An almost constant breeze blows in from the ocean to the private deck in front of my room at Encantada Hotel. If I stretch just a bit, I can peer over the miniature dunes and palm trees that provide my room privacy from the rest of the hotel and see the beach below. Encantada Hotel, managed by the same owners at La Valise Tulum, sits beyond the Tulum hotel zone hubbub further north along the main beachfront road, where clubs and bars stay open later. Here, only the waves and the wind get rowdy, steps from the beach, and the entire world melts away behind you.
The hotel consists of several buildings clustered in a circle on a sandy strip of the Caribbean Ocean. The al fresco reception area is closest to the street, the main palapa dining room next, and then the three buildings—two closer to the beachfront and one set in a line behind them—that house the 8 suites here. Guests prefer the beachfront dining area with a view of the ocean to the interior space, as the view is divine.
All rooms have essentially the same layout and design. Large sleeping areas sit at the front of the rooms and open up to outdoor patios which are positioned to catch the sea breeze. Behind the King-sized beds are open-format bathrooms with large sinks and vanity areas and a separate small room for the W.C.
The rooms are designed for an optimal blending of outdoor and indoor, with furniture crafted from natural materials, cool stone floors, and lots of natural lights provided by the floor-to-ceiling windows, which face the ocean and skylights in the rest of the room. The four-poster beds are constructed from braided rope and wood, and above them are exposed wooden beams. The art on the walls is made from handmade paper and embroidery. Hair dryers, bathrobes, refillable shampoo, conditioner, and soap containers (and sunscreen near the beach), as well as a continually-refilled glass water pitcher, are just some of the great room amenities. While all the natural light is divine, if you need complete dark to sleep bring a face mask — the sunlight starts pouring in at sunrise and makes it difficult to sleep past 6am. For the best views of the ocean choose an upstairs room beachfront.
Down on the beach are a cozy collection of lounge chairs below the palms, and if you want a break from the salt and sand, Encantada’s sister hotel across the street, Radhoo, has a jungle swimming pool that guests can slip into as long as it’s not too crowded. The hotel’s kitchen is open from 8 am to 11 pm and has excellent breakfast options like sundried tomato toast, poached eggs, or chilaquiles, along with a full list of healthy juice combinations. You are free to order in either one of the dining areas or have your meal served in the privacy of your room or outdoor patio. I was out most days and didn’t get a chance to sample their lunch menu, and the cocktails were just ok.
The hotel’s most decadent dining option by far is Nü Tulum, which, dripping with greenery and constructed from natural materials, is designed, similarly to Encantada’s rooms, to blend into the surrounding natural environment. Nü Tulum is sustainability-focused upscale dining. The excellently crafted cocktails and exquisite dishes use local ingredients from small producers and will give you a taste of regional flavors. I had an intoxicating and delicious pox martini, some roasted carrots and okra with lemongrass aioli that I am still dreaming about, and their braised lamb chops, which were incredible.
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Free bikes are available for cruising around Tulum and even biking out to the nearby ruins, but be prepared with water and anything else you need because while I was told it was 30 minutes, it’s easily an hour bike ride. A variety of specialty massages are offered at the La Valise Tulum Spa next door from Encantada, and the hotel also has a menu of expeditions that they will arrange for you — everything from day trips to Chichen Itza to local kayaking adventure with lunch on the beach. Wellness activities like yoga and meditation can also be arranged in a private or group setting.
There is also a small parking area in front of the hotel, but the sun beats down on it all day long, so take that into account during the super hot months. Waiters, bellhops, and parking attendants were endlessly helpful and made me feel very taken care of while I was there.
So much of today’s Tulum is about its buzzy scene of food and drink and a constant parade of wellness activities. But Encantada harkens back to Tulum’s more isolated days, where you could spend your beach vacation there, disconnecting from the world and resetting your inner chemistry floating in the ocean. For visitors who want to truly disconnect while still having the option to dine well or go out on the town, Encantada is exactly what you are looking for. Rooms run from $415 to 990 USD, depending on the season.
Check the latest rates for the Encantada Hotel.
* The author was hosted at this property, but her opinions are her own
