Where to Stay in Tulum (Best Places & Areas)

The Best Areas to Stay in Tulum

Best Beach Areas

Tulum really only has a single 10 kilometer long stretch of beautiful beach, but it’s broken up into several areas. Tulum’s main beach area is called the “Zona Hotelera” because it’s essentially just a line of beach resorts. Within that, there are the north, middle, and south areas. The south is popular with honeymooners, the middle area with partiers, and the north with families and mid-ranged travelers.

But we’ll start with my favorite: a secret beach area most don’t know about called Tankah Bay.

Tankah Bay (Best Beach Area)

⭐ Best Hotels in Tankah Bay: Nerea Tulum | Mereva Tulum | Casa Altamar

Isolation is the draw of Tankah Bay, but it’s also the biggest downside. Apart from the hotel restaurants, there’s almost no services here. You’ll either need a rental car (get one with Discover Cars), or you’ll need to budget to spend a fair bit on taxis to and from town.

📍 Where: Tankah Bay is a private gated area with a 24/7 security guard and several solid luxury resorts. Tankah Bay is perfect if you’re concerned about safety in Tulum (and, honestly, I’d be lying if I said you shouldn’t be). That exclusivity also means the bay’s thin but gorgeous white sand beach is nearly empty most days. [Google Map]

✔️ Pros:

• exclusive gated beach area free from crowds (and crime)
• nice shallow water perfect for swimming and kayaking
• the bay sometimes protects this beach from the sargassum

❌ Cons:

• far from Tulum town, so you’ll need a car or frequent taxis
• apart from hotel restaurants, almost no services

👉 Best For: luxury travelers looking for a tranquil and safe beach retreat away from the crowds.

🛏️ Best Hotels in Tankah Bay:

• Nerea Tulum [Check on Booking] – Our overall #1 pick. It has an expansive pool that flows through the property. Best for couples.
• Mereva Tulum [Check on Booking] – A family-oriented resort that’s perfect if you have kids.
• Casa Altamar [Check on Booking] – Another boutique resort, slightly more affordable, with a great restaurant and nice clean rooms.

North Beach (Public Beach Area)

⭐ Best North Beach Hotels: Mezzanine | Villa Pescadores | Mi Amor a Colibri

The North Beach Area is nice in that it’s closer to town. You could even walk along Avenida Coba, though it’s a long walk. This area is also closer to the Tulum ruins. The main public beach is wide and expansive. However, some of the hotels are located in a rockier section where there isn’t much of a beach (in some, it’s more like cliffs). On the bright side, that does help add to the exclusivity.

📍 Where: From the intersection of Avenida Coba and the beachfront road, stretching to the Tulum ruins. This area is centered around the white sands at the public beach of Playa Paraiso. [Google Map]

✔️ Pros:

• walking distance to the Tulum Mayan ruins
• public parking lot near Playa Paraiso
• best white sand beaches in Tulum (in my opinion)
• relatively less expensive accommodation options.

❌ Cons:

• only a handful of restaurants
• very little nightlife or shopping
• the beach hotels tend to have rockier thinner beaches
• the public beach area is wide, but can get crowded at times

👉 Best For: couples and honeymooners, travelers looking for the most affordable (a relative term in Tulum these days) boutique accommodation on the beach.

🛏️ Best Hotels in North Beach Area:

• Mezzanine [Check on Booking] – a very small boutique hotel, oriented towards honeymooners.
• Mi Amor [Check on Booking] – a higher-end boutique hotel that is as close to the beach as you can get. Some cabanas even have private plunge pools.
• Villa Pescadores Tulum [Check on Booking] – highly-rated and moderately-priced boho chic style beachside accommodation.

🍽️ Restaurants:

• Maia Restaurant [Map] – one of the few places open from breakfast to dinner, Maia offers a variety of seafood and other fare at marked up prices.
• Common Ground Playa Tulum [Map] – a fun pop up beachside bar that’s open during the high season only.

Middle Beach Zone (Party Area)

⭐ Best Middle Beach Hotels: Dune Boutique | Casa Teka

The Middle Beach Zone has more activity going on than any other beach area. It’s definitely the most popular area for the party crowd, as you’ll often find evening raves and events at the various clubs in this area.

📍 Where: the stretch of beach roughly between Avenida Coba and Avenida Kukulkan along the beach road. Centered around the beach town area near the Zamas Hotel. [Google Map]

✔️ Pros:

• Center of the action, giving you the best location in town
• Good mix of beach clubs, restaurants, bars, and boutique shops
• Best nightlife on the beach (check out the party schedule at Casa Jaguar or Gitano)
• Relatively close to town

❌ Cons:

• Hotels can get a bit expensive
• Beach access can be difficult if you aren’t a guest here

👉 Best For: groups of friends, older travelers, couples, and anyone looking for a good mix of convenience and quiet.

