I spent the night in a $500 luxury tent in the Tulum jungle, and it was nicer than most hotels I've stayed in

It might sound like a random mix, but Tulum is a town of wild parties, scenic beaches, and eco-friendly resorts — all within walking distance of each other.

Long considered a laid-back hippie town, Tulum has become a vacation destination in recent years as the ongoing pandemic blocked many Americans from traveling to other continents. You've likely caught a glimpse of its turquoise waters and famous cenotes on influencers' Instagram grids, or seen your friends partying at the beach clubs and restaurants.

I recently went to Tulum for a bachelorette party, but I decided to stay a few extra days and explore its variety of resort options. And that's what led me to Habitas.

I first learned about Habitas after stumbling on an article about a trip Paris Hilton took to Tulum in 2017. Hilton had posted numerous Instagram photos from her stay at Habitas, all of them featuring a backdrop of sandy beaches and beautiful views.

But Habitas isn't a traditional celebrity hot spot. Instead of a fancy hotel room, guests at the adults-only resort sleep in canvas tents. You can book one on the beach or in the jungle, taking glamping to a whole new level.

With tents ranging from $400 to $990 a night, I wanted to see how the experience would compare to staying at a more traditional luxury resort in Tulum — and if it would be worth the hefty price tag.

My friend Ria and I were later given bracelets that had a charm of the same compass — Habitas' logo — threaded through a piece of black string.

The board advertised a morning Hatha yoga class and a "sound reconnection circle," scheduled to take place that night. A receptionist later explained that these sessions were free to us as guests and part of the resort's experience.

A bellhop then took our luggage, promising they'd be delivered straight to our tent.

"Enjoy your stay," he said with a smile. "Habitas is a beautiful place, for beautiful people."

As we sat down on plush pillows and sipped on fresh glasses of chilled hibiscus juice, it was clear that this was going to be unlike any resort I'd ever experienced.

We passed by a small wooden sign that read, "Your silence is somebody else's peace and calm," a mantra that is clearly taken seriously at Habitas.

There were no screaming kids running around the pool or booming tipsy voices coming from the bar. A soundtrack of peaceful instrumentals wafted through the air, as subtle as the incense I could smell during our tour of the grounds. I felt instantly soothed.

Wooden stairs led up to a private patio, where slingback chairs and a table had been placed in case we wanted to enjoy the breeze under our natural palapa roof. According to Habitas' website, each room is designed to "coexist with nature" and is thus built with materials that leave zero impact on the environment.

Our tent — which offered 500-square-feet of private space — was also surrounded by beautiful trees and palm leaves. It all looked far bigger, sturdier, and more comfortable than I had expected. If I hadn't done some research beforehand, I wouldn't have even noticed that the walls of our hut were made of canvas.

Right in the middle of the tent was one very plush king-sized bed. There'd be no sleeping on the floor for this glamping experience. The bed had a large frame, which held an air conditioner and two orb lamps.

Also in the room was a desk, a few chairs, and a woven hamper for laundry. A carafe of chilled water was waiting in the mini-fridge, while a bottle of room-temperature water stood on the desk. Our receptionist said the front desk could always be reached by WhatsApp and would be happy to refill our water whenever we needed it.

There were zero issues doing makeup in the middle of the jungle with this bathroom setup. There was also a safe under the sink for our passports, plus a cloth bag filled with toilet paper.

Robes and fresh towels hung right beside the sink, which was stocked with hand soap, lotion, and sanitizer.

Every room comes with a private outdoor space, where you'll find both the shower and toilet.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about having to go outside when I needed to pee in the middle of the night, but honestly, it didn't bother me at all.

Obviously, if it had been raining or cold, I might have had a very different experience with Habitas' outdoor toilet. But the weather was beautiful, the night was peaceful, and I felt like I had my own private little space.

There's a helpful path of wooden planks leading from the back of the tent to the shower so you don't have to walk barefoot on the rocks.

And the shower was stocked with all-natural shampoo and conditioner that smelled delicious.

The water, though, was pretty lukewarm — which wasn't a huge surprise. We had a similar experience at the Airbnb we stayed at a few nights before, and some friends who were in Tulum at the same time said they didn't have hot showers in their rented houses as well. The only truly hot shower I had during my stay was the night I spent at Casa Malca, Pablo Escobar's former mansion that was transformed into a hotel.

Run by Chef Horacio Dardano, Moro is dedicated to Spanish and Moorish cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Pillows and low tables were scattered throughout the space, inviting guests to enjoy their meals while sitting cross-legged. We could see glimpses of Habitas' private beach, the sound of waves mixing with light jazz music.

