A steel and glass structure in the jungle forms the centrepiece of this nature retreat in Tulum, contrasting the thatched accommodation that faces the Caribbean sea.

Located on an acre of land with a private beach, the Habitas Tulum hotel was created by the hospitality group of the same name.

The flagship property for its chain was designed by the team from the ground-up. The project comprises a lobby and restaurant area, 32 guest rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and an ocean-facing deck.

At the centre of the property is a three-storey glass structure, which serves as a hub for the community and includes a Moorish-style restaurant, a mezzanine and a rooftop deck.

Scattered across the sandy site are a variety of lounging areas with long, communal tables made of reclaimed wood, and other areas with colourful pillows and low tables.

Surrounding this pavilion are guest rooms, all of them raised on platforms and built with consideration to the beach and jungle.

The rooms are constructed with indigenous materials, like natural palapa roofs and pale cloth walls, which open to private terraces and outdoor showers.

Habitas Tulum has five oceanfront suites, and 17 more closer to the jungle. All of the rooms have a king-sized bed and are decorated with a bohemian touch, including wood furnishings and colourful textiles.

Founded by Oliver Ripley, Kfir Levy and Eduardo Castillo, Habitas is a an experience-led hospitality group that also has a clubhouse in New York City and centre in Los Angeles.

The hospitality group also manages a nonprofit arm called Rise, which works with refugees in Africa to build community spaces. A recent project is a community centre in Uganda's Nakivale Refugee Settlement, based around an amphitheatre.

Located 80 miles south of Cancun on Mexico's Riviera Maya, Tulum is a popular resort destination for nature-seekers and is flourishing with boutique eco-hotels. Others include Papaya Playa Project, which boasts a curvaceous white suite above the jungle canopy, and a five-bedroom guest retreat called Tulum Treehouse.

Photography is by Adrian Gaut.