This place is pure magic! Built seemlessly into its natural surrounding, Papaya Playa came to life as a sustainability project using only natural resources, local materials, and so on. You very quickly forget the world here, enjoying the carribean sea only twenty steps from where you are playing chess at the bar while enjoying a fresh coconut and guacamole.

The Papaya Playa Project is located only minutes from downtown Tulum at a secluded beach. Just close enough to enjoy the small village of Tulum over dinner or drinks, but far enough to live there peacefully day in day out. Their kitchen and bar is managed by Berlin’s well-known Hipster place Katerholzig (nowadays running under Kater Blau, earlier legendary Bar25) and if that wasn’t enough those guys also manage the turntables. They regularly bring world-class DJs and their parties and festivals are famous and notorious all along the coast from Tulum to Playa del Carmen. Thanks to the mix of chilled beach life, good food & SPA as well as an occasional party night, you can find a colorful mix of people here.

“I live Here and Now and don’t Want to Grow Up” Side of Life

The international “gypsetter” crowd meets stressed big-city workers who are trying to calm down, as well as young families during their holidays. And they get along well. My observation is, that this is most likely due to the fact that they all are a bit on the “I live here and now and don’t want to grow up” side of life. I mean – especially at The Papaya Playa Project – that sounds pretty damn right!