Hotel Bardo

"Why book? Nestled within the jungle, Hotel Bardo offers contemporary luxury rooted in wellness, with regular rituals like sound healing ceremonies and yoga classes on rotation. Set the scene: Life at this adults-only hotel is centered around a thatched-roof bar and an outdoor pool lined with sun loungers, where guests can meet every evening, pre-sunset, for an intention-setting ceremony. The backstory: The hotel ethos is a Mexican version of the Tibetan concept of bordo: a state of existence between death and rebirth. This comes to life at the property through the idea of transformation and the concept of connecting guests back to their roots during their stay. The rooms: Each of the property’s loft-style villas features its own private plunge pool and outdoor garden with a hammock made by artisans of the Yucatán Peninsula. Pair that with decorative cotton artworks and ceramics by the Mexican designer Carlarga and you have a contemporary lifestyle destination in the heart of the Mayan jungle. Food and drink: Milum is the property’s all-day restaurant, serving guests breakfast, lunch, and dinner made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Specialties range from vegan cauliflower tacos al pastor with roasted pineapple to classic cochinita pibil (suckling pig) tacos, a specialty of the Yucatán. Guests can also enjoy gin- and mezcal-based cocktails at the onsite bar, The Kinky Room. The spa: SPA 13 is based on a sacred number for the Mayas, which they believe represented the levels of heaven where their gods ruled the earth. Stand-out treatments include a shaman-led temazcal sweat-lodge ceremony inspired by ancient healing rituals of the Maya. The neighborhood/area: The hotel is tucked within the jungle between the Tulum beach road and the Tulum Pueblo. The service: Complimentary bicycles are available, and the concierge can coordinate private cooking classes and tequila or mezcal tastings. Eco effort: The property is free of single-use plastics, has an advanced trash-separating system, and utilizes earth water thanks to a specialized treatment plant. \" - Michaela Trimble