Two Family-Friendly Tulum Beach Clubs We Actually Tried: La Zebra vs. Caleta Tankah
Updated: Sep 2
Back in 2020, my family and I spent a week in Akumal, Quintana Roo.
This was during the period when COVID restrictions were still affecting beach access in Mexico, so our trip looked a little different from what a normal Tulum vacation might look like today.
But one thing that hasn't changed is this: if you're traveling with family, not every beach day feels the same.
We visited two very different beach clubs in the Tulum area—La Zebra and Caleta Tankah—and I came away liking both of them for completely different reasons.
So rather than pretend this is a current ranking of every beach club in Tulum, let me tell you what our family actually experienced and what stood out to me.
La Zebra: The More Polished Family Beach Day
La Zebra was definitely the more upscale of the two places we visited.
It was part of a boutique hotel, and the whole experience felt more polished from the moment we arrived.
The beach itself was wide, the palapas were nice, and what stood out to me most was how easy the day felt with family.
At the time, there was a playground area for kids, the bathrooms were excellent—clean and private—and the food and drinks from the restaurant and bar were very good.
And yes, I noticed the bathrooms.
When you're traveling with kids, things like that matter.
Another little thing I liked was that the palapas had power available. That may not matter to everybody, but I thought it was a great touch.
If I were describing the experience simply, La Zebra felt like the place where you could settle in, order good food and drinks, let the family relax, and spend a fairly comfortable day on the beach.
One Thing I Learned About the Palapas
This is one of those little Monte lessons that has nothing to do with travel brochures.
At La Zebra, I preferred the palapa setup with chairs.
At Caleta Tankah, we chose one with a bed.
The bed looked great for about an hour.
Then it got hot and uncomfortable.
So if I had to do that particular decision over again, give me the chairs.
Caleta Tankah: The More Natural Experience
Caleta Tankah was a very different kind of day.
The biggest thing it had going for it, in my opinion, was the natural setting.
The natural pool was beautiful—clear, calm water that made it feel completely different from a normal open-beach swim.
There was also a cenote a short walk away in the jungle.
So in one stop, we could spend time in the ocean-side natural pool and then go swim in fresh water.
That combination was the thing I remember most about Caleta Tankah.
The overall experience wasn't as polished as La Zebra, and back when we visited I wasn't nearly as impressed with the food.
But the setting itself?
That was the reason to go.
So Which One Would I Choose?
It really depends on what kind of beach day you want.
If your priority is a more polished, comfortable family experience with good food, drinks and a nice beach setup, La Zebra was the stronger fit for us.
If you care more about the natural setting—the caleta, calm water and cenote—Caleta Tankah gave us something La Zebra couldn't.
We had a good time at both.
They're just different.
A Quick 2026 Reality Check
One thing I do not want to do is take a family trip we made in 2020 and pretend every operational detail is still current.
Beach-club prices change.
Minimum-spend rules change.
Admission policies change.
Food changes. Staff changes. Tulum definitely changes.
So I would verify current pricing, reservations and day-use policies directly before you go.
What I can give you is the part that doesn't come from a booking page: what it actually felt like taking my family to both places.
Planning More Than Just a Beach Day in Tulum?
If you're already putting together your Tulum trip, you can also browse tours, excursions, transportation and other experiences through my Viator travel page.
I use Viator as one of the ways I find and organize activities when I travel, and if you book through my link, MexitPlans may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
The Bottom Line
If I had to sum up our experience, La Zebra won on comfort and the overall polished beach-club experience.
Caleta Tankah won on natural beauty and giving us something different to experience.
And for our family, both were worth the day.
Just remember: my experience is the part I can stand behind. Before you build your current itinerary around any specific price or policy from years ago, check what the venue is doing now.
Until next time,
MexitPlans Monte
“I'm Out.”
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