Where To Stay in Tulum, Mexico: An Insider’s Guide to Tulum Neighborhoods + Accommodations

There is so much more to Tulum than just the beach! While there’s nothing like a good oceanside getaway to the white sand beaches of the Mexican Caribbean, Tulum comprises both beaches and a bustling town center, both home to an increasing array of hostels and more luxurious hideaways.

Read on for our insider’s guide to the best neighborhoods in Tulum for every type of traveler – including exactly what parts of the beachfront are worth visiting! – and some of our top hotel recommendations in town. From budget-friendly hostels to boutique hotels worth splurging for, you’ll find it all here.

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Best Places to Stay in Tulum, Mexico

Our guide to where to stay in Tulum is brimming with information about the best neighborhoods in Tulum for visitors and specific hotel and resort recommendations across the city – but perhaps you’re just looking for a few quick recommendations of the best of the best. These are our top recommendations for where to stay in Tulum, Mexico ~

• Best Place to Stay in Tulum for Couples | Mi Amor
• Best Place to Stay in Tulum for Families | La Zebra
• Best Place to Stay in Tulum for Wellness | Lula
• Best Place to Stay in Tulum for Affordability | BAU Tulum

Read on for more, including hostel, hotel, and resort accommodations at every price point in Tulum’s most vibrant and desirable areas.

Tulum Neighborhoods

Despite its beach town feel and essence, Tulum covers quite a large area, making choosing the right place to stay an important part of the Tulum vacation planning process.

Tulum has two main areas – the Zona Hotelera beachfront hotel zone and Tulum Centro town area, set inland and away from the beach. However, there are a few important things to know about where to stay in each neighborhood, so we’ll break these two areas down even further:

• Zona Hotelera – Tulum National Park | The Tulum National Park area of the Zona Hotelera is where to stay in Tulum for a quiet, secluded, and sustainable beachfront getaway. Limited development within the National Park makes for even more exclusive stays and peaceful getaways.
• Zona Hotelera – Tulum Beach Town | The Tulum Beach Town area is the southern section of the Zona Hotelera and is where to stay in Tulum for walkability to beachfront cafes, restaurants, clubs, and bars. Cool boutique hotels and easy access to the best of the Tulum beach area make it the most popular place to stay in Tulum.
• Tulum Centro | Tulum Centro is where to stay in Tulum for affordability, walkability, and easy access to everything you’d want and need in Tulum – other than the beachfront. It’s the place to be for digital nomads, remote workers, and budget-minded travelers who don’t mind biking to the beach.
• Tulum Centro – La Veleta | The La Veleta neighborhood of Tulum Centro is where to stay in Tulum for the most upscale experience off the beachfront. The area is growing quickly, with new restaurants, villas, and boutique hotels popping up all the time, so expect some constriction during the day but a hip, laidback vibe you’ll love.

Zona Hotelera – Tulum National Park

The northern section of Tulum’s Zona Hotelera beachfront zone sits within the Tulum National Park, officially known as the Parque Nacional Tulum. This is where to stay in Tulum for a quiet, secluded, and sustainable beachfront getaway.

A national park has protected the area surrounding the coastal Mayan ruins in Tulum for decades, but a more extensive section of protected area known as Parque del Jaguar, first announced in 2022, has expanded the protected area in the region. This has created a much more distinctive division in Tulum’s Zona Hotelera beachfront area. For example, anyone staying within the park must show proof of reservation at a hotel inside the park, and visitors are required to pay an entry fee (just a few dollars!) and wear a wristband.

Overall, this creates a much quieter, more laidback feel for visitors staying at one of the handful of hotels within the park. There isn’t much walkability here – head to the beach town area of the Zona Hotelera for that – but you’ll be just a quick taxi ride away from the rest of the beachfront and all the cafes, restaurants, bars, and beach clubs you could want.

Best Places To Stay in Zona Hotelera – Tulum National Park

• Mi Amor | ($$) A romance-minded adults-only boutique hotel nestled along a dramatic rocky outcropping overlooking blue seas. Our pick for the best boutique hotel in Tulum for couples.
• Mezzanine | ($$ – $$$) A serene adults-only boutique hotel with just nine rooms, complete with a broad white sand beach and one of the most popular restaurants in Tulum.

