AN HONEST HOTEL REVIEW OF
THE AZULIK TULUM
When planning my trip to Tulum, I was so excited when my friend suggested staying in the eco-resort, Azulik Tulum. Promises of luxury convinced me as I scrolled through their enchanting Instagram feed and I dreamt of the sunset adventures to come. While it’s true that Azulik Tulum was just as breath-taking in person, the rest of my expectations fell flat to the point that I feel compelled to share my experience. Here’s why…
THE GOOD
🌴The simple truth: Booking a room at the Azulik Tulum is all about how cool the rustic property looks.
Upon arrival, the staff is attentive and makes you feel welcome in their jungle resort. You’re greeted with a ceremony in which incense is wafted around your body as you take deep breaths and find a state of relaxation. I was genuinely in awe of the handmade bamboo treehouse villas that make you feel one with nature. The patio of our bungalow consists of a jacuzzi lined with colorful mosaic tiles – a beautiful spot for unwinding to the ocean breeze. There’s no electricity or wi-fi, so it’s a great place to disconnect from the world. Because of this, ordering room service is a unique and fun task straight out of a Swiss Family Robinson novel. To do so, you write your order on a little piece of paper put it inside a ball and drop it in a tube outside your room. We spend the day enjoying delicious fresh ceviche and spicy margaritas on the beach where clothes are optional. When the sun rests for the night, turn down service lights dozens of candles to illuminate your room and create a romantic atmosphere.
Possible celebrity sightings and pampering round out my positive feelings toward Azulik. If you’re looking for an experiential jungle escape to really disconnect from the world and be transported back in time, this could be a good place for you. Unfortunately, for me, this is where the positive traits end.
THE BAD
Azulik describes its wooden paths as twisting and turning to allow the jungle to grow freely around it lit by candlelight to create a natural ambiance. My translation: time to walk down a narrow and sandy trail in the middle of the night… get bit by mosquitoes… to find the communal shower. I personally feel that the rate Azulik Tulum is asking for per night ($600 USD – $5600) justifies more amenities such as having an in-suite shower and being able to flush toilet paper down the toilet.
Womp… Womp… this to me is where the eco-chic hotel model feels more like a grungy hostel.
Azulik isn’t the only hotel to move towards sustainability and protecting the environment, which is an important cause I can get behind. However, these restrictions at Azulik are not enforced at other eco-resorts. Casa Malca, Habitas Tulum, and Mulkan Resort are other well-known eco-resorts that actually offer amenities that we are accustomed to in 2019 and who’s experiences are far more chic. Knowing the hype around the resort and going into this trip with high expectations, I was disappointed with what was being offered.
A strict camera policy at Azulik Tulum means, “Click it 📸= you get a ticket”
When it comes to taking photos, don’t expect to feel welcomed here. At the sight of a non-smartphone camera, the staff will threaten that they are going to charge you an additional $5,000 US dollars. Not only did I feel uncomfortable, but they said they charged it to my room without even warning me first. If they would’ve mentioned this rule upon checking in or had signs hung around the premises, I would’ve taken this into account and obliged. Instead, I was scolded like a child which in turn did not make me feel like a valued guest. Thankfully, Azulik did not end up charging us this fee, but the way the situation had unfolded – ruined my stay at the hotel. As a guest paying this much for a room, I feel I should be able to take photos on my camera. Upon further research, flash photography is not allowed in “order to protect the turtles during breeding season.” Yes, those quotes are to negate a sarcastic tone. I suggest that Azulik explain guidelines for what photography is allowed upon check-in and trust their guests to follow these rules and not use flash.
So, Would I Stay Here Again?
If it isn’t obvious, the answer is NO. I’ve never experienced such a disconnect in price and value. For me, the word “resort” is a misleading moniker for the Azulik Tulum. After spending hours dreaming on their Instagram, this stay was far from a dream. The cheapest room is $600 a night and the room average is about $1200, which is more than some people’s rent.
When searching the internet, you’ll find positive reviews for sure – but the majority are from visitors that just ate at the restaurant and didn’t choose to splurge on an overnight stay. Bloggers & Influencers might rave about the photogenic resort, but I guarantee they were staying on the property for free… or at a significantly discounted press rate.
For the over-hyped amenities provided, experience being scolded for wanting to take a picture, and high price per night, I cannot recommend this resort to you in good conscience. If anything came out of this experience, I hope I saved one of you from feeling like you wasted money… or worse, your valuable time… staying at the Azulik Tulum.
My Recommendation to you
When visiting Tulum, I recommend staying in another hotel along the shoreline where you can get the same sun-kissed tan and ocean breeze without paying an arm and a leg. You can still visit the Kin Toh restaurant on the Azulik Tulum property and take photos (like the ones below) over a tropical drink to get the experience of this treehouse-jungle getaway.
