This Tulum hotel is redefining luxury with abundant access to nature and beautiful contemporary Mexican decor. [Photo gb&d magazine]
Sustainability and sensory experiences take center stage at Maria del Mar Tulum. Furniture made from the wood remains of reclaimed fishing boats, and organic, ethically made toiletries offer rustic elegance. While less glamorous, hydroelectric generators, natural gas boilers, and a water recycling system minimize the hotel’s ecological footprint.
Wooden installations made out of former homes of fishermen from the island of Holbox in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula were used to decorate each suite. [Photo: Courtesy of Maria del Mar]
Accommodations
Suites at Maria del Mar are designed to reflect the local culture. Acapulco chairs, hand painted tiles, and light fixtures made by local Mayan artists adorn the bedroom, seating area, and private deck in each suite. The hotel brings the tranquility of the ocean environment indoors, with spaces designed to evoke free flowing energy. Lush daybeds at the beachside pool offer ultimate relaxation. And top tier rooms have their own private plunge pool and an alfresco dining table.
Comfortable, bohemian style rooms are decorated with high quality, sustainable materials. The walls and floors are made of Chucun, a naturally insulating material found only on the Yucatan Peninsula. Headboards are made from reclaimed wood sourced from Holbox, El Cuyo, and San Felipe. Bedspreads and cushions are all made by artisans in surround Mayan communities, Oaxaca, and Chiapas.
Mina, the restaurant at Maria del Mar, serves modern Mexican cuisine. [Photo: Courtesy of Maria del Mar]
Restaurant & Bar
Maria del Mar brings the flavors of South America to the comfort of the hotel with the contemporary Mexican-Argentine restaurant, Mina. It specializes in a unique fire cooking method with a wood- burning grill. Diners can enjoy their meal on a terrace overlooking the sea.
At the trendy hotel bar, wood accented walls and black steel pendant lights set the tone for an extended evening of mezcal tastings or fruity cocktails.
[Photo: Courtesy of Maria del Mar]
Recreation
Step off the grounds of Maria del Mar, and you will be in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula south of Tulum. The reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves, marshes, and coral reefs. Because it is protected, animals such as jaguars, ocelots, and pumas thrive there. The reserve extends over 1.3 million acres and is home to numerous impressive archaeological sites. The name Sian Ka’an means “where the sky is born” because of its breathtaking sunrises.
The nearby Aktun Chen Natural Park is known for its mystical underground caves and a subterranean river that is said to have youth-enhancing powers. Xel-Há and Cobá—where visitors can see the tallest pyramid in Mexico and explore ancient Mayan temples—are less than an hour’s drive away.
The hotel itself also offers beachside yoga, diving in cenotes (natural sinkholes that are considered sacred in Mayan culture), paddleboarding, snorkeling, and kiteboarding.
Learn more about Maria del Mar and see more gb&d green hotel stories.
