Checking In: 7 No-Frills Bohemian Beach Hotels to Book ASAP
Here’s where to stay in our new favorite bohemian beach towns that aren’t Tulum.
Welcome to Checking In, our monthly column in which our lifestyle editor-at-large, Monica Mendal, shares the best in hotels and other luxury destinations. Comprising the latest and greatest before everyone else is talking about them, the chic locations you'll discover here belong at the top of your travel bucket list.
Year after year, Tulum’s appeal as the ultimate bohemian beach destination grows steadily, and it’s not because the beach is anything to write home about. What makes Tulum an attractive destination for the stylish, globetrotting crowd is the ongoing development of new swoon-worthy design hotels that pop up on the beach each year. From Papaya Playa Project to Nomade and Casa Malca, and to this season’s newcomer, Casa Pueblo Boca Paila, Tulum has made beachside living as chic as it is relaxing.
As the rise in excitement around Tulum has proven, boutique hotels set the tone for up-and-coming destinations. Yet with an upswing of cool accommodations comes an increase in crowds, so where are the OG Tulum-goers headed next to escape mainstream tourism, while still getting their fix of clever, beachy design? Anywhere with good surf, good food, good people, and good vibes. From cool surf hotels to whimsy tropical bungalows, here’s where to stay in our new favorite bohemian beach towns that aren’t Tulum.
It’s no small feat to get to Hotel Agua Claras on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, as it requires at least two planes and a drive. But once you arrive, you immediately realize the journey is well worth it. This beach hotel is a part of Cayuga Collections, so sustainability is at its core. It features six bungalows and six suites, all with a modern Caribbean design ethos. Along with the whimsical accommodations and colorful decor throughout the property, guests can enjoy the hotel restaurant, botanical gardens, and Casa Gandhi, a space for yoga and meditation for a truly restorative stay.
Itacaré in Bahia is a best-kept secret among Brazilians, as the majority of international travelers flock to Rio and Trancoso for a beachy, Brazilian escape. At the heart of Itacaré is eco-cool resort Txai, featuring an unspoiled beach and jungle-like bungalows made of local bamboo and palm leaves. While there’s much to explore off the property in Itacaré, you might find enough to entertain yourself at the beach hotel itself– from six swimming pools to a spa, two tennis courts, and two restaurants featuring Bahian cuisine. Although leaving your private beachside bungalow may actually be the hardest part.
Ibiza will always be known as a bohemian playground, and Cas Gasi is one of the oldest, yet least-known boutique hotels on the island. Equal parts chic and charming, the eco-conscious, family-run beach hotel is set on an organic olive farm and features a farm-to-table restaurant that has just undergone a renovation and will reopen next month. Cas Gasi also features a spa and yoga facility for travelers to really lean into the Ibiza mood. Additionally, the rooms and shared spaces make you feel right at home.
Mancora is a surfer’s paradise, and KiCHIC is the perfect place to anchor yourself for a week of exploring the warm water breaks. KiCHIC was once the owner’s home, which he recently renovated into a beachside oasis for guests to visit and feel at home themselves. Beyond the tropical comforts of the living spaces, the vegetarian restaurant and fish bar will give you a fully well-rounded Peruvian experience.
You can’t visit Ibiza without staying on its neighboring sister island, Formentera. Just a short ferry ride away, you arrive at this natural paradise with waters so blue you’ll confuse it for the Caribbean. Can Tres features three different apartments with light, airy quarters and chic outdoor spaces perfect for larger groups– and each with a different personality.
Bravo Beach Resort Siargao is a surfer’s paradise in the dynamic town of General Luna. The hotel overlooks the Pesangan Reef and the Philippine Sea, yet it’s not only its privileged location that makes this hotel such a coveted stay. The design is clever and relaxed, offering three room types, including bunk options for surf groups passing through, as well as full-service villa options that are just a short ride away from the beach hotel. All accommodations and shared spaces are enclosed with thatched roofs and clad with surf decor.
Simplicity wins in Petit Hotel Hafa, which is located in the bustling town of Sayulita and just two blocks from the beach. The design is minimal, relying on tropical pops of color and cozy nooks, including the rooftop overlooking the town. It’s the perfect place to hang out after a day out surfing or exploring; returning back to Petit Hotel Hafa will feel like home.
