AMAZING Hostels in Tulum (2023 Insider Guide)

There’s something magical about Tulum. From its ancient ruins, turquoise waters washing up onto the white sand beaches, or mysterious sinkholes filled with freshwater called cenotes.

If you’re a backpacker and looking for the best hostels in Tulum, look no further. Here’s a breakdown of the best accommodation options that fit your needs. For most of these, you’ll plan to stay for a few days but end up staying for a week or more.

Cut to the chase: Top 9 Hostels in Tulum

Here’s a quick answer to the best hostels in Tulum based on your interests and preferences:

• Overall best hostel in Tulum – Lum
• Highest rated hostel in Tulum – Mama’s Home
• Most number of reviews in Tulum – Che Tulum Hostel & Bar
• Cheapest hostel in Tulum – Oryx Hostel Tulum
• Hottest hostel in Tulum right now – Mayan Monkey Tulum
• Most unique hostel in Tulum – Colorbox Beds and Rooms
• Best beachfront hostel in Tulum – Selina Tulum
• Most laid back hostel in Tulum – Chill Inn Hostel
• Best party hostel with a rooftop in Tulum – Straw Hat Hostel & Rooftop Bar

Best Hostels in Tulum

There are a ton of accommodation options in Tulum but for those on a budget, backpacking, or just love the community of hostels, you want to make sure the place that you stay has good vibes, is in a good location, has nice facilities, and is comfortable.

Choose wisely because staying at a bad hostel will easily ruin your trip. This Tulum hostel guide will make sure you pick from the best of the best.

Overall Best Hostel in Tulum – Lum

Now if I had to pick the overall best hostel in Tulum based on a bunch of factors including the atmosphere, amenities, cleanliness, staff, how new it is, location, food, and partying, I’d pick Lum.

With its modern and sleek concrete design, this is a hostel that you’ll love because of how comfortable it is here whether to sleep or to hang out with new friends.

Hangout areas include various couch areas, ping-pong table, room with TV, and more open terrace areas.

The best part is that bikes are included for free which means that you can explore town easily from its convenient location.

Highest Rated Hostel in Tulum – Mama’s Home

Reviews don’t lie. There’s a reason Mama’s Home is consistently at the top in Tulum.

What really stands out here are two things – the breakfast, and staff.

Every morning, you’re treated with more than just your standard continental variety but instead something that is as good as any restaurant in time.

The staff here are incredibly friendly and helpful whether it’s to help you figure out where to go, help with trip logistics, or make suggestions with your itinerary. They’ll go out of their way to make you feel at home.

Something else I love about this hostel in Tulum is that there are plenty of options when it comes to rooms.

Most Number of Reviews in Tulum – Che Tulum Hostel & Bar

If you trust in the reviews, Che Tulum Hostel & Bar with the most gives you an indication of just how popular it is. Dig deeper into what they offer and you’ll understand why.

This is a backpacker’s dream. Not only do they have all the room choices, cleanliness, amenities, and coziness, you also get a property that gives you an awesome pool, free tours, yoga/salsa classes, live music, BBQ nights, outdoor garden, and plenty of hang out spots.

Easily one of the best party hostels in Tulum, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time here.

Cheapest Hostel in Tulum – Oryx Hostel Tulum

Okay fine this may not be the most accurate as the prices fluctuate constantly and it’s hard to keep track but when we look at the top selling hostels in Tulum, this one comes in at one of the lowest prices if budget is a big part of your decision.

This hostel is a bit more of a hidden gem. It’s not perfect but if you’re looking for spot in the city that’s easy to get to, comes with free breakfast, has cheap bike rentals, and is ultimately super affordable, look no further!

Unlike others, this is much more laid back spot.

Hottest Hostel in Tulum – Mayan Monkey Tulum

I know, this can mean a bunch of things but when I say hottest, according to the numbers, this is literally the most booked hostel right now in Tulum.

Mayan Monkey Tulum is almost a resort itself. With a very large footprint, you almost don’t need to leave the property. It’s got a huge pool, bar, in-house restaurant, co-working spaces, and plenty of lounge areas.

The rooms cosy, friendly, and modern, and clean with the dorms being more like capsules than the traditional bunks.

Lastly, note that the location of this is kind of in between the beach and downtown so something to consider.

Most Unique Hostel in Tulum – Colorbox Beds

I wanted to include this property because out of all of them, this was probably the least conventional. Built to look like shipping containers on the outside is actually quite new and modern on the inside.

Another thing that stands out with Colorbox is its location. It’s right in the heart of the jungle and steps from the unique and natural “Cenote” Dos Ojos.

To stay here, I would recommend having a car to explore although you could certainly use the bike rentals to get around.

The reviews are a bit lacking on Hostelworld but if you jump over to Booking, there are a few more there where you can find feedback from recent travelers.

Best Beachfront Hostel in Tulum – Selina Tulum

This is another of my favourite hostels in Tulum. It’s got a direct-access beachfront – ’nuff said right?

This hostel is suitable for almost everyone with their double private ensuites to various sizes of dorms, including solo travellers, couples, and families. I also love that they’re pet-friendly.

Being on the beach means that you’ll be walking distance to all the nightlife. You can also choose to use the property’s own swimming pool or find your own spot to hang out on the sand.

There’s plenty to do and spaces to relax at Selina Tulum thanks to its dedicated co-working spaces, special party events, in-house restaurant, and classes.

Most Laidback Hostel in Tulum – Chill Inn Hostel

The name says it all. If you’re not into the party scene and just want a place that’s quieter and more laid back, Chill Inn Hostel is a great option.