🛏️ Best Hotels in Middle Beach Zone:

• Dune Boutique [Check on Booking] – right in the middle of the beach party zone, with a large pool.
• Casa Teka [Check on Booking] – set back from the beach, but with a private cenote. More affordable than other beach hotels, and a good option for groups of friends (many rooms have multiple beds)

🍽️ Restaurants:

• Boccanera Pizzería y Cervecería [Map] – Highly reviewed pizza joint offering some of the more affordable meals along the beach.
• Kin Toh [Map] – High-end jungle treehouse overlooking the ocean. Prices match the quality of the views. (Notes: customer reviews praise this restaurant as one of few in Tulum to fastidiously observe social distancing protocols).

South Beach (Honeymooner Area)

⭐ Best South Beach Hotels: Encantada Tulum | Radhoo Tulum

The South Beach Area is much quieter and more secluded, as it’s bounded on the south by the entrance to the Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve (which is totally worth a day trip, by the way). This area is very popular with honeymooners and wedding parties. If you want a quiet retreat but still want to be in striking distance of the beach parties, this is a good spot.

📍 Where: the long stretch of beach road running south of Avenida Kukulkan towards the Sian Ka’an biosphere. Center point near La Zebra. [Google Map]

✔️ Pros:

• Relatively relaxed atmosphere, with less congestion on the beach road
• Lots of (albeit pricey) boho chic accommodation options

❌ Cons:

• Traffic can back up along the beach road at peak periods, making journeys to town annoyingly long.
• Prices are high (this is the place to stay, after all)

👉 Best For: luxury travelers, honeymooners, families

🛏️ Best Hotels in South Beach Zone:

• Encantada Tulum [Check on Booking] – 8 exclusive rooms right on the beach, offering luxury and intimacy. Perfect for honeymooners.
• Radhoo Tulum [Check on Booking] – A bohemian hotel on the jungle side. The pool is large, and you have access to the beach club at Encantada.

🍽️ Restaurants:

• NU Tulum [Map] – high end restaurants in a relaxed outdoor environment.
• Rosa Negra Tulum [Map] – lively Latin atmosphere and succulent bites (with prices to match).
• Raw Love [Map] – beachside vegetarian joint with jungle vibes. Many come just to see the artistic statue of a giant.

Best Areas in Town

Many travelers choose to stay in town to save some cash. You can always whip down to the beach in a taxi, bike, or by foot. Plus, Tulum town is a better base for getting out and checking out all the day trips from Tulum.

The town “or pueblo” offers lots of great bars and restaurants and everything from high end boutique hotels with stunning swimming pools to budget hotels and hostels.

There is also a separately named part of the town called Aldea Zama, which is a booming residential area with luxury condominiums, high-end Airbnbs, and a handful of luxury hotels.

Downtown (Home to Most Tulum Hotels)

⭐ Best Downtown Tulum Hotels: Layla Tulum | Biwa Tulum | Aloft Tulum

Tulum’s main downtown area is the most populated and busiest part of Tulum. At night, most visitors in Tulum come here to find a restaurant to eat or a bar to drink. Downtown is set back several kilometers from the beach, so don’t expect to be close to the shore. But you will be in the middle of it all. Just be aware that the safety situation here can be hit or miss, particularly at the late hours of the night and near the establishments that serve alcohol.

📍 Where: The main settlement in Tulum Mexico, bisected along the middle by Route 307. [Google Maps]

✔️ Pros:

• Most affordable accommodation
• Easy access to shopping, grocery stores, restaurants, and bars
• Close to the bus station, making trips to Coba, Valladolid, or Chichen Itza easier

❌ Cons:

• Getting to the beach can involve long waits in traffic at peak periods
• Possible safety concerns (I’d be lying if I said violent crime doesn’t happen)

👉 Best For: budget travelers and backpackers, large groups or families, party animals

🛏️ Best Hotels in Town:

• Layla Tulum [Check on Booking] – A very Instagrammable design hotel, with Moroccan-inspired design and a stunning rooftop pool. The manager told me many Instagrammers come here for just one night to snap a ‘gram!
• Biwa Tulum [Check on Booking] – If you’re on a budget but can’t sacrifice quality, stay here. Biwa has spacious and clean rooms, a nice pool, and a great rooftop.
• Aloft Tulum [Check on Booking | Check on Marriott] – For Marriott fans, this is the best location in town. I stayed a couple nights at the Aloft and like the rooftop pool and convenient location on Coba Avenue.

🍽️ Restaurants:

• El Camello Jr. [Map] – a renowned local seafood joint so popular that you’ll likely have to wait in line.
• Burrito Amor [Map] – A great place to eat on a budget. I still to this day swear that I had the best burrito of my life at this place. Tons of vegan and vegetarian options.

Aldea Zama (New Developing Area)

⭐ Best Aldea Zama Hotels: Arthouse | Naay Collection

There is a lot of construction going on in Tulum, with most of it occurring in the newer Aldea Zama area. The benefit of staying here is that you can still find relatively affordable accommodation, but in newer and more modern buildings. There are a lot of apartment rentals available here, many of which are serviced (which gives you the best of both worlds between apartment rentals and hotels).

