, think scallop tostadas, fresh seafood, and mezcal pairings. Book in for Sunday brunch, which draws both locals and in-the-know guests with live jazz and an excellent raw bar.
Best boutique hotel for: Couples looking to reconnect
Image: Mi Amor Boutique Hotel, Image Courtesy of Expedia