Our Stay at Ikal Tulum
All about where we stayed in Mexico!
We are back from Mexico and my god, I am not built for warm climates. As much as I loved the trip, I’m so happy to be back in the wonderful cool, crisp PNW 50 degree air that smells like pine and moss. However, I desperately needed some warmth and sunshine in my life, seven years of PNW had finally cracked me and that Mexican sun has me feeling like a new woman. It was glorious and I even got a teeny tiny tan!
When I started planning this trip I knew we only had five full days in Mexico, so I was looking for a hotel that was quiet, private, and the perfect place to relax and unwind in the little time we had. At some point in the past I must have saved Ikal Tulum on Google Maps and when I clicked the little saved dot and saw the photos pop up, I instantly knew it was the one.
Ikal Tulum is tucked inside the National Park (more on that below), with all the suites nestled in the jungle just a short walk from the beach. We stayed in one of the treehouse suites (the oceanfront villas were already booked for the week, otherwise we absolutely would have stayed in one because they looked amazing). Our treehouse came with a lookout tower, an outdoor bathroom, a balcony, a private plunge pool, AC, WiFi, and a mini fridge stocked with local beers, wines, fresh pressed juices, and treats. And because you’re literally in the jungle, there’s so much wildlife! Birds singing everywhere, plus the sound of waves crashing and a steady ocean breeze that combined created an incredibly peaceful ambiance.
But Ikal Tulum isn’t just a hotel it’s also a wellness center. The property includes a massive oceanfront yoga studio, a matcha bar with fresh juices and açai bowls, a Buddhist temple, a sacred fire that burns daily, and more. It felt like a little jungle sanctuary.
Other amenities included a pool, private beachfront shaded beds that we could reserve for free (these were a favorite), a little oceanfront restaurant with the best ceviche and tacos, a matcha bar, and bikes that we rented for $5 a day. I’m sure I’m forgetting some things, but off the top of my head those were all the things we did/used.
I mentioned the yoga studio above, and each day the hotel puts out a schedule that includes multiple yoga classes, breath work classes, temazcalli, cacao workshops, capoeira and more. They also have classes for kids so it’s a very family-friendly wellness experience for those who come as a family!!
I mentioned above that Ikal Tulum is situated in the National Park. That means a few things: First off, the road leading to the hotel is private and the entrance is patrolled. Each time we biked in or out (usually heading to dinner or back), we had to stop at a checkpoint to show the police proof of our hotel reservation. Luckily, they were always super friendly and it was a quick, easy stop.
There’s also a one-time entrance fee to the park, $40 USD per person. After that, the hotel provides new wristbands daily so we didn’t have to keep paying. We knew about this ahead of time, but some people in the reviews were pretty surprised and upset, so just a heads-up if you’re thinking about booking.
Another important note: no plastic is allowed inside the park. They do check your bags and will confiscate any plastic items, so be sure to bring a reusable water bottle and skip the disposable packaging.
As for the hotel’s location, Ikal isn’t close to the main hotel zone in Tulum. Each night we had dinner reservations we biked 30–40 minutes one way to get to restaurants along the beach road (we went at a leisurely pace so it wasn’t bad, but it was around 6–10 miles round trip depending on where we were headed). Taxis in Tulum are notoriously unreliable and overpriced, so we stuck with bikes. You could also rent mopeds, four-wheelers, or electric bikes, but we didn’t feel like adding another layer of logistics to the trip and despite how easily I can spend money on certain things, transportation apparently isn’t one of them (lol).
However, since we were in the National Park, we were less than a mile from the Tulum ruins (super fun and easy to access), and we had some of the most stunning, peaceful beachfront clubs and restaurants practically to ourselves. It felt worlds away from the chaos of the hotel zone and we loved that.
Overall it was an amazing place to stay! I think if you want more of a “scene” I would stay closer to the main hotel zone. But if you want somewhere that’s quiet and not crowded, then this is the place for you!! In the coming weeks I’ll be posting about fly fishing the salt flats in Ascension Bay, our trip to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum, all the restaurants we ate at, and then the cenotes we visited. I hope everyone has a great week!! Cheers!
You know what, I take it back. As much as I love the crispy cold PNW air I do wish I was still sitting on that hot beach looking out over the turquoise ocean with a drink in my hand instead of sitting on the subway headed to work right now…..
This looks like a really great and relaxing trip! Prices also look pretty reasonable for such a cool looking hotel. Despite not being a huge fan of the heat, we might have to check this place out!