Looking for the coolest hotel in the world? Look no further! Azulik Hotel & Maya Spa can be simply described as heaven on earth.

From the street you have no idea of what lies beyond, not much is revealed about the remarkable jungle resort waiting for you. Stepping through a narrow path, a treehouse village of Mexican-royal-ebony clifftop treehouse villas emerges. The building is inspired by ancient Mayan construction techniques, using organic architecture, and built with respect to the surrounding nature so that as little of the plants and wildlife are disturbed as possible. The elevated wooden pathways twist and turn, allowing trees to grow freely and only candlelight is used throughout the entire premises creating a natural magical ambiance. No TV, no phones and minimal electricity, a stay at this eco-resort is just about you and the sea views.

Water is the main element at Azulik. There is a Cenote and a wetland within the premises, the Cenote providing water to all villas, encouraging us to slow down and relax in bath tubs while enjoying the sea views around. Life originated in water and with 65% of the human body being made of water and 71% of the earth surface, water is life and water is so important to Azulik.

The elevated jungle walkways lead to spacious wooden tree houses. They each have a private deck and outdoor day beds to enjoy the lush jungle and the Caribbean Sea. Our room faced straight out to the sea and came complete with a pool and swing, the perfect combination for relaxing and forgetting a world beyond of Azulik. 

There is no electricity, telephones, TV or wifi in rooms, so you can relax and reconnect with nature. At Azulik, they believe that showers contribute to stress in modern day life, so you are instead encouraged to take your time for a proper bath in the stunning mosaic bath tub, with water direct from the cenote and to wash your hair with the coconut shell cap. And rather than light bulbs, returning to your room in the evening, it will have been romantically lit up by candles dotted all over.

The heart of the hotel is it’s spa, dedicated to helping you find your balance with medicinal baths, yoga classes and a Mayan-inspired rebirth ceremony. A welcome ceremony is performed when you arrive, helping you to ease into the Mayan way of life. The essence of Azulik is its projects with local communities to maintain the Mayan culture spirit. The Spa domo is the symbol of the commitment to share energy with the local communities. It is here that yoga takes place every morning at 8am and I was so lucky to visit while yoga teacher Dee was leading the classes.

Unlike most hotels in Tulum, Azulik has a private beach, where clothing is optional. The powder white sand and cool Caribbean breeze are the closest combination to paradise that I’ve experienced. A private beach club vibe, guacamole and margaritas on hand, there is no where better to enjoy a day.

Kin Toh

As the sun begins to set on the day, Kin Toh adds to the magic of Azulik. Birds nests have been built that can be reached from a suspension bridge, offering the most privileged panoramic views of the Mayan jungle and the Caribbean coastline. Built on stilts above Tulum’s Mayan jungle, this is the best location in all of Tulum from which to gaze at the beautiful Caribbean sunsets.

The restaurant serves Mayan-Mexican avant-garde cuisine using local ingredients and native cuisine. As in the hotel, the organic architecture runs throughout with small details adding a dream-like twist to the setting. Sitting 12 meters above the ground with jaw-dropping views over the trees, wooden bridges leading you to open areas and there are spaces with hammock nets that suspend between the trees where you can relax while you’re waiting for dinner. The whole setting gets lit up with candles once the sun sets, providing the most romantic dining experience, maybe in all of Mexico.

Azulik changed my perceptions of how a hotel should be, of our impact on the environment, of how we should spend our time to focus on what’s important in life and most of all, it’s got me longing to return to Tulum.