Visitors who like the idea of Tulum but cannot handle rustic rooms only have one option: Be Tulum, which offers air-conditioning and 24-hour electricity (not a given at most hotels in the area). Rooms and suites are for adults only and feature dark Brazilian wood detailing, large floor-to-ceiling windows, freestanding bathtubs (though not great water pressure), ceiling fans and select touches of color in the textiles used throughout. The sexy pool and lounge area would not look out of place in Miami or Los Angeles, with cool designer chairs and dramatic lighting at night. The rooftop bar is pure Mexico, though with expansive views and a laid-back ambience. The hotel is about a 10-minute drive to the town of Tulum. Children must be 12 years or older.

Far from the bustling shoreline of Tulum, Casa Chablé is an intimate, nature-focused hideaway with just 10 rooms and beach bungalows.

Even the entrance to Casa de las Olas is understated. An (easy to miss) wooden sign with a carved, colorful wave on it (‘olas’ in Spanish) points left off Boca Paila, a few yards before the stone arch that leads into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. This southernmost location, removed from the rest of the palapa-style hotels further up the beach, assures an utterly private location. During my four-day stay, I hardly ever saw more than four people, including my husband and me, on the gorgeous white-sand beach. The five guest rooms all face the beach and turquoise sea, and you fall asleep and wake up with the sound of waves crashing up on its shore. Interiors are simple, with king-size, four-poster beds, cool, tiled floors and bathrooms with handcrafted, biodegradable products. All of the rooms have small kitchenettes (the property doesn’t have a restaurant), where guests can prepare basic breakfast, and essentials, like drinking water, coffee, sugar, oil, vinegar and wine are pre-stocked.

Even surrounded by Tulum’s eco-properties, Casa de las Olas raises environmental stewardship to another level. It is completely off the grid, powered entirely by solar panels; the expansive, lush property is irrigated with one hundred percent harvested rain- and stormwater; and the architecture of the buildings makes use of natural ventilation (there’s no air conditioning, though most of the year, Tulum has a refreshing breeze coming from the sea). Owner James Greenfield’s commitment to sustainable, green living can also be seen in the biodegradable bath products, the fact that all the furniture was made by local craftsmen using local materials and that food waste is collected and composted on a daily basis.

Reading through the guest book, you begin to see a pattern: “Don’t do anything without consulting Jimmy first,” says one entry. “If you come with an itinerary, throw it away and ask Jimmy,” says another. Indeed, the presence of James Greenfield is half the fun of staying at Olas. A born New Yorker, he left a fast-paced real estate life for this passion project in Tulum, and his enthusiasm for his new home is contagious. Jimmy’s the type of host who will whisk you into town for the best breakfast tacos; appear with the key to a cenotes usually locked to the public; or invite you to share a freshly sliced pineapple at the communal table in front of his house, also on the property. Many hotels claim that they feel like staying at a local friend’s house—at Olas, this is actually true.

Depending on the type of travelers you are, the removed location will either be a huge bonus or a negative. It’s best to have a car when staying here to drive to dinners and explore the region. There are also bikes available, for lunches at such spots as Casa Violeta or Posada Margherita. I, for one, arrived at Casa de las Olas with a long mental to-explore list (yoga class, massage, Coba, kayaking, snorkeling). And as soon as I settled onto a lounger, shaded by a coconut tree, every item on that list dissipated. Understated, laid-back Olas allows you to truly unplug, and best of all, you can feel good about recharging in a low-impact place that celebrates its surrounding nature.

For low-maintenance couples that want an eco-chic beach getaway, Posada Margherita offers incredible Italian food and simple rooms just steps from the beach in Tulum. Owned by attractive Italians who appreciate the basic beauty of the sea and sand, the eight-room hotel offers the bare essentials by the ocean. The rooms have simple tile floors, queen beds with colorful cotton bedspreads with mosquito nets and not much more.

There’s a bare bones, bohemian quality to the place that lures young artsy types. Bathrooms feature showers; only No.s 7 and 8 have tubs. There are loungers on the beach, where you can request a massage and a tiny boutique sells kaftans, straw hats and beach bags, which, in addition to your bathing suit, is all you will need here. Indagare Tip: Rooms No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 have the ocean views.