Be Tulum, Jungle Luxury Hotel 2011

Nov 9

Written By Sky

Off-season, Tulum was a much calmer place than its reputation suggests. It felt like the essence of hippy-chic: a string of small hotels and restaurants with plenty to offer. We spent an afternoon drifting from one to another, peeking into rooms, wandering gardens and scanning menus. When we are in remote places, we often explore nearby hotels, not always visible on search engines, as a way of discovering what a place truly offers and quietly planning our return.

Be Tulum is among the more lux boutique properties along the jungle road that runs down Boca Paila. An impressive gateway leads into a lush garden of palms, warm shadows, and hanging lanterns. A winding footpath snakes towards the ocean, passing a series of beautifully designed two-storey bungalows built from natural materials, each with a petite private plunge pool shimmering in the filtered light.

This is also where you encounter Tulum’s real drawback: space. Beachfront plots are small, and Be Tulum, like many hotels here, feels a touch overbuilt. A few fewer bungalows or simply a few more metres between the path and the rooms would allow the architecture to breathe and restore a greater sense of privacy.

At the end of the path lies the main pool, bar, and two dining spaces. This is one of the most stylish hotel bars in the area, furnished with sculptural pieces and a crowd that appears effortlessly pulled from a summer campaign. The food is good but not entirely rooted in Mexican tradition, although there are plenty of bright, juicy ceviches. As is always the case in Tulum, the beach is beautifully fine, with soft, pale sand and clear turquoise water; it is somewhat narrow and entirely public, yet remains undeniably enchanting