Selva norte Tulum

The evening walks under the glowing globe lights feel magical, and there are cenotes and pools around. Selva Norte is beautiful, almost like a little fairy kingdom. You meet people from all over, and everyone’s lovely. The gatekeepers look out for us and keep danger away. Smile.

I’ve noticed a real difference with the new administration. They’re looking after the grounds, improving the amenities, and keeping things in good shape, which makes it feel like they care about residents and guests. The gated community is tucked into the jungle, calm and secure, and there’s plenty here: two pools, a restaurant with a full bar, coworking space, and rooftop spots for yoga or meditation. Selva Norte feels like a lovely escape to me, while still being close to everything in Tulum. I’d happily stay here to unwind.

We rented two properties in Selva Norte between November ‘24 and January ‘25, and neither was cheap. The biggest headache was getting there: the road to and from Tulum was already awful when we arrived and has gotten worse. You’ll bottom out repeatedly over a short stretch, so I’d strongly recommend a 4WD. There are serious infrastructure problems inside the community too. None of the elevators worked, and one property manager said there was little chance they’d be repaired. While we were there, crude concrete speed bumps appeared in several places, high enough to risk damaging a car’s underside. The two homes we stayed in, along with others we toured, felt cheaply built and lacked nice finishes. There was often a sewage odor, which one owner said was common, and hot water was unreliable. Without professional dehumidifiers, expect mildew, mold, and the smells that come with them. The property managers would say anything to get our money, then stop responding when problems came up, and they did. For example, our contract for Villa #7 said utilities were included, but the owner later said we had to pay for gas. I would never rent here again. If you value your money, don’t consider buying either.

We walked into the apartment and were immediately hit by a horrible smell that made us dizzy and sick. The bedding and towels had brown marks and hair on them, like they hadn’t been washed. Warm water was a problem too. Sometimes it came through, but only for a few minutes. I can’t recommend this place. 👎🏻