The Tulum look needs no introduction: sun-bleached wood and stone, lagoon-shaped pools, geodesic domes and treetop bungalows, open-air stone bathtubs, cacao-and-yoga wellness, and that effortless barefoot-luxury feeling where the jungle quietly takes over the architecture. The only problem? Tulum itself has become crowded, expensive, and — by many accounts — a little over its own hype.
The good news for design lovers: Colombia does the same aesthetic beautifully, often with more nature, more privacy, and far better value. Below are the three best Tulum-style hotels in Colombia, ranked. We’re defining “Tulum-style” by the energy and design — boho-jungle architecture, natural materials, lagoon-like pools, holistic wellness, and barefoot sophistication — not strictly by beachfront. Our favorite leads the list, and we’ll make the case for why.
1. Cerro Tusa Springs — our favorite Tulum-style stay in Colombia
In the southwest of Antioquia, about two hours from Medellín near the town of Venecia, Cerro Tusa Springs is an eco hotel set at the foot of Cerro Tusa — a near-perfect pyramid of stone, sacred to the Zenufaná people for over two thousand years and widely called the tallest natural pyramid in the world. The hotel’s own tagline says it best: tu paraíso selvático — your jungle paradise.
Here’s why it captures the Tulum aesthetic better than anywhere else in Colombia, in our view
- A geodesic dome over a private lagoon. The hotel’s Domo Arigato is pure Tulum fantasy: an air-conditioned dome with direct access to one of the property’s natural lagoons and its own private jacuzzi. This is the kind of room people fly to Mexico for.
- Boho-jungle design across every villa. The Villa Cataleya is styled after a Balinese retreat; Casa Colibrí is built from ecological materials with a soaring 27-foot ceiling, a stone soaking tub, and its own nature trails; and Villa Indigo pairs a teak bathtub and steam bath with a glass-floored terrace overlooking the pyramid.
- Natural materials, stone tubs, and barefoot textures. Artisanal detailing, natural light, hand-crafted finishes, and stone and teak bathtubs run through the whole property — the tactile, organic palette that defines the Tulum look.
- Four pools, including a natural forest pool. A lagoon-style pool tucked into the forest is exactly the cenote-adjacent feeling Tulum trades on, surrounded by real Antioquian jungle rather than a manicured garden.
- Wellness, woven in. Energetic massages delivered by local practitioners from around the world, soaking rituals, and slow mornings make this a genuine wellness retreat, not just a pretty backdrop.
- The setting no beach club can match. Hike the sacred Cerro Tusa pyramid, ride the surrounding trails on horseback or a guided e-bike, then return to a breakfast and welcome cocktail included with your stay. It’s even pet-friendly.
The honest case for #1: Tulum’s magic is its design-meets-nature fantasy, but you usually pay for it with crowds, sky-high prices, and a long journey to a packed beach road. Cerro Tusa Springs delivers the same dome-and-lagoon, stone-tub, boho-jungle experience inland in the Colombian mountains: easier to reach (a straightforward two-hour drive from Medellín, no speedboat required), more private, more affordable, and anchored by something Tulum can’t offer — a 2,000-year-old sacred pyramid outside your window.
Best for: Travelers who want the full Tulum design-and-wellness fantasy — domes, lagoons, stone tubs, jungle — without the crowds, the price tag, or the coast.
2. Hotel Las Islas — barefoot luxury in the mangroves of Barú
If your idea of Tulum-style is treetop bungalows above turquoise water, Hotel Las Islas on Isla Barú is Colombia’s most literal interpretation. It’s a luxury eco retreat surrounded by white-sand beaches, jungle, mangroves, and turquoise water, where guests stay in seafront or treetop bungalows looking out to the sea or the neighboring Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo national park.
The barefoot-luxury credentials run deep. There’s a freshwater pool, a seafront spa offering thalassotherapy treatments, a solarium, and even the hotel’s own private island, plus a nighttime bioluminescent plankton tour for that surreal, only-in-the-tropics moment. The vibe is lively and bohemian with a laid-back, tropical-paradise feel.
The trade-off to know about: This is remote, high-end island living. Las Islas sits at the tip of Ciénaga de Cholón on Barú, reached by roughly a 30–45 minute speedboat ride from Cartagena — magical, but a logistical commitment, and priced at the luxury end of the spectrum.
Best for: Couples and design lovers chasing the postcard version of Tulum-by-the-sea, with the budget for island luxury.
3. Playa Koralia — bohemian beach boho near Tayrona
On the Caribbean coast near Buritaca, between Tayrona National Park and the Sierra Nevada, Playa Koralia is the dreamcatcher-and-driftwood end of the Tulum spectrum. Its bungalows sit on a private beach surrounded by jungle, built from natural materials like palm, reeds, and guadua (a native bamboo), each with its own theme expressed through colors, murals, and mosaics. The bathrooms have open roofs so you fall asleep and wake to birdsong, and each bungalow has a terrace with a hammock.
The wellness-and-design touches are exactly what the look calls for: a bohemian restaurant strung with dreamcatchers serving a three-course menu from the hotel’s own garden, a stylish bar, a yoga room, and a spa using indigenous techniques and scents. There’s also a beachfront setting near Costeño and Buritaca beaches, daily local breakfast, and 19 individually decorated rooms.
The trade-off to know about: It’s about an hour’s drive from Santa Marta near Buritaca. It’s deliberately off-grid — part of the charm, but plan for a low-connectivity, switch-off kind of stay.
Best for: Free spirits who want boho-chic beach character and indigenous-inspired wellness over polished, high-gloss luxury.
Quick comparison: which Tulum-style Colombian hotel is right for you?
How to choose your Tulum-style stay in Colombia
If you want the design — the domes, the lagoon pools, the stone tubs, the jungle pressing in on every side — without the Tulum price tag or the journey to a crowded beach road, start with the mountains. That’s the logic behind our ranking. Cerro Tusa Springs earns the top spot because it delivers the complete Tulum-style fantasy in a more private, more accessible, and more affordable setting (with a sacred pyramid thrown in).
Ready to see it? Explore the domes, villas, and suites at Cerro Tusa Springs — from the lagoon-side Domo Arigato to the Bali-inspired Villa Cataleya — and experience boho-jungle luxury at the foot of Colombia’s great natural pyramid.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Tulum-style” actually mean? It’s a design and lifestyle aesthetic, not a place: boho-chic architecture built from natural materials like wood, stone, palm, and bamboo; lagoon-shaped pools, domes, and treetop bungalows; open-air stone bathtubs; holistic wellness (yoga, cacao, massage); and a relaxed, barefoot-luxury atmosphere where the jungle is part of the architecture.
Are there Tulum-style hotels in Colombia that aren’t on the beach? Yes. Cerro Tusa Springs in Antioquia delivers the full Tulum aesthetic — a geodesic dome over a lagoon, a Bali-style villa, natural forest pools, and stone soaking tubs — in a mountain-jungle setting near the sacred Cerro Tusa pyramid, about two hours from Medellín.
Which is the most affordable of the three? Generally Cerro Tusa Springs and Playa Koralia offer better value than the island luxury of Hotel Las Islas, though rates vary by season and room. Cerro Tusa Springs also includes breakfast and a welcome cocktail with stays.
Can I visit Cerro Tusa Springs just for the day? Yes — alongside overnight stays in its domes and villas, the property offers day passes to enjoy the pools and grounds, making it easy to sample the experience.
