Habitas Tulum
"How did it strike you on arrival?This boutique hotel is made up of 32 ultra-luxe canvas tents, each about the size of a New York City studio apartment, pitched on elevated wooden platforms and topped with palapa roofs. Inside, they have king-sized beds, sleek wood furniture, kilim rugs, and—maybe most crucially—robust air conditioning. Most tented rooms are set back in the jungle among palms and sea grape trees, but the ones to book are the five oceanfront suites right above the beach. What’s the crowd like?It's a very specific vibe: the kind of people who stay out dancing until 3 a.m. and then wake up to do an hour of yoga every morning. Lots of stylishly drape-y clothing, tattoos written in a variety of languages, and deep tans. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The "rooms" are in fact tents, although they're built on elevated wooden platforms with private porches, full-sized furniture, midcentury modern dresses, hippie-chic wall hangings, and plush king-sized beds. While there’s a sink and vanity inside each, the rest of the bathroom is relegated to a bamboo enclosure out back. The outdoor showers, surrounded by low palms, are stunning, but while it’s a testament to great design that they’ve managed to make an outdoor toilet feel somehow chic, those who blanch at the idea of a midnight trip to the loo en plein air might want to book elsewhere. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?The showers are stocked with divine-smelling organic products made from local honey and coconut oils, the wi-fi is strong and free, and in lieu of an in-room phone, the front desk and concierge can be reached via WhatsApp message—which they answer immediately. There aren't any minibars, although they do keep your rooms stocked with fresh filtered water, and the bar and restaurant are only a few steps away at any given time. There's also a holistic spa with, massage, and a signature treatment called the Tierra Maya, which includes a whole-body clay mask followed by a massage and a honey facial, and a small fleet of bikes by the entrance that you can take out for the day if you want to hop around the beach strip or do some souvenir shopping in Tulum proper. What's are the food options like?The hotel’s only brick-and-mortar structure is a three-story glass and steel pavilion that houses the open-air ashtanga yoga studio as well as the restaurant, Moro, where Chef Frederico Cappi makes hearty-yet-healthy dishes like wood-fired salmon with pickled cabbage and chicken tagine, alongside local classics like grilled plantains and fish tacos. There’s also a bar that churns out craft cocktails and fresh-pressed juices for those sunbathing by the infinity pool or spread out on loungers in front of the private beach. Bottom line: worth it, and why?If you've never been to Tulum and are interested in getting the full experience without being sandwiched onto the main beach with the bachelorette crowds, this is your spot. The vibe is fun, the tents are cute and comfortable, the beach is beautiful, and the food is tasty, healthy and tropical." - Andrea Whittle