The lunch menu was packed with variety. There were Tulum standards like guacamole and ceviche, plus tacos, tostadas, and octopus.

Also available were salads, vegan bowls, and Moro rice, while the deserts highlighted local ingredients like cacao and Yucatecan lime.

Our $280 MXN, or $14.19 USD, chickpea vegan bowl featured tomatoes, avocado, peppers, cucumbers, black gomashio, and purple basil, along with drizzles of olive oil and a lime vinaigrette.

The salad was fresh and the vegetables were crisp, but the overall flavor wasn't as dynamic or memorable as we'd hoped.

But we loved our $290 MXN, or $14.52 USD, platter of dips, which featured hummus, muhammara, labneh, and a side of wood-fired pita bread. The hummus had a lovely creaminess, the labneh was bright and refreshing, and the muhammara had a nice kick — plus this gorgeous orange color.

The $370 MXN, or $18.53 USD, octopus came with a bright-yellow carrot hummus that turned our dish into a work of art. Served on the side were some chickpeas, multicolor chard, serrano pepper, and herb salt.

Both Ria and I are huge octopus fans, and this was the third we tried in Tulum in the span of two days. While Moro's dish didn't beat the incredible one we had at Ziggy's — one of the top five best octopus dishes I've ever had in my life — it was still delicious. But the star was the carrot hummus, which I'd never had before and now need to find in the US.

We walked by the outdoor bar, which is right next to Moro. The space looked inviting with both hammocks and large picnic tables available for seating.

But the bar was just as calm as the rest of the resort. People nearby were silently reading books, quietly chatting, or just working on their laptops. There wasn't a bachelorette party to be found.

I mean, wow, look at this view. I've been lucky enough to visit some great resorts through the years, but this layout still took my breath away.

I loved the two-tone effect, and the pool had sweeping views of Habitas' private beach. Planting some palm trees right in the water added a unique touch.

There are daybeds laid out right next to the edge of the pool's area, giving you a perfect view of the sea while resting your head. It was such a beautiful place to relax, sip on a drink, and watch the day calmly fade away.

When we first checked in, our receptionist raved about the sound reconnection circle and said it had been a transformative experience after a bad breakup.

And as the group went around the circle to introduce ourselves, it was clear some people were returning customers. Many raved about the session they had been to a few nights before — one woman even called it the best experience she'd had in Tulum so far. And the session had attracted a variety of guests. There was a honeymooning couple, a solo traveler, and two married couples who had been best friends with each other for 50 years (they were so cute).

We drank some cacao — meant to open our hearts — and laid down on plush pillows as the air filled with a variety of instrumental sounds. After hearing so many people rave about the session, I think I went in with too many expectations — or maybe I was just exhausted after days of bachelorette festivities.

While it hadn't been a transformative experience, letting beautiful sounds wash over you under a glittering night sky was a nice way to spend an hour of our time. As we headed out to dinner that night, I felt relaxed and at ease.

The king bed was beyond comfortable, and I loved the super plush and cooling comforter. When we turned off the orb lights, the tent became pitch-black.

It wasn't long before I fell into a deep and peaceful sleep in the jungle.

I loved how the sun's rays blended with the beige canvas tent, giving the space a warm and inviting embrace.

Breakfast for two was included in our reservation, which came to $510 total.

Ria and I decided to split the Milpa eggs, a dish of poached eggs, huitlacoche hollandaise, leeks, plantains, corn tatemada, and house-smoked bacon on chipotle toast. We also got the shakshuka, which featured eggs cooked in a spiced tomato sauce and topped with feta cheese, Serrano peppers, fresh herbs, and sour cream served alongside fermented bread.

The shakshuka was warm and soothing, and the Milpa eggs were a delicious Mayan spin on a classic brunch dish. I loved the smoky taste of the huitlacoche hollandaise.

Clay was being spread on the body of a woman by the ocean. It appeared to be Habitas' Tierra Maya experience, in which clay and honey are used to detoxify the body and then washed off by the sea to "reconnect with nature."

The time I spent at Habitas allowed me to appreciate Tulum in a completely different way. From the sound therapy session to the peaceful meals by the sea, it was a time to reflect and relax rather than sightsee and party.

I'm currently at a time in my life when most vacation days are saved for weddings and bachelorettes, so spending the night at a resort dedicated to nourishing your mind, body, and soul was exactly what I needed. I loved the unique opportunity to sleep in the middle of the jungle, and I'll never forget having breakfast next to that breathtaking view of the ocean.

I would absolutely stay at Habitas again, where even just one night left me feeling completely revitalized.