Zona Hotelera is an approximately 10 km-long stretch of beaches, boutique hotels, restaurants and shops between the Caribbean Sea and the jungle. It is all linked by the narrow Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila road.

In my opinion, the beaches here are the best easily accessible beaches on the entire Mayan Riviera during the peak season.

The sand is exceptionally fine, the beach is wide, and the combination of the turquoise sea, sloping palm trees and small boutique hotels really does look like something out of a travel brochure.

No concrete complexes, no tacky nightclubs like those in the centre of Cancún’s Zona Hotelera.

• 👉 My tips for hotels and places to visit in Tulum

Tulum’s hotel zone is worth a visit even if you’re not staying there, but it makes the most sense to stay right by the beach. In the mornings and evenings, you’ll have the coast almost to yourself and you’ll save on taxis, parking and beach clubs.

Beaches and seaweed

The Riviera Maya is very seasonal, and large amounts of seaweed (sargassum) often wash up here in summer and spring.

Susceptibility to sargassum in the Tulum Hotel Zone: high

The beaches in Tulum face directly east and are not sheltered by any islands. From April to October, sargassum therefore regularly washes up on the coast. The largest amounts are usually seen from June to August.

The better hotels clear the beach every morning, which helps on the sand but not in the water.

Are the beaches in the Zona Hotelera public?

Yes. Under Mexican law, all beaches are public. However, this does not mean that you can automatically walk through any hotel or use its sun loungers, toilets and swimming pool for free.

From November 2025, there will be two permanent free access points in the Zona Hotelera, meaning you won’t have to walk through any hotels:

• Playa Conchitas, approximately at kilometre 5.5
• Playa del Pueblo in the central part of the hotel zone

Once you arrive at the beach, you are free to walk along the shore, lay out your own towel and go for a swim. Please respect the local rules, particularly the ban on alcohol, loud music and the use of sun creams that harm the marine ecosystem.

However, we used to walk to the beach right through the hotels in the very centre of the hotel zone and never had any problems whatsoever.

Do you have to buy a day pass?

No, you don’t. For a simple swim, use the public access and stay on your own towel.

Some hotels and beach clubs also allow free access to the beach without a minimum spend.

These include, for example, Ahau, Delek, NEST, Coco Unlimited, Dos Ceibas and Papaya Playa Project.

At reception, simply say that you only want ‘acceso público a la playa’.

A day pass is worth it if you want to spend the whole day on the beach and need a sun lounger, shade, toilets, a towel and service.

Instead of a fixed entrance fee, there’s usually a minimum spend of 500 mxn to 1 500 mxn per person. At the well-known Ziggy’s, expect to pay 55 usd to 75 usd, which you can spend entirely on food and drinks.

A day pass is unnecessarily expensive for a quick dip, but if you’re looking for a relaxing experience with good service, I’d go for it.

💬 Do you have any specific recommendations for a good day-pass hotel in Tulum? Let us know in the comments, thanks!

Accommodation in the Zona Hotelera

Accommodation by the beach is significantly more expensive than in the centre of Tulum.

However, for the higher price, you’ll get direct access to the beach and won’t have to worry about daily taxi fares, which can cost a couple over 1 000 mxn a day.

We consider anything you can find during the high season for around 150 usd per room to be cheap. For really cheap accommodation, you’re better off looking in the centre.

However, standard prices in good-quality hotels during the peak season start from 250 usd and upwards.

Category	Hotel	Who it’s suitable for
Cheaper	Zamas Hotel	A pleasant and unpretentious hotel
Mid-range	Dune Boutique Hotel	Private beach, swimming pool and a central location
Mid-range	Hotel Panamera	A designer hotel for couples seeking a stylish atmosphere
Luxury	La Valise Tulum	A small luxury hotel in a superb location with rooms right on the beach
Luxury	BE Destination Tulum	One of the best classic luxury resorts in the southern part of the zone

Compare all hotels in the Zona Hotelera

Azulik

Azulik is an architectural icon of Tulum and one of the most photographed hotels in Mexico. It offers 48 unique villas, a treetop restaurant, a spa and the SFER IK gallery.

