Back to Tulum exactly a year later! I was in Tulum January of 2019 & 2020, and I kept my exact itinerary and stayed at the same places both times. I split my time between sister properties Zorba & Mahayana Beach Homes in the heart of Tulum. They are luxury villas right on the beach in the center of the main strip in Tulum, yet it still feels quiet and remote. There’s only a few homes at both Zorba and Mahayana which makes it feel way more private and intimate than most of the “trendy” boutique hotels in Tulum with tons of rooms. I usually stay 2-3 nights at each place- this trip I started off at Zorba for 2 nights, then moved to Mahayana for 2 nights.
I wrote about my past experience at both properties in my Tulum Guide blog post- you can see more info & pictures from my first stay HERE
There are different category villas that range between 2-4 bedrooms at both properties. One thing to keep in mind if you book-these are private homes and do not have most amenities that hotels do. Both Zorba and Mahayana have pools, but there is no restaurant or concierge on property. Your villa gets cleaned daily, and there are kitchens to cook and store food but you have to go grocery shopping and buy your own food beforehand if you want to eat on property. They do offer a private chef as an option you can book throughout your stay. I usually stop at the grocery store on the way and stock up on breakfast essentials and snacks, and usually like to eat out the rest of the time which I love to do in Tulum anyway- there are lots of great restaurant options.
I stayed in the beautiful 4 bedroom Casa De las Palmas villa at Mahayana. This was my 2nd time staying in this amazing villa. Very spacious and perfect for a family or group of friends. All the villas on the beach have breathtaking views (especially from the 2nd story and rooftops of the villas). You feel like you are in the middle of the jungle! They just added a stunning communal pool on property with an epic view of the ocean as well.
If you rent a car, Mahayana has private parking on their property, but a car isn’t necessary because if you stay at either Mahayana or Zorba, you can walk pretty much everywhere in Tulum. I like to have a car though to venture off the “trendy strip” to visit cenotes and explore the more local parts of town for some street food 🙂
Love Zorba! This was my 2nd time staying here as well- absolutely love the vibe and the villas are beautiful. Zorba is also right on the beach in the heart of Tulum, with a private gated entrance, parking, and walkable to lots of restaurants, bars and shops. Zorba offers 6 villas on the property ranging between 2-5 bedrooms. I think this place is great for a group vacation.
I stayed in Zorba “Villa 2” which is a stunning 3 bedroom beachfront villa. This villa is great for family or friends. It has a beautiful big kitchen, airy and spacious bedrooms with balconies, and I love the decor!
Zorba also has a communal pool but there are also a few villas with private pools.
Tulum has become a trendy hotspot for tourists all over the world. There are so many great boutique hotel options, (I’ve stayed in a few), but I prefer the intimacy and privacy that both Mahayana and Zorba offer. I get lots of questions on where I stay in Tulum and recommendations so wanted to share these properties with you! Feel free to comment or DM me on Instagram if you have any questions about either Zorba or Mahayana.
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