5 days ago
Dune Boutique Hotel
Why book?
For an intimate, 22-room hotel right on the sand in the middle of Tulum's Hotel Zone. Dune manages to channel the best of the area's barefoot luxury without costing an arm and a leg.
Set the scene
After arriving by car along a 'road' in the loosest sense of the word, I was a bit frazzled when walking into the reception area of Dune. But as I was escorted to my room—one of only 22—I immediately felt a shift. The pathway through the sand was framed by an intricate arched tunnel of woven wood, and when I emerged at the other end, I was greeted by sea views straight ahead, a sparkling swimming pool off to one side, and the hotel's open-air restaurant with its soundtrack of lounge music nearby. It was immediately relaxing and quietly glamorous.
The backstory
Dune is a true boutique hotel, operating as a stand-alone, adults-only property that opened in 2017.
The rooms
The rooms at Dune channel the property's breezy, beach house-meets-Mediterranean vibe: whitewashed walls, smooth concrete floors, gauzy curtains that sway with the sea breeze, and just enough natural wood accents to make it feel warm. If you can, book one of the beachfront rooms with a private plunge pool, as they give you sunrise views from bed and a front-row seat to the sea. That said, the garden-view rooms are more affordable and still open out to the sand. I booked the Superior Room Top Floor, which was large and comfortable, but required a steep climb and afforded no views.
Food and drink
Meals at Dune are Mayan cuisine by the beach—fresh, unfussy, and consistently solid. Think fresh fruit, yogurt with granola, and green juice at breakfast, which is included in your room rate. Traditional tacos, fajitas, and ceviche are lunch fare, while dinner becomes more elevated with octopus, steak, and pasta.
The spa
While Dune offers an open-air spa overlooking the sea, the cozy space is only meant to serve one guest or couple at a time. Additionally, it adopts a traditional Tulum lifestyle by offering daily yoga classes and rituals like temazcal and moon ceremonies.
The neighborhood/area
Dune is a relatively quiet property, but it is located in the party area along Tulum's Beach Road and abuts a neighboring beach club with a high-energy evening scene—meaning the late-night beats may filter into guest rooms. During the day, the area feels calm, but once the sun sets, Beach Road transforms into a parade of partygoers. At the end of the day, walking back through Dune's woven tunnel feels cinematic: One moment you're in a lantern-lit world of daybeds on the sand, and the next you're in the thrum of Tulum's nightlife.
The service
Service at Dune strikes a balance between warm and low-key—attentive without hovering. Staff greet you by name and the concierge team is quick to respond, sending welcoming WhatsApp messages before arrival and checking in throughout your stay.
Eco effort
Despite its luxe aesthetic, Dune's commitment to sustainability is evident. Near the lobby, the hotel's vertical farm glows under LED lights, supplying fresh herbs and greens to the restaurant's menu of sustainably caught seafood and locally sourced produce. Solar panels and on-site wastewater treatment facilities quietly handle much of the property's energy and water needs. And, in a nod to the sea turtles that nest along this stretch of beach, nighttime lighting is kept deliberately low and shifts to red tones to ensure both guests and wildlife can enjoy the moonlit shoreline.
Accessibility
Unfortunately, Dune is not very accessible for guests with accessibility needs. Built on the sand, there are no flat surfaces connecting the lobby to rooms or the restaurant, and no elevators to access higher floors or the spa.
Anything left to mention?
All rooms at Dune are equipped with empty mini fridges, and there is a convenience store directly across the street to stock up on drinks and snacks. Just note, however, the hotel does not allow guests to bring their own drinks or snacks to the pool or beach area.
