Nueva Vida de Ramiro

Sprawled over a large section of preserved jungle property, Nueva Vida de Ramiro, or “the new life of Ramiro,” began construction after the owner’s son, 19 years old at the time, awoke from a year-long coma. An accident had almost taken his life, and his parents were determined to find joy and inspiration in his second chance. Started in the mid-1990s as a four-bungalow property, Nueva Vida de Ramiro was one of the first spots to set up shop along the dirt roads of Tulum’s beach area. Nestled between the dense jungle side of the road and the soft sand shores of the ocean side, the hotel has taken steps to be eco-friendly through the use of alternative power, recycling, and conservation efforts that preserve the natural flora; it also runs an on-site sea turtle conservation project.This property is well suited to those seeking a relaxing, private, and friendly vacation that feels remote, even though the pedestrian and beach bike-heavy road is right out front.

Located on the lower half of Tulum’s beach strip, Nueva Vida de Ramiro is within easy walking and biking distance of other hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars. It’s also has one of the larger stretches of white-sand beaches in the area, right out back. The main entrance to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere is less than a 10-minute drive down the road, while Tulum town center is about a 15-minute drive. Nearby day-trip activities include snorkeling or diving in cenotes, swimming with turtles in Akumal, or hitting the climbable ruins of Coba, which is about two hours away. Adventure parks like Xplor and Xcaret are located roughly 45 minutes north off the main highway, just before the club-bumping, tourist-heavy beach city of Playa del Carmen. Cancun International Airport is about a 90-minute drive from the hotel.

All 33 of Nueva Vida’s rooms are clean, and have a rustic simplicity conveyed through the use of tropical woods. Concrete and tile floors, large windows that bring in breezes, fans, and high ceilings work to keep hot days a bit cooler, but rooms still get warm when temperatures rise. Some rooms have air-conditioning, but as a power-saving measure, it's available only in the late evening through early morning. The rustic quality of the rooms comes through in its colors, basic wooden furniture, palapa-style buildings, and casita-style bathrooms found in most units. Oceanfront Suites have large, sunny terraces with patio furniture, hammocks, and fabulous views of the beach, while Ocean View Rooms have slightly smaller terraces, and their views are partially obstructed. Studios, which have air-conditioning, also have kitchenettes with refrigerators and stoves. Each room comes with free breakfast and its own parking space.

Most of the boutique properties along the coast operate off the grid to some extent, and Nueva Vida de Ramiro is no exception. It has installed solar panels that allow the hotel to run almost exclusively on solar power (a generator is used only to recharge at night and on cloudy days), and its sandy paths wind around natural vegetation. Most rooms only have fans, and though electricity is available 24 hours a day, air-conditioning, for the rooms that have it, can only be used late evening through early morning.The hotel operates an on-site turtle conservation project that locates, monitors, and sometimes transplants sea turtle nests in the area. There are two fenced-in monitoring areas on the property, where at-risk nests are placed and watched; sometimes the turtles are helped through to release -- a special event that guests are welcome to participate in.

Nueva Vida de Ramiro sits on one of the largest beach strips for a boutique property in the area -- soft, sugar sands and turquoise water lies behind the hotel, and is one of its best features. There is plenty of space for guests to experience the beach without feeling as if they're on top of one another, while still creating a semi-social vacation vibe. The sands are topped with loungers, beach beds (both hanging in huts and on the sand), and umbrellas. There’s also a lifeguard on duty during the day, beach showers, and as with other beachfront properties, hordes of seaweed. Oceanfront rooms have their own private access paths to the beach, and the lush mangroves and thick palm trees provide plenty of privacy.

Aside from the beach, Nueva Vida Ramiro’s grounds are a standout feature. In an effort to not disturb the natural growth of plants, several sand paths wind through the leafy green grounds, conveying a tropical vibe. The hotel's restaurant across the road, Casa Banana, serves fresh Argentine dishes and craft cocktails. A free continental breakfast is served here (and down at La Zebra hotel). In low season, guests can opt to have breakfast in their rooms.Unlike other properties with more space, there’s no pool here. The reception area houses a lending library organized by language, and a business center. Bikes are available to rent. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.