Riviera Maya, MexicoTulum Beach
Olas Tulum
Off-grid beach house
Tulum Beach Riviera Maya, Mexico
Opened
2010
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Local SocialOutside the door
Off-grid beach house
It runs on solar power and sea breezes, operating like a private home where everyone unplugs and dines together.
What it’s good at
Notable
Curved whitewashed walls funnel coastal breezes into suites furnished with reclaimed timber.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
With only eight suites, arriving here feels more like you’re visiting the home of a dear friend.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The hotel stands where Boca Paila Road ends, right beside the mangrove wetlands of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
The rooms
Balinese canopy beds stand on polished concrete floors, and ceiling fans catch the ocean breezes instead of air conditioning.
The yoga deck
The open-air Sky Yoga Shala sits in the treetops, with mats provided for practice overlooking the Caribbean.
At the table
The open kitchen prepares breakfasts of house granola and scratch-made chilaquiles, served under the coconut palms.
On Tulum’s beach road, Olas Tulum seems like an intimate beachfront home where guests gather each morning at a communal dining table to sip coffee grown in the mountains of Chiapas.
How it began
Austrian engineer Carlos Schober built the original residence in the 1970s, back when Tulum had only simple jungle cabanas.
Riviera Maya
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.