RECONNECTING WITH NATURE

RECONNECTING

WITH NATURE

Popular with most jet-setters, Tulum is a charming town set in the southern portion of the Mayan Riviera on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. With a great foodie scene, paradise beaches, ancient Mayan ruins and incredible cenotes to explore, this area has developed a reputation with travellers seeking the glamorous lifestyle. AZULIK is one of the most visually stunning hotels in the area, offering a rustic-luxe, off-the-grid experience where guests get to totally unplug (there’s no wifi, tv, air-conditioning or any form of electricity), taking some time to reconnect with nature.

Photos of Azulik Tulum and Azulik Uh-May

Tulum is known as a bohemian jet-set travel haven for the rich and famous. But among the glamorous hotels and beach clubs - just a 10-minute drive from the centre lies AZULIK, a luxury, eco-conscious treehouse hotel, offering guests a chance to reconnect with nature and take in the stunning views of the jungle, falling asleep by candlelight and waking up to the sunrise, to the soundtrack of crashing waves and twittering birds.

Suspended among the trees, AZULIK’s 48 villas are connected by a maze of wooden walkways, woven ramps and hanging nets, overlooking tranquil pools of water with breath-taking views of the sea and ancient Coba ruins in the distance. This spectacular feat of architecture is the brainchild of Jorge Eduardo Neira Sterkel, known simply as “Roth”, a self-taught Argentinian architect and hotelier. The design is based on Fibonacci proportions - a sequence of numbers found in plant spirals, and it is barely distinguishable from the jungle itself. Expertly built around the thousand-year-old trees so as not to cause any damage, the hotel continues to grow in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.

The rooms themselves are exquisitely crafted from wood by local artisans, and are purposefully devoid of electricity, television, and air-conditioning, allowing guests to reconnect with nature. In keeping with the eco-conscious concept, only a few rooms have showers - in order to avoid water wastage - and instead are equipped with Mayan mosaic bathtubs. These are a standout feature in every room, and are filled with sacred water from the hotel’s cenote - a natural ancient Mayan pool, created by collapsed limestone that exposes the groundwater. Going to bed by candlelight and waking up with the sunrise encourages truly deep and restful sleep. Follow this with a morning yoga session in the Dome – its potent energy is known to be a powerful source of inspiration – and start the day refreshed and recharged.

The Mayan wellness spa offers a variety of treatments that take inspiration from nature, balancing the five elements: water, wind, earth, fire and sky. Mayan ceremonies, detoxifying rituals, meditation and yoga classes all stimulate wellness. This adult-only hotel has a clothing optional policy at its rugged beach resort. With plenty of sun loungers and parasols, the atmosphere is one of laid-back relaxation.

Dining options at AZULIK include three restaurants: Kin Toh, Tseen Ja and Cenote. The first boasts a delectable menu of MayanMexican delights while Tseen Ja adds a Japanese twist. Cenote is the less pricey of the three, offering farm-to-fork style dishes using local ingredients and spices. Simple dishes like fresh juices, loaded smoothie bowls and egg-topped tortilla chips make a great post-yoga stop before you start the day. All three of these restaurants have outdoor seating with nests up in the trees, boasting stunning views, and it’s the best place to take in the magic of a Mexican sunset.

AZULIK is home to a contemporary art museum like no other. The lush surroundings with vine-covered walkways and sculptural concrete spaces are the complete antithesis of a typical white gallery. Guests enter barefoot, walking on curved floors, creating a vulnerable state that inspires creativity through a connection to nature. The inaugural exhibition was curated by Santiago Rumney Guggenheim, and has featured talents such as Tatiana Trouve, Artur Lescher and Margo Trushina.

The welcoming staff at AZULIK - affectionately known as angels - are dressed head-to-toe in white, assisting guests with questions and queries. With its impressive architectural design, stunning views during the day and flickering candlelight in the evening, a trip to AZULIK is the most vivid fairy tale turned into a reality.

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