Suenos Tulum

Displaying one of the less obvious and ostentatious roadside
hotel signs, Suenos Tulum’s laid-back atmosphere, large and shady gardengrounds, and authentic beach vacation vibe hide behind a rocky wall and rustic
wooden gate overflowing with greenery. Designed to resemble an ancient Maya town -- complete with a tall, coral rock lobby, a rugged perimeter wall with
colorful folk art paintings, stone buildings, thatched-roof palapas, and a
central fire pit -- Suenos Tulum feels more remote in time and space than it
actually is. The big sandy commonspace at the front of the hotel is peppered with primitive but stylishly
constructed wooden slab benches, lounge chairs, and some modern plastic
furniture (that is colorfully lit after the sun goes down). This area also houses a fire pit surrounded by a large circle of seating and a handful of
hammocks stretched between the many palm trees. Out back by the pool and beach,
there are several seating areas where guests can sit with a group or solo and
stare out into the ocean. Overall, the hotel is as well-suited for privacy as it is for social groups. There’s a slight guesthouse-over-hotel vibe that contributes to an authentic, relaxing beach holiday vibe without sacrificing services. It’s a good spot for those looking to escape big cities with their constant noise and distractions, and reconnect with themselves or nature.

Located on the southern end of Tulum’s Hotel Zone within a
10-minute bike ride of the gates of the Sian Ka’an biosphere, Suenos Tulum escapes the main
hubbub of the strip while still within walking distance of some
of the top restaurants, bars, and shops -- the sustainable restaurant Hartwood
and the popular Mr. blackbird boutique are a 10-minute walk up the road. The
Tulum ruins are a 15-minute drive or cab ride north. Nearby day-trip activities include
snorkeling or diving in cenotes, swimming with turtles in Akumal, or hitting
the climbable ruins of Coba, which is two hours away. Tulum Pueblo is about a 15-minute drive from Suenos Tulum, and Adventure parks like Xplor and Xcaret are roughly 45 minutes north off
the main highway, just south of the club-bumping, tourist-heavy beach city of
Playa del Carmen. Cancun International Airport is about a 90-minute drive from the hotel.

Spread across five buildings, Suenos Tulum’s 13 bungalows
all face the beach and are named and decorated to pay homage to different
aspects of nature and Maya civilization: Jungle, Moon, Sun, Earth, and Rain. Beach Suites are on the
ground floor and include two double beds, desks, and private patios.
Because there they pose no balcony risk, these rooms are reserved for families with small
children (though not exclusively). Junior Suites have the same layout and
features as Beach Suites but are located on the second floor and swap patios for small, breezy balconies with sunrise views. Master Suites, with king-size beds, are
third-floor units offering the best views and the most privacy, and are recommended for couples. Upper-level
bungalows have large, circular windows that, depending on the rooms' vantage point, look out on the
starlit sky. All rooms have vibrant and colorful hand-painted tiles
throughout, organic toiletries, bottled spring water, bathrobes and slippers,
indoor hammocks and, except for Master Suites, mozzie nets around comfortable beds.
There are no electrical outlets in the bungalows, but they have singular USB
inputs to charge cell phones and MP3 players, but be aware that electricity is turned off
during the day, rendering the outlets and overhead fans inoperable.The hotel’s Temple Suite is located in the main
lobby building, up a few flights of stairs, and -- with an open plan, concrete
floors, king bed, two double beds, gorgeous coral-rock bathroom area (with a two-person whirlpool), and roof access with 360-degree views of the jungle and
ocean -- feels more modern and indulgent than the other rooms. Unlike
the other rooms, this suite has air-conditioning and electrical outlets.

Suenos Tulum’s beach area feels a little wild on windy days.
Though it escapes the rocky coastline farther north on the beach strip, waves can
still come crashing in, though they're gentle enough to allow for dips in the sea. Sunbathers can tan in one of the plentiful lounge chairs, or escape the rays under one of the fun stretched tarps.

Though casual and low-key, this boutique property doesn’t skimp on
features, offering regular resort perks like an on-site restaurantand bar, pool, free Wi-Fi, and yoga classes. The hotel’s restaurant is housed
in a small palapa with a few tables on the second floor and the busy kitchen on
the first. There are also several outdoor seating areas, including a picnic
table and a poolside stone table for two. The bar area is open-air
but covered with a handful of high-top tables and stool seats that easily become
crooked in the sand. The menu is full of well-priced and delicious Mexican
dishes and seafood, a selection of beach cocktails, and an international wine
list. There’s a small above-ground pool with a few pool toys but no
loungers, although there's lots of ocean-facing seating. The hotel also holds yoga
classes in the upper level of the large garden-set palapa, which guests can sign up for in the lobby.Unmarked parking is across the dirt road, and Wi-Fi is free
throughout the property. Bike rentals, board games, a lending library, and power
strips for charging electronics are available in the lobby.