📍 Where: Aldea Zama is a newer development in the south part of town, towards the beach. [Google Maps]

✔️ Pros:

• Arguably one of the safer areas in Tulum town
• Lots of luxury hotels and modern apartment rentals
• Location means easier access to the beach

❌ Cons:

• The area is still under construction
• Frequent power outages

👉 Best For: families, long-term stays

🛏️ Best Hotels in Aldea Zama:

• Arthouse [Check on Booking] – More like serviced luxury apartments. Rooms are huge, and the pool is too. Good for longer stays.
• Náay Tulum Curamoria Collection [Check on Booking] – Another good option for luxury at a reasonable price.

🍽️ Restaurants:

• Matcha Mata [Map] – A refreshing place to get açaí bowls or smoothies.
• Bejuco Restaurant [Map] – Steak, seafood, and more. Tulum-style ambiance and highly reviewed service.

Want More Hotels? See our interactive list of hotels in Tulum.

Should You Stay in Town or the Beach?

Basically, Tulum consists of a small town (or “pueblo”) that is set back from the beachfront about 3 kilometers into the jungle. The town is connected to the beach by two roads: Avenida Coba (Route 109) and Avenida Kukulkan. The beach itself has just a single beachfront access road (Route 15 or “beach road”) which runs parallel to the beach.

Tulum town is the recommended area to stay for travelers on a budget, long-term stay visitors, or partiers who prioritize proximity to bars and nightlife.

If you are on vacation and can afford it, however, the beach zone offers the most memorable Tulum experience. You are going to Tulum for its stunning beaches after all!

When deciding where to stay, I suggest you first decide on the beach or town. Then you can choose from the best beach areas or one of the best neighborhoods in Tulum town.

Pros of Staying on the Beach

• Beach Access – Public beaches are limited in Tulum, and many beach hotels come with private beach access.
• Avoid Traffic / High Taxi Fares – After sunset, there is always a traffic jam of people fighting for taxis along the single beach road.
• Safety – The beach areas tend to be safer than town.

Cons of Staying on the Beach

• Prices – Hotels are much more expensive than in town, even for a comparable quality.
• Isolated – There are some restaurants, bars, and services, but it’s pretty limited (and expensive) compared to town.

Pros of Staying in Town

• Convenience – Closer to shops, nightlife, and restaurants.
• Prices – Accommodation is significantly more affordable in town (and, often, bigger than the beach resorts).

Cons of Staying in Town

• Safety – Tulum town has a checkered safety reputation.
• Hard to Get to Beach – The beach is far, and the handful of public ones get crowded, so staying in town can make visiting the beach feel like a chore.

👉 Read Next: My Complete Guide to Tulum Beach

FAQs

Is it better to stay in Tulum or Playa del Carmen?

Tulum is usually the preferred destination for travelers looking for a beach-focused vacation. The white sand and turquoise waters mean the beaches are better in Tulum. Playa del Carmen, by contrast, is more affordable. Because it is larger than Tulum, you’ll find more nightlife and all inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen.

Is it better to stay in Cancun or Tulum?

Since it has an airport, Cancun is a better choice for travelers who only have a few days or a long weekend. It is also usually the preferred destination by families and groups. Tulum offers better beaches plus the chance to experience Mayan ruins.

How many days should you spend in Tulum?

We recommend staying at least 3 days in Tulum, which gives you enough time to visit the Mayan ruins and enjoy the beaches. With that said, many travelers stay longer (sometimes much longer).

Does Tulum have an airport?

Tulum International Airport (code: TQO) recently opened and offers flights to certain destinations in Mexico and the USA. There is even a route in the works from Frankfurt. The next closest airport to Tulum is Cancun International Airport, which is still used by many travelers due to the great options for nonstop flights. See our article on going from Cancun to Tulum.

When is best to go to Tulum?

The best time to visit Tulum in my opinion is November through January, when hurricane season has subsided and the sargassum problem has not yet reared its ugly head. It is also before prices spike during Tulum’s peak tourist months, which runs from February through April.

Is downtown Tulum safe?

Tulum is moderately safe, however, there are rising incidents of crime targeting tourists. The state of Quintana Roo has recently experienced an uptick in drug and cartel-related crime. Exercise reasonable precautions and get trip insurance for Mexico. For more, see Taylor’s full safety guide to Tulum.

✨ Traveling Mexico? Check out all our accommodation guides:

• Best Hotels in Valladolid
• Best Hotels in Mexico City
• Best Hotels in San Miguel de Allende
• Best Hotels in Puerto Vallarta
• Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Puerto Vallarta
• Where to Stay in Mexico City

***

I hope this guide helped you decide! If you still have questions, you can leave a comment below and I’ll usually respond within a day or so.

Oh, and remember to check out our interactive ranking of Tulum hotels for many more photos (and honest opinions!).