Choose it for its architecture, privacy and unique experience, rather than as a traditional five-star resort.

The grounds feature numerous steps, uneven walkways and very subdued lighting in the evening.

Before booking, also check whether the specific villa offers air conditioning and other facilities you expect – standard rooms at Azulik have no electricity at all. The hotel’s philosophy is one of luxurious harmony with nature.

• 👉 What is Azulik like and what are the prices? Find out on Booking.com

In terms of comfort and value for money, La Valise or BE Tulum are safer bets.

What’s the main street like?

Although there are no pavements along most of the road, the Zona Hotelera struck us as surprisingly pleasant.

The hotels are low-rise, there’s plenty of greenery between the buildings, and the shops are mostly tasteful designer boutiques.

There are very few of the typical garish souvenir shops you’d expect to find in Cancún. Or rather, none at all.

However, you’ll also find a few GoMart and 7-Eleven shops along the road, where you can buy water, basic groceries and toiletries.

There are currency exchange bureaux and cash machines in several places. The exchange rates at the bureaux are reasonable, but withdrawing cash from a cash machine is usually better value.

Restaurants

The Zona Hotelera is one of the best dining areas on the Riviera Maya. The best known is ARCA, a contemporary Mexican restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide. Other renowned establishments include Hartwood, Wild and Casa Banana.

We visited ARCA specifically because it is also listed in the ‘50 Best Bars’ ranking, which guides our travels around the world – see, for example, our tour of bars in Mexico City.

Not all restaurants are upmarket. Along the road, there are smaller bistros, food stalls, burger bars and taquerías where you can eat for considerably less.

However, for truly cheap local food, we still recommend heading into the centre of Tulum.

Transport and parking

The Zona Hotelera is located about 5 km from the centre of Tulum, through which the main road along the Riviera Maya runs and where the ADO bus station is situated.

By car

There are numerous private car parks along the main road. The standard charge for all-day parking is between 150 mxn and 200 mxnper car.

Hotels usually offer free on-site parking for guests. The beach club may deduct the parking fee from your bill; always ask about this in advance.

If you’re planning trips to the cenotes, Cobá or Akumal, it’s worth hiring a car. You won’t need one most of the time if you’re just staying on the beach.

By taxi

Unfortunately, Uber and other ride-sharing apps do not currently operate in Tulum.

Official taxis do not have meters, so you must always agree on the fare in advance.

The amounts listed below represent reasonable prices for a whole car for up to 4 passengers from the central part of the Zona Hotelera.

Route	Usual price
Tulum town centre	500 mxn to 700 mxn
Archaeological Zone	around 800 mxn
Akumal	approx. 1 300 mxn
Tulum Airport	approx. 1 700 mxn

Always confirm the price before getting in and pay in pesos. At night, drivers may charge significantly more.

Taxis are available along the entire length of the main street at almost any time of day or night. They usually wait outside almost all the hotels.

Transfers booked online

If, however, you want to be sure of a transfer – for example, for the first morning flight to Tulum Airport – you essentially have two options:

• Arrange it in advance with your hotel (prices are usually around 120 usd)
• Book a taxi via Booking.com (usually around 100 usd / 2 000 mxn)

I’ve had good experiences booking taxis through Booking.com. Although not specifically in Tulum, this service has worked without a hitch for me in various places around the world.

Is it worth staying in the Zona Hotelera?

If the beaches are the main reason for your trip, then definitely yes. We recommend spending at least 2 to 4 nights here.

Staying right by the sea is more expensive, but the morning and evening atmosphere, free from day-trippers, is one of the best experiences Tulum has to offer.

And to be honest, of all the resorts on the Riviera Maya, I liked Tulum the most – for its combination of good tourist facilities, tranquillity, beautiful beaches and a brilliant holiday atmosphere.

Book a hotel in the Zona Hotelera in Tulum

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