Home Away From Home: Get back to nature at Tulum's Jungle Keva resort

Blending beautifully with its natural surrounds and rising between the trees, Jungle Keva is a new environmentally-friendly boutique hotel in Tulum, Mexico.

The vision – inspired by the hotel’s owner Kendall Inman – was to purchase a 2000-square-metre plot of land in the jungle, preserve 70 per cent of its existing vegetation and build a tropical oasis surrounded by nature.

Local architecture firm Jaque Studio took its cues directly from Tulum’s spectacular serene spirit, creating a refined palette that mirrors the hotel’s rich landscape.

This was achieved by clean lines, local materials, as well as low maintenance and natural textures – all resulting in the project’s sustainable build and minimalist design.

That being so, Jungle Keva fosters a quaint, village-like atmosphere, where five close-knit lodges are scattered within the picturesque plot, all nestled among cascading trees and shadowy stone paths.

Bringing the outdoors in, each airy and open-plan lodge has a private indoor-outdoor bathroom, as well as a terrace, complete with a hammock that looks out onto lush foliage, accessed via sliding glass windows and doors with timber shutters. Some of the lodges also feature a mezzanine, or “tapanco”, containing a sleeping loft and meditation space.

The hotel’s organic ethos is evident in the common areas, used for wellness workshops, along with the dining space where wholesome meals are served, and the yoga pavilion with its slatted wood screens, peacefully positioned over the pool, offering daily yoga classes.

Perhaps the most endearing example of the hotel’s intention to conserve the natural beauty of its site are the two old zapote trees that were lovingly preserved and act as the centrepiece for the pool.

Jungle Keva hosts a range of retreats and seminars covering varied interests from yoga to writing, history to cooking. Guests are encouraged to bask in the stillness of this sanctuary, with the option to explore the local area.

And to those who find themselves checking in to this enchanting jungle hideaway, remember to come as you are and let nature take care of the rest.

While in Tulum

Tulum town centre

Tulum’s town centre offers an authentic Mexican experience, as it is where most locals live and work. Although not as picturesque, the bars and restaurants in town are just as notable, not to mention much cheaper.

Cenotes

Tulum’s breathtaking beach will draw your attention, but don’t let this stop you from taking a dip in one of the town’s famous nearby cenotes – turquoise-coloured, natural rock underground swimming holes.

Beach Road

Tulum’s main hotspot, Beach Road is an incredibly scenic 10.5-kilometre road that runs parallel to the Caribbean shoreline. It’s lined with hotels, restaurants, boutique shops, and outdoor bars, so rent a bike and cruise from one stop to the next.

Chichen Itza ruins

Exploring Tulum’s surrounds pays big rewards, like those of the Chichen Itza ruins. This former Mayan city is now a splendidly preserved UNESCO World Heritage site.