A Sense of Place

Be Tulum Beach & Spa Resort South Tulum Beach, Tulum, Mexico Ser CasaSandra Isla Holbox, Mexico The town of Tulum lies at the southern end of The Riviera Maya, a stretch of Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula. Unlike the more organised, all-inclusive and high-rise developments to the north like Playa del Carmen, Tulum’s tourism began in the 70’s and 80’s as a backpackers’ delight, drawn by the stunning white beaches, year-round sunshine and cheap accommodation. Inevitably, by the late 1990’s it had caught the attention of talented Boho-minded architects and the fashionable set, who elevated the hippie hideaway into a more curated ‘barefoot’ luxury destination, promoting a distinctly holistic experience in small, boutique hotels. Yoga retreats and Cacao rituals abound and a classy beach vibe and restaurant scene has developed along 10kms of sweeping Caribbean beaches backed by dense jungles. South Tulum Beach is the place to head for if you are looking for the best boho chic boutique hotels and proximity to the Sian Ka’an biosphere. This area also has some staggering private villas, some located within the reserve. Atthenorthernend,ontheoutskirtsofTulumTown itselfrestthe preservedruinsofanancientMayanportcity,perchedonanoutcrop aboveawhite-sandbeach,whilsttothesouth liesthe immenseSian Ka’anbiosphere-600,0000protectedhectaresof jungle,ocean, sinkholes, lagoons,mangrove,andwetlands. MEXICO Caribbean Chic & Mayan Mystique 5