Tulum is a wonderful place to spend a vacation because the water is breathtaking, it has a chill and boho vibe, and the weather is beautiful if you visit during the right time of year. There are so many fun activities and amazing food in Tulum, but booking a nice place to stay is so important because it’s where you’ll spend most of your time. We vacationed at the most modern & chic Airbnb in Tulum. It was a total gem and was the perfect blend of contemporary luxury, traditional Mexican design, and Greek-inspired architecture.
Hotel Zone vs The Jungle
When in Tulum, you have two areas to choose from as it relates to where you can stay. The first option is the Hotel Zone which is located off of Carretera Tulum and is paralleled to the coast. This is also where you can find fine dining, day parties, and bars. It’s where the action is!
The other option is the Jungle, which is gaining popularity due to the new development of modern condos and villas. This area is under constant construction so I highly recommend renting an SUV. It’s away from the noise and in the midst of nature. This is where I found our spacious Tulum oasis, Design Casa Nautilus in the Fósil apartments.
The Architecture
The architecture, interior design, and landscaping was so beautiful! It was designed by architects, Eduardo Valdes and Alexander Landsberg. Their work has had several press features including AD Magazine, and Elle Decor. Together, they own a design lab in Tulum called Terreo Studio. Their work is inspired by their travels, from the Yucatán to Mérida, the old haciendas, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Oaxaca and Chiapas.
We vacationed at Fósil, in La Vallera. It’s a 4 level complex with 8 apartments, but the exterior looks like one large property. The exterior has a multi-series of high arches which was inspired by Roman architecture and has a facade of fossilized shells from Mexico, hence the name Fósil.
The Living Room Area
The interior design of our apartment featured a soft range of earth tones and natural materials which were balanced by rustic decor. It had a well-balanced blend of ancient and modern architecture. The decor consisted of neutral-colored linen and Yucatan pottery. It felt warm yet contemporary.
The walls, floors, ceiling, and stairs of the condo are made of Chukum, a limestone based stucco mixed with resin from the native Chukum tree. It resulted in the most beautifully textured bone colored material, which brought a wonderful level of harmony to the space. The entryways had rounded arches that added shape and emphasized the scale of the vaulted wood ceilings.
The kitchen had updated accessories including a dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator. The refrigerator was stocked with a delicious cold bottle of Riesling. The shelving in the kitchen was made of local Tulum wood and showcased charming black handmade dishware from Oaxaca.
The dining area featured a wooden 5-seater table where we were welcomed with a bright bouquet of flowers and a bowl of fresh local fruit. The dining table sat in front of metal floor-to-ceiling windows that attached to the outdoor patio, which made the space bright and airy.
The staircase had a sculptural effect due to the Chukum finish and was enhanced by recessed lighting and hanging pendant light.
I felt so glamorous walking up and down the stairwell. After reaching the top of the stairwell there were 2 beautiful bedrooms.
The Bedrooms
The master bedroom featured soft linen bedding and two low-hanging wicker light pendants.
There was plenty of closet space. Each closet was well equipped with beach towels and a beach bag. The master bedroom had large floor-to-ceiling windows which connected to a small terrace that overlooked the private outdoor area.
The master bathroom was so dreamy! It was one of my favorite parts of the house because it had an extra large spa-like bathtub made of Chukum, black metal fixtures, and a rainfall shower head. It was so luxurious and sleek. I had the most amazing candlelit bath!
The other bedroom was similar to the master, but it was smaller and the bathroom had a shower made of Chukum.
The Outdoor Patio
The private outdoor space was so serene. It had a rectangular Chukum pool with a fountain that omitted the most tranquil sound.
The pool was surrounded by a lush landscape of plants and trees. The space also featured a built-in outdoor sectional, as well as a quaint wooden table.
The ground was covered in small round gray rocks. Much like the indoor space, the aesthetic of the outdoor space was a blend of natural-hued materials with accents of greenery. My favorite element of the outdoor patio was that it was completely private.
When gazing up you can see the beautiful bright blue sky separated by large dramatic archways built into the infrastructure of the building. We enjoyed relaxing in the pool with copal incense burning while listening to the never-ending melody of exotic birds.
The Service
This Airbnb was pure paradise and the service was nothing less. Our host Oscar was very helpful. When we arrived he was there to greet us and walked us around the property. He also provided us with a list of recommendations for good eats, grocery stores, hotels with cabanas, private chefs and massage therapists available for booking. We stayed for nine days and felt at home during our entire stay. A security guard was present every night, so I felt very safe the entire time. I 100% recommend this Airbnb and will be back!
Here’s a list of all 13 Airbnb apartments designed by Terreo Studio.