Hotel Eterna by Arista Cero: A Contemporary Tribute to Mayan Cosmology in the Heart of Tulum

Location: La Veleta, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico Architects: Arista Cero Lead Architects: Claudia Aguilar, André Borges, Mario Gonzalez Project Area: 1,400 m² Completion Year: 2022 Photography: © Tamara Uribe

Nestled in the lush tropical surroundings of La Veleta in Tulum, Hotel Eterna by Arista Cero reimagines boutique hospitality through a design deeply rooted in Mayan cosmology, material authenticity, and spatial hierarchy. Designed with a meditative interplay between earth and sky, the hotel’s architecture draws inspiration from ancient Mayan worldview—where physical and spiritual realms are intertwined.

Spatial Concept: Four Volumes, Infinite Experiences

The architectural concept of Hotel Eterna is based on the intersection of one horizontal and three vertical volumes. These structures span the site widthwise, creating in-between voids that serve as transitional spaces—blurring boundaries between the public and private, the solid and porous, and the built and natural. This layout enables rich circulation paths and layered spatial narratives.

A Native Garden Reimagined

The site’s tropical vegetation—featuring endemic trees and low brush—was preserved and reintegrated throughout the project. Trees were carefully transplanted to form shaded courtyards and green buffers, enabling Hotel Eterna to blend harmoniously with Tulum’s ecological landscape. A prominent Jabín tree anchors the open-air entrance plaza, inviting guests into a serene journey of spatial exploration.

Circulation and Connection: A Vertical Symphony

The access axis channels movement toward the horizontal base volume, which houses the main operational, public, and private functions. This horizontal body is interlaced with vertical circulation paths—including open-air staircases and vaulted connectors—that link all suites across four levels.

The project accommodates 25 suites arranged across five typologies:

• Ground Floor Suites (7): Offer direct access to private gardens and pools, ideal for grounded relaxation.
• First Level Suites (8): Feature private terraces and balconies overlooking the verdant jungle. Some are linked vertically to higher floors, allowing a sectional separation between social and private zones.
• Second Level Suites (8): Showcase dynamic volumetric overlaps, engaging with balconies and shared platforms.
• Third Level Suites: Interconnected units with private terraces and pools; the level also features a communal rooftop pool and observatories with panoramic views of the Mayan forest and night sky.

Materials and Atmosphere: Lightness Meets Solidity

Locally sourced materials define the hotel’s aesthetic character and sensory atmosphere. The horizontal volume is clad in Mayan stone, anchoring the structure with a strong sense of groundedness, while the vertical volumes are coated in chukum plaster, a traditional Mayan lime-based finish that evokes lightness and ethereal texture.

Complementing the stone and plaster is warm native wood, used in staircases, railings, and façade elements. These materials create a tactile and cohesive dialogue with the surrounding environment, reinforcing the hotel’s regional identity and eco-conscious ethos.

Experiential Highlights

• Rooftop Observatory: Stargazing and immersion in the celestial, celebrating the Mayan reverence for the cosmos.
• Garden-to-Room Integration: Lush greenery extends into private terraces, creating a fluid indoor-outdoor experience.
• Crafted Material Palette: Honoring Yucatán’s artisanal heritage through chukum, stone masonry, and woodworking.
• Sustainable Landscaping: A minimal-impact strategy that prioritizes existing vegetation and site regeneration.

Hotel Eterna by Arista Cero isn’t merely a hospitality project—it’s a spatial narrative that connects guests to Mayan philosophy, nature, and the experiential richness of Tulum. Through its volumetric interplay, sustainable materials, and reverence for context, it offers a contemporary yet timeless retreat grounded in cultural memory and architectural excellence.