Why e book?
For an intimate, 22-room lodge proper on the sand in the midst of Tulum’s Hotel Zone. Dune manages to channel one of the best of the world’s barefoot luxurious with out costing an arm and a leg.
Set the scene
After arriving by automotive alongside a “road” within the loosest sense of the phrase, I used to be a bit frazzled when strolling into the reception space of Dune. But as I used to be escorted to my room—one in every of solely 22—I instantly felt a shift. The pathway by means of the sand was framed by an intricate arched tunnel of woven wooden, and after I emerged on the different finish, I used to be greeted by sea views straight forward, a glowing swimming pool off to at least one facet, and the lodge’s open-air restaurant with its soundtrack of lounge music close by. It was instantly enjoyable and quietly glamorous.
The backstory
Dune is a real boutique lodge, working as a stand-alone, adults-only property that opened in 2017.
The rooms
The rooms at Dune channel the property’s breezy, seashore house-meets-Mediterranean vibe: whitewashed partitions, easy concrete flooring, gauzy curtains that sway with the ocean breeze, and simply sufficient pure wooden accents to make it really feel heat. If you may, e book one of many beachfront rooms with a personal plunge pool, as they provide you dawn views from mattress and a front-row seat to the ocean. That mentioned, the garden-view rooms are extra inexpensive and nonetheless open out to the sand. I booked the Superior Room Top Floor, which was massive and cozy, however required a steep climb and afforded no views.
Food and drink
Meals at Dune are Mayan delicacies by the seashore—contemporary, unfussy, and constantly strong. Think contemporary fruit, yogurt with granola, and inexperienced juice at breakfast, which is included in your room fee. Traditional tacos, fajitas, and ceviche are lunch fare, whereas dinner turns into extra elevated with octopus, steak, and pasta.
The spa
While Dune presents an open-air spa overlooking the ocean, the comfortable area is simply meant to serve one visitor or couple at a time. Additionally, it adopts a conventional Tulum way of life by providing each day yoga lessons and rituals like temazcal and moon ceremonies.
The neighborhood/space
Dune is a comparatively quiet property, however it’s situated within the get together space alongside Tulum’s Beach Road and abuts a neighboring seashore membership with a high-energy night scene—which means the late-night beats could filter into visitor rooms. During the day, the world feels calm, however as soon as the solar units, Beach Road transforms right into a parade of partygoers. At the top of the day, strolling again by means of Dune’s woven tunnel feels cinematic: One second you’re in a lantern-lit world of daybeds on the sand, and the subsequent you’re within the thrum of Tulum’s nightlife.
The service
Service at Dune strikes a steadiness between heat and low-key—attentive with out hovering. Staff greet you by title and the concierge group is fast to reply, sending welcoming WhatsApp messages earlier than arrival and checking in all through your keep.
Eco effort
Despite its luxe aesthetic, Dune’s dedication to sustainability is obvious. Near the foyer, the lodge’s vertical farm glows underneath LED lights, supplying contemporary herbs and greens to the restaurant’s menu of sustainably caught seafood and domestically sourced produce. Solar panels and on-site wastewater therapy amenities quietly deal with a lot of the property’s vitality and water wants. And, in a nod to the ocean turtles that nest alongside this stretch of seashore, nighttime lighting is stored intentionally low and shifts to pink tones to make sure each friends and wildlife can benefit from the moonlit shoreline.
Accessibility
Unfortunately, Dune shouldn’t be very accessible for friends with accessibility wants. Built on the sand, there aren’t any flat surfaces connecting the foyer to rooms or the restaurant, and no elevators to entry greater flooring or the spa.
Anything left to say?
All rooms at Dune are geared up with empty mini fridges, and there’s a comfort retailer immediately throughout the road to top off on drinks and snacks. Just be aware, nonetheless, the lodge doesn’t permit friends to deliver their very own drinks or snacks to the pool or seashore space.