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Inside Zamas: A Boutique Tulum Escape With Meaningful Local Impact

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By Kind Traveler  •  Posted on Feb 25, 2026

Located along the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Tulum is known for its alluring mix of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, ancient Mayan ruins, and beautiful nature.

Chelsea McGettigan Solano, guest experience manager for Zamas Tulum Hotel, says the Riviera Maya beach town is also home to thousands of unique species on land and sea and is bursting with natural wonders.

“We are an eclectic, welcoming town built right next to the ruins of our Mayan ancestors from centuries ago,” begins McGettigan Solano. 

 

 

Given all of its attractions, it’s not altogether surprising that as many as 2 million people visit Tulum annually. The destination's popularity, however, also has drawbacks. 

“For many years, everyone just wanted to own their slice of Tulum heaven, with little regard for the long-term impact of development,” continues McGettigan Solano. “Now we’re finally seeing a shift toward more thoughtful, sustainable development that we hope will enable all of Tulum's inhabitants to thrive for years to come.”

These are just some of the reasons that Zamas Tulum Hotel has chosen to be a part of Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back (ESGB) program. 

Established in late 2023, the ESGB program is made up of hotels and resorts around the globe that have committed to contributing funds to a local charity for every single guest stay booked at their property — regardless of whether the traveler made the hotel booking on Kind Traveler or another platform.

The program also includes a public-facing "Positive Impact Dashboard" for each participating property, where travelers can see exactly how much support a hotel or resort has provided to its chosen charity.

As part of ESGB, Zamas Tulum Hotel has chosen to continue the property’s longstanding support for the Tulum-based non-profit Na’atik Language and Cultural Institute, an intercultural language school that provides local and Maya Indigenous students with access to education. 
 

Na’atik and the work it does providing language education also helps Zamas Tulum Hotel fulfill its own mission as a property.

“Zamas has committed to hiring locally since our opening, and Na'atik, which teaches English to Mayan and Spanish-speaking children, is incredibly important to the educational and professional journey in the Tulum area,” continues McGettigan Solano.

The financial support provided by Zamas and Every Stay Gives Back (ESGB) is critical to Na’atik and its mission. It directly strengthens the nonprofit’s ability to expand educational access for local and Maya Indigenous children.

As of February 2026, $5,488 has been raised through ESGB, funding the expansion of Na’atik’s educational resources and library. These funds can provide up to 2,744 children’s books, significantly growing access to culturally relevant learning materials and helping build a stronger foundation for literacy and language preservation within the community.

Beyond library expansion, ESGB donations also allow Na’atik to continue subsidizing the cost of its language and cultural programs while growing its scholarship offerings — ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent students from participating.

In addition, Na’atik’s trilingual library relies entirely on outside contributions, as it is run 100 percent from donations.

Support for these types of needs at Na'atik is just part of the reason why the partnership with ESGB and Zamas Tulum Hotel is so meaningful.

“Beyond the simple impact of giving us access to more funds to provide and improve services, the support also sends an important message to our students, their families and the wider local community, that tourism in the region can be a force for good,” explains Gray.

“The coast has seen dramatic changes with an exponential increase in tourism, however, too often the benefits, whether economic or intercultural, have bypassed communities like ours,” Gray continues. “Sustainable tourism, through programs like ESGB, is crucial to spreading the positive impacts of tourism to those who have traditionally been excluded.” 
 

 

A key part of the Na'atik program has always been to seek the value in intercultural opportunities, adds Gray. 

Having local and international partners who share this vision demonstrates to Na’atik’s students that they are a valued part of the global community. And it also illustrates for those same students that it is indeed possible to work across cultural and national divides to understand each other.

As one of the first hotels established in Tulum back in 1993, it’s only natural that Zamas Hotel is among those leading the way when it comes to actively giving back to the local community and organizations like Na’atik. 

 

McGettigan Solano says it’s an approach to doing business that has always been part of the hotel’s ethos.

“In essence, we grew up with Tulum,” says McGettigan Solano. “As such, it's always been important, almost naturally so, to be in harmony with the land and community around us. Collaborating with ESGB is a natural extension of our philosophy of sustainability.”

Explore the Positive Impact Dashboard for Zamas Hotel and travel kindly on your next trip to Tulum. 

Author Bio: Mia Taylor is an award-winning journalist and editor. She has been writing and editing professionally for 20 years and holds an undergraduate degree in print journalism and a graduate degree in journalism and media studies. Her career includes working as a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fortune, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Parents, and Health. 

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