Zona Hotelera – Tulum Beach Town

The southern part of Tulum’s Zona Hotelera is what you could call Tulum Beach Town, and is where to stay in Tulum for walkability to beachfront cafes, restaurants, clubs, and bars. Unlike the national park area of the Zona Hotelera, this section of coastline is lined with places to stay, eat, and play, with restaurants and shops on both sides of the main thoroughfare, making it walkable and easy to navigate.

Cool boutique hotels and easy access to the best of the Tulum beach area make this section of the Zona Hotelera the most popular place to stay in Tulum.

Keep in mind that some areas of the beachfront can feel busy, and certain beach clubs have a reputation for hosting huge parties. If that’s your scene, you’re in luck; if not, make sure you read hotel reviews before booking a stay. Our two favorite spots in this area of town – La Zebra and Lula – are totally laidback and great for families or unplugged beach getaways.

Best Places to Stay in Zona Hotelera – Tulum Beach Town

• Lula | ($$) A Mediterranean-meets-Mexico boutique beauty that is a newcomer in Tulum. Our pick for the best boutique hotel in Tulum for a wellness escape, with its intimate spa and an oceanfront wellness center and yoga pavilion.
• La Zebra | ($$ – $$$) Our pick for the best boutique hotel in Tulum for families, but with a colorful, cool style and impressive culinary offering that makes it popular with couples as well.
• Be Tulum | ($$$) Oceanfront and jungle-immersed villas and suites offer a retreat-like feel at the quieter southern end of Tulum’s Zona Hotelera.
• Azulik | ($$$) A whimsical, design-forward boutique hotel that feels like living inside an art exhibit, complete with a treetop restaurant for the ultimate birdhouse-like feel.

Tulum Centro

Who doesn’t want to stay just steps away from Tulum’s white sands? As dreamy as the coast is, Tulum’s Zona Hotelera is also an expensive destination when it comes to accommodations, food, and even transportation. Tulum Centro is the best place to stay for a much more affordable trip, with budget-friendly hostels, apartment rentals, and boutique hotels making it a popular choice, especially with digital nomads and remote workers looking to stay a bit longer.

Keep in mind that transportation costs to the beach can add up. Biking can be an affordable option, with bike rentals usually costing around 150 pesos a day, but the route between the town center and the beach can take anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes each way. However, an increasing array of great places to eat and excellent places to stay in Tulum Centro means it is a popular option if you can picture staying beyond the beach.

Best Places To Stay in Tulum Centro

• BAU Tulum | ($) Our top pick for the best place to stay in affordability, this hostel has affordable dorm rooms and comfortable private rooms that feel like a steal.
• Botanica Tulum | ($ – $$) A stylish and comfortable hostel meets hotel in the heart of town. Dorm rooms are comfortable and cozy, and private rooms are affordable, yet each has its own private balcony.
• Casa Agape | ($ – $$) An affordable and stylish boutique hotel that also provides access to a beach club in Tulum’s Zona Hotelera for what feels like the best of both worlds in Tulum.

Tulum Centro – La Veleta

Tulum Centro’s walkability is part of its appeal, but sections of Centro can feel downright busy and bustling. The La Veleta neighborhood of Tulum Centro is where to stay in Tulum for the most upscale experience off the beachfront and more of a laidback neighborhood feel than the most bustling part of the center.

Here, you’ll find cute cafes, restaurants, and bars all within walking distance of your boutique hotel, giving it more of a neighborhood feel than you’ll get in the heart of Tulum Centro. Remember, cute often means more expensive, so if your budget has taken you off the beachfront, La Veleta can be more costly than the rest of the Centro.

La Veleta is marginally closer to the beach, which is a plus, but its quickly growing appeal means that there is also a lot of new construction, so expect construction noise during the daytime hours. It’s also quickly becoming more expensive to stay here, making affordable hostels and hotels harder and harder to find.

Best Places To Stay in Tulum Centro – La Veleta

• Hotel Tiki Tiki Tulum | ($ – $$) An affordable yet modern and colorful boutique hotel on the edge of Tulum town with a gorgeous pool.
• Hotel Bardo | ($$ – $$$) An upscale retreat that feels like a jungle escape while still being perfectly located to enjoy the convenience of Tulum Centro’s La Veleta neighborhood.
• Hotel Milam | ($$$) Villa and residence-style accommodations at this stylish hotel, nestled on the edge of Tulum Centro, have a genuine jungle immersion feel that fits with its wellness-focused vibe.

Read More: 10 Best Boutique Hotels in Tulum, Mexico