This relaxing beach town is such a fun escape with activities for everything you’re craving, so don’t let this review dissuade you from making Tulum your next vacation destination! 🌴
Check out my Travel Guide: Tulum’s Top 20 for the best of the best!
Looking for more travel tips on Tulum?
Don’t forget to check out my Travel Guide: Tulum’s Top 20 ✨
Love your honesty in this post!
Author
Thanks Jessica! Glad you enjoyed it 🌴
Thank you for being so honest!! I have a travel website called hitpause.com and visit everything that I post on there because my number one priority is for our users to never be disappointed like you were. Tulum is such an unusual place in Mexico, where trendy and insta-worthy somehow trumps good service and rational pricing. What you went through is never acceptable, especially with the price tag of a luxury Paris hotel attached to it!!
Author
oh wow! Just checked out your site – it’s beautiful. Thank you for reading my post & I couldn’t agree more. Just wanted to manage people expectations since the price point can be a big investment.
When i saw your pics , was about to book it for a weekend get away. Good thing i read your blog 🙂 you saved me. The pics were all amazing tho.
Author
Aww thank you! Glad you liked the pics 🙂 I still think it is fun for one night if you happen to want the memorable experience! But no matter what – Tulum is the best 🌴
I had the same thoughts about this place. My husband and I honeymooned in Tulum. After reading about the communal showers we opted for an eco friendly place with an outdoor shower because it was our honeymoon 😉 I also enjoyed your blog post about Tulum but I feel that it was definitely centered towards people who travel to Tulum to be spend money and be seen on social media. Tulum has a wonderful city center and engaging surroundings that are instagram worthy but not $$$.
Author
True, Tulum has so much to offer!
An honest review. Thanks for this indeed Caila!
Author
So glad you liked it!
Great and honest review. This what many should do as well. I mean you can take amazing pics but also be honest with reviews like you did here. It sure is a beautiful place but it sure seems like something I would just go dine in than stay more.
Author
That’s what I definitely recommend doing, wish I had done that! Live and learn 🤷🏻♀️
$5,000 for taking a picture?!?! Omg that’s insane. Thanks for sharing, very interesting!
Author
Right?? Not even a warning. Had to share!
Now this is the in and outs. Speaking the truth but also saying ups and downs. You really do bring us quality and I love that Caila.
Author
Aw thank you so much
So much money to stay at that place without a flushing toilet. Then you said that a charge could happen $5,000.00 for pictures you take there. Those pictures aren’t even wedding pictures etc. This is a honest review. I mean the place looks amazing but it sure has it downs. At least you saw how beautiful it is outside. Thanks for sharing this. You really should keep doing these reviews. You are a natural at them and one of the few honest ones.
Author
Exactly! The property definitely is beautiful but unfortunately, for me, had more downs than ups.
Love how you shared good and bad of this place. People should do more reviews like you did of this place. So honest and real.
Author
Thank you so much!
💯 Thanks
Totally agree. I feel like its a pretentious resort. Want to connect so much with the eco system til forgot the importance to connect with ppl that is a guests who came far away with full of expectation especially om hospitality.
We asian ppl appreciate raw /basic property. We are used to this but azulik is bullshit.
Very pretentious and not caring of its employees at all. For the prices they charge you wpuld think the pay decent salaries but not at all. And more often than not they retain tips and salaries arguing tge dont have money flow. While at the sane tine the owner Jorge Eduatdo Neira alao known as Roth is building another huge place Azulik Uh May and lives a lavish life. There is nothing cool and sistainable about exploitibg needed people in Tulum and Uh May.
Thanks so much love your article and what yoh say. Next time you come to the riviera Maya contact me and I’ll organise you a real Eco stay in the jungle but nothing like this clealry you can check what I do @ http://www.mayanimmersion.com
Azulik Tulum has been playing with employees for years, finally someone is raising the voice. I couldnt imagine the things they do to them. Dont feed this type of places. Azulik uh may looks amazing, but its not worth going if you know all the things they really do
You can’t flush toilet paper in any part of the península (Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Campeche) because we don’t have drain.
Totally understandable and honest. Some research after you travel to a different country would be nice as well, as you cannot flush toilet paper anywhere in the whole of Mexico, so that’s should not be mentioned as you cannot demand something it just doesn’t happen in the country. This is the same as asking for nachos.
Hi, very nice website, cheers!
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Hello wow not surprised with this comments. I went to visit this property and left after 30 minutes for exactly the same reasons u mentioned they are over priced and they treat people that are not celebrities as second class citizens
They made us pay a high price just to get to the dining room they took our money knowing they had no space for us at the restaurant
We ended up eating just appetizers that they offer at the bar. We ordered and 40 minutes later nothing came not even the drinks
It was extremely hot to the level of fainting and when we asked for the money back they refused so we left hungry and broke
Will never come back even to visit as they are full or rules and regulations at a very high price