It may seem basic but it has a lot of the elements that other hostels in Tulum have. Breakfast is included, it’s located right in the city center, there are plenty of spaces to hang out, and the staff is super helpful.

The only thing that is lacking here are private rooms and there is potentially more mosquitos here.

Best Party Hostel with a Rooftop – Straw Hat Hostel & Rooftop Bar

Hands-down the best party hostel is Straw Hat. You’ll love their rooftop bar and pool that really sets it apart from the others.

The partying practically never stops with the bar running until 1AM, the pool open all day, and happy hour every day.

The dorms themselves are the capsule-style with curtains to give you privacy which is pretty sweet.

If you’re looking for private rooms, they offer that too with one for 2 and another for 6 which is suitable for a large group. That said, I probably wouldn’t recommend this family with all of the partying and noise here.

Map of Top Hostels in Tulum

So where exactly are all of these hostels? Here’s a handy map to give you an idea of their locations and where they are relative to some main attractions.

TIP: View the Tulum hostels map in full screen and create a copy for yourself.  You can also click on any of the pins to pull up more information about them.

Gear To Buy Before You Go

As you’re preparing for your trip to Tulum and thinking about how to pack like a minimalist and leveraging the rolling technique, here are a few key things that every backpacker should have.

Universal power adapter: With one of these, you’ll be sure to be able to plug into the outlets in Mexico no matter where you’re from. The USB outlets are also super handy as well to charge your devices. An alternative is one of these travel power bars if you have a lot of devices.

Power bank: I’m guessing you already have one. These days airports are picky about how large of a capacity you’re allowed to travel with so make sure yours is under 10,000 mAh.

TRTL travel pillow: First featured in our gift guide for travelers, this will make those plane, train, and bus rides way more comfortable.

Sea to Summit toiletry bag: The minimalist in me loves this toiletry bag. I reviewed this and others in the review video.

Peak Design travel backpack: If you’re into photography, my go-to backpack has been the Peak Design Travel Backpack with its camera cube and space for more gear.

Travel towel: Most hostels don’t include towels so make sure you have your own (1 or 2) for your room and also the beach.

Activities in Tulum You Should Look Into

Once you have your hostel sorted, you’ll want to look at a couple of activities to anchor your trip, and leave the rest to figure out when you get there.

Booking in advance locks you in but in most cases, will save you a lot of money too and gives you a chance to read the reviews before you go.

Here are a couple of tours and activities that are worth checking out.

Adventure Package with ATV, Ziplines, and Cenote Swim: This is a half day adrenaline rush that takes you through the Mayan jungle. Includes lunch, pick up and drop off.

Sian Ka’an Adventure from Tulum: Discover the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an on this full-day trip where you’ll be able to snorkel and you’ll have a chance to see manatees, nesting birds. Comes with lunch.

Jungle Tour with Cenote Snorkeling, 4×4, and Zipline: This is an alternative option to the first tour that costs a bit more but includes a visit to Tulum and a stop at a Maya community, and has better reviews.

Tulum, Cobá and Hilario Cave Day Trip: This is a full day trip that takes you to the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, followed by visiting a sacred cenote cave for snorkeling.

2-Tank Cenote Certified Dive: 2 dives in2 different locations for the scuba divers out there.

See Chichen Itza in a Day: See the famous archeological site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Inculdes a buffet lunch and swim.

Note that many of these tours are offered to those in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Playacar, and Tulum so make sure you find out whether they can pick you up or if you will need to walk to a nearby hotel in Tulum.

Travel Tips for Tulum

Safety

Tulum is truly a paradise for backpackers because it’s on the Maya Riviera but it doesn’t get crowded as say, Cancun.

You have a ton of ruins to explore while also not having to deal with some of the madness of other larger towns.

When it comes to crime and drug cartels, there’s no denying that they exist here but it’s not in proportion to other parts of Mexico that you hear about in the news.

There are incidents of crime on the Mayan Peninsula but in most cases, common-sense travel safety is your best defence.

When it comes to safety, another thing to consider is hurricane season which runs from June to November. There are also tropical storms that can land so keep that in mind.

Lastly, Zika virus is still present here so make sure you have proper protection against mosquitoes.

Travel insurance

Do you need travel insurance? Absolutely. We never travel without it now because you just never know what might happen.

For a trip to Tulum, you’ll undoubtedly do a bunch of activities along the way and you want to make sure you’re covered for those too which is why it’s worth taking a look at World Nomads.

We’ve done a deep dive on why they have great travel insurance options for backpackers but get a quote and see for yourself!

Best time to go

US News has a great summary of the best times to go to Tulum.

If you’re looking for the best weather, it’s January to March but this is also Tulum’s peak season.

Keeping in mind hurricane season is June to November, the best time to go is actually November to December. Prices are cheaper and the holiday season hasn’t started yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final thoughts on Tulum hostels

Hopefully this gives you a really great starting point in your search for that perfect hostel in Tulum.

Each hostel is different and what you want to pay attention to are some of the finer details that we’ve noted such as whether taxes are included, whether security deposits are required, is breakfast included, are pets allowed, are towels included, and if there is a curfew.

For the dorms, you want to have a good expectation of what the beds are like, the amount of privacy you’ll get, and also if the lockers provided will be big enough for your backpack/suitcase or if they’re only big enough for some personal belongings.

Finally, read the reviews! Look at the most recent ones to get a feel for whether there have been any issues recently and if the vibe you’re getting from other travelers is the same as what’s being promoted.

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If you’ve been to Tulum or have just returned, what were your thoughts about your hostel stay? Let us know which is the best hostel in Tulum in your opinion?

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Featured image by Damon On Road on Unsplash