You’ve probably seen photos of Azulik on your Instagram feed! It’s an absolutely gorgeous treehouse style hotel located in Tulum, Mexico that is very photogenic and has become one of the top hotels in the area.
I’ve stayed at Azulik and dined at the on site restaurants several times so, in this post, I want to share my experience and answer the question:
Is Azulik worth the hype?
About Azulik
Nestled in the lush jungle along the beach, Azulik was intentionally built to blend into its surroundings. The hotel is constructed of natural materials found in the area like palm fronds, wood and bamboo. Together they make up 48 rooms, three restaurants, a spa, yoga studio, art museum and more — all of which are connected by a maze of bamboo walkways and suspension bridges.
It truly is a real life treehouse and like nothing I’ve ever seen before!
The Rooms
Azulik has several different room types to choose from and prices typically range from $400 to $8,000 per night.
The base level Jungle Villa rooms have jungle views, as do the larger Mayan and Aztec Villa rooms. The Sea Villa and Sky Villa rooms both have sea views and are essentially the same room format but the Sea Villas are at sea level and the Sky Villas sit one floor up.
The Moon Villa and Aqua Villa are the largest room types with beautiful outdoor terraces and sea views.
The rooms at Azulik are supposed to encourage connection with nature and thus are not equipped with electric light, television or air conditioning. At sunset, the rooms are lit with candles so you’re left with a totally romantic ambience!
The canopy beds are round and enclosed in mosquito netting with a fan at the top to keep you cool. And the rooms have large mosaic bathtubs both in the room and on the outdoor patio!
To order room service, the hotel has a very unique system. Guests can write down their order on a small piece of paper and put it into a little wooden ball which is then put in a bamboo shoot that leads to the kitchen!
Dining at Kin Toh
Kin Toh is the flagship restaurant at Azulik and is known for its photogenic jungle views, large lounging net and treetop nest tables with 360 degree views. The restaurant is considered fine dining with modern Mayan-Mexican cuisine featuring locally sourced ingredients.
On my first visit to Kin Toh, I went with my boyfriend for dinner and sat inside. The restaurant was very buzzy with a lively ambience which we enjoyed. We decided to do the 5 course tasting menu (about $135 per person) and were not disappointed! Each of the courses were well executed with interesting ingredients like corn chochoyotes, xoconostle (a Mexican cactus fruit), huitlacoche, corn ash bread and sikil-pak (a Mayan pumpkin seed dip).
For dessert, we had cannolis and as I began to enjoy my cannoli, a gecko fell from the ceiling and landed straight on the cannoli as I was taking a bite… It was hilarious and really added to the treehouse vibe!!
The next two times I dined at Kin Toh, I was with a group celebrating a special occasion and we booked one of the treetop nests. The rental price for the nests ranges from about $200 to $800 plus a $160 per person minimum consumption. While costly, the nests are really a unique experience. Sitting 40 feet above ground (and higher than the treetops!), the 360 degree views are unbeatable for sunset!
→ Read Next: Booking a Nest at Azulik: Everything You Need to Know
Don’t worry, you can still enjoy a nest experience without the hefty price tag! Azulik offers a nightly Sunset Experience in one of the nests on a first come, first served basis for $50 per person which includes one drink as well.
Dining at Tseen Ja
Tseen Ja is Azulik’s Japanese restaurant concept which bridges both Mexican and Japanese ingredients. The menu features an omakase sushi experience (about $135 per person) as well as many a la carte items. Along with sushi, Tseen Ja also offers ramen, tempuras and ishiyaki.
I visited Tseen Ja for dinner during my stay at Azulik and sat at the sushi bar. The atmosphere was a little more relaxed than Kin Toh but still had an elevated and trendy ambience. At the sushi bar, we met and enjoyed chatting with the sushi chef who guided us through our sushi omakase experience. Overall, we found the meal to be quite nice and really enjoyed our time at Tseen Ja!
My Experience
So what were my honest thoughts about staying at Azulik?
Azulik is one of the most unique places I have been. It’s a real-life treehouse and I’ve never seen anything like it! It’s hands down one of my favorite places I’ve ever stayed.
I absolutely loved it and would recommend visiting with some caveats...
First, I would recommend staying at the hotel for no more than two nights. The rooms are lacking electric lighting and showers. Since we stayed only two nights, I really embraced it as a ‘treehouse experience’ and took the opportunity to disconnect. If you are someone who needs all the amenities of a typical luxurious hotel, this may not be the place for you. We booked two nights at Azulik and then three nights at nearby Papaya Playa Project which was perfect as we were able to enjoy both properties and their unique amenities!
Second, I think Azulik is best for couples and romantic getaways. The rooms don’t offer much privacy between the bedroom and the bathroom so I’m not sure I’d want to be sharing the room with family or a group! Plus, the candlelight, sea views and outdoor bath really do create a truly romantic ambience.
So if you’re looking for a unique, romantic getaway for the weekend, check out Azulik in Tulum, Mexico!
→ Make a booking reservation at Azulik
Tips for Staying at Azulik
- Azulik is mostly outdoors so if you’re prone to mosquito bites, I would pack some bug spray!
- The walkways are made of bamboo and other natural materials so they can be difficult to navigate. I would recommend leaving the heels at home and pack some sturdy, flat shoes.
- The rooms can get quite dark, even with candlelight. I packed little flashlights for us and found they came in handy for using the restrooms at night, etc.
- While the rooms don’t have electric lighting, there is an outlet for charging your devices.
- Go in with an open mind and embrace the treehouse lifestyle!
Leave a Reply