The Good Guide to Tulum
Located on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Tulum is an oasis of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and exotic jungle landscape, making it a fan favourite for tropical getaways.
From plastic-free boutique hotels to solar-powered restaurants, we round up some of the best sustainable spots Tulum has to offer.
Restaurants & Cafés
Hartwood
Hartwood is an exquisite open-kitchen restaurant with sustainability at its core. The restaurant is off-grid and produces zero emissions, opting for solar energy and repurposing waste into 100% organic compost used for regenerative farming in the local area.
Hartwood’s seasonal menu changes daily, depending on the season produce they can sustainably source from the local Yucatan markets and farms on the day.
Raw Love Café
Situated in the tropical surroundings of the Ahau Hotel, Raw Love Café is renowned for its celebration of raw organic vegan foods, including a selection of superfood smoothie bowls, appetisers, salads, and desserts.
Freshly prepared juices and health shots are also on the menu, providing the perfect pick-me-up for long days of exploring.
Arca
Serving up seasonal small plates, Arca showcases chef José Luis Hinostroza’s passion for sustainable local produce.
Inspired by the bold flavours of Mexico, Arca’s micro-seasonal menu features the freshest produce from local Mayan farms, all of which are cooked over an open fire.
On the menu, sea urchin ceviche, octopus al pastor, and soft-shell crab, showcase the best in Mayan-Mexican cuisine.
NÜ
Housed in an open-air jungle setting, NÜ is an idyllic bohemian restaurant serving contemporary Maya-Mexican cuisine and bespoke cocktails.
Headed up by chef Benjamin Coe, NÜ opts for premium, locally sourced ingredients to create its delectable dishes of chorizo spiced cauliflower, campeche prawns and local fish crudo, with plant-based options also available for vegans and vegetarians.
Wild
Perched beneath a canopy of concrete and foliage, Wild offers a unique farm to table menu with a Mexican twist.
Sustainably sourced meat, seafood and local vegetables are cooked on a wood fire oven and grill, resulting in beautifully presented dishes of huitlacoche ravioli, grilled octopus and cochinita pork belly.
Also boasting the largest selection of premium spirits in Tulum, Wild is renowned for its signature cocktails made from freshly pressed juices, syrups and cordials made on-site by the team.
Boutiques
Claude Tulum
Claude Tulum is a slow fashion brand offering gender neutral styles for fashion forward men and women.
Designed to be worn year after year, collections are crafted from sustainable fabrics to limit climate impact. Sustainable linen is used to minimise water, while leather and hand-loomed cottons are sourced from eco-conscious vendors across Mexico.
Kaahal Home
Derived from the Mayan word for “origin”, Kaahal Home is a lifestyle concept store championing the craftsmanship of Mexican artisans.
Ceramics, cushions and glassware sit alongside stylish clothing, jewellery and accessories, making this the perfect place to pick up a gift.
La Tiendita Tulum
Founded by Noelia Pretini and Francesca Durante, La Tiendita Tulum specialises in homeware, clothing and clean beauty products handmade in Mexico.
Effortles silhouettes are handcrafted from organic fabrics by female artisans and decorative home textiles are made using sustainably sourced wool, cottons and linens.
Hotels
Olas
Olas Tulum is a beautifully intimate eight-suite, eco, boutique hotel with breathtaking views of the Caribbean sea. The oldest structure on Tulum beach, each room at Olas was designed to be cooled naturally by the ocean breeze. Guest toiletries are housed in reusable containers while waste is treated with an eco-friendly septic system.
This 100% sustainable hotel is exclusively powered by solar energy, making the most of Tulum’s constant sun whilst rainfall, usually occurring between June and October, is collected for the irrigation of its on-site vegetation and gardens.
Habitas
This sustainable, plastic-free sanctuary is nestled amongst the tropical jungle and white-sand beaches of the Caribbean sea.
Designed to coexist with nature, guest rooms are built using natural materials including palapa roofs and canvas walls, to limit climate impact.
Moro, the on-site restaurant helmed by chef Horacio Dardano, honours Spanish and Moorish cuisine with a menu of locally sourced seasonal ingredients and in the luxury spa, naturopathic facials, massages and body therapies use organic ingredients.
Azulik Resort
Designed to reconnect with nature, the villas at the Azulik Resort were handcrafted using locally sourced wood and eco-friendly materials to reduce climate impact.
Fit without air-conditioning, electricity or lighting, each villa is finished with upcycled and hand finished furnishings to ensure a comfortable stay.
On the resort, four immersive restaurants serving locally sourced produce, sit alongside on-site art museum SFER IK Museion enabling visitors to experience world-class art amidst Tulum’s natural elements.
Villa Verde
Villa Verde is an eco-luxury home located in the Aldea Zama neighbourhood of Tulum. Featuring four bedrooms, an open concept design and a private pool, this chic villa is the perfect place for families and large groups of friends.
Designed by Tulum-based design studio Co-lab, Villa Verde boasts indoor outdoor living with a rooftop patio and stylish living area opening out to the pool. Villa Verde is fitted with sustainable materials and soft furnishings to give the ultimate sense of peace and tranquillity.