Im very excited to share all about our trip to Tulum! We spent most of our time in Tulum which is about 2 hours away from Cancun. It’s a very spiritual and free spirited place that dedicates a lot of their efforts to being eco-friendly. From turning old beer bottles into reusable glassware, turning coconut shells into bowls, and even taking care of sea turtle eggs on resort beaches. By no means is Tulum the perfect eco-friendly place, many people are still working towards a better environment, but it still really found a place in my heart and their efforts don’t go unnoticed.
We went for a total of 8 days and I still felt like it wasn’t enough. There is so much to see and experience. We went for my birthday and had some family fly out and join us so although we accomplished a lot on our list, there were many other places that we didn’t get to because we had a bigger group. Since we went in June, it was very hot and humid so your clothes will stick to your body. My hair did not stay done and my makeup eventually wanted to melt off, it was just inevitable. Pack a lot of very lightweight clothing like dresses and bandeaus. I’d also recommend taking an umbrella around, it really helps. We flew into Cancun and rented a car (no Uber or Lyft available in Mexico) and drove straight down to Tulum.
The highlight of this trip was how amazing my birthday turned out. We ate the best food, hopped from place to place and got to visit different hotspots, and partied. When the sun finally set, Vic went to wander around Coco Tulum Limited where we stayed for my birthday, and he stumbled upon a huge green sea turtle laying eggs! The hotel staff called in experts to take care of her and the eggs and after sitting for an hour watching her, we ended the night with amazing tacos and mezcal at I Scream Bar and Casa Jaguar. All I kept thinking was, “can it actually get any better than this?”, and it did. A few days later, we headed to Playa Del Carmen where my tia Claudia and her wife Tiffany (who happens to be my bestie), flew in to surprise me! We went snorkeling, shopping, and ate good food with our huge group of family. Needless to say, Quintana Roo and Tulum specifically has so much to offer and I loved every second of it. I can’t wait to go back!
Tips That Can Really Save You:
- We almost got ripped off when trying to rent a car. We were planning on renting a 4-door from National but they first tried charging an extra $250 then went up to $500, then the end total was going to be $900. We got fed up and walked next door to Budget and rented a car for 8 days at $234 including insurance.
- It’s very important to change your currency to pesos. They will overcharge in some places. If you use your credit card, ask them to run it in pesos. Make it a habit to do this wherever you travel.
- Unfortunately, Tulum is experiencing a big seaweed problem called sargassum. Their shores are filled with seaweed so not all of the beaches are beautiful blue waters and white sand.
- When renting a car, take a picture of the dashboard before you start your trip to avoid extra charges when checking the car back in.
- Pay attention when they pump gas for you.
- Many places you might try to do personal photoshoots at will try charging you $500-$3000. iPhones are acceptable.
- Go to local ATM’s or banks for pesos.
Where To Stay:
Unless you plan on staying at your hotel/Airbnb the entire trip and not exploring around, I’d recommend saving money on a place to stay. The way I see it is that I won’t be spending too much time there. I want somewhere not too far from the main town and beach, and that’s clean and cozy to sleep and shower. Another thing to keep in mind is because of the sargassum, it sometimes creates a bad odor so staying on the beach might mean smelling it, too.
We mainly book Airbnb’s because I love an authentic experience but Tulum had some great hotels at good prices. I’ve made the mistake of not checking for air-conditioning and suffered, don’t be like me. LOL. Use reviews to your advantage and start with the lowest review so you can know what the worst things you can expect are (bugs, unfriendly staff, water problems). Here are some great options:
Arthouse Hotel
I absolutely loved this hotel! It was very clean and the staff is super friendly. The food and margaritas are amazing here, we loved the whole art in the jungle vibe. It’s not on the beach, it’s actually about 10-15 minutes away from everything which was perfect for me. It’s very relaxing, and has amazing art all around the hotel. Arthouse is definitely a place I’d stay at again.
Nômade
This place is beautiful! The staff gave us a hard time when visiting, they told us we had to purchase food in order to be there which turned out fine. They were also very strict about having no professional cameras. Aside from that, Nomade offers yoga, life workshops, sound healing, and many other events daily.
Ahau
I didn’t stay here but I’ve heard great things! The cabanas look amazing! This is where my favorite restaurant Raw Love and the famous Ven A La Luz wood sculpture is. My mom had breakfast at the beach restaurant and absolutely loved it. The staff is super welcoming and the entire space was beautiful. Click here for more info.
Coco Tulum & Coco Limited
Known for their beautiful white and black cabanas on the beach. They have a popular beach bar and restaurant with swings overlooking the ocean. We stayed at the sister location, Coco Limited which I loved. The one things that I adore about this place other than their aesthetic is that they often have sea turtles nesting on their beaches and they take care of the eggs until they are ready to go into the ocean which is about 2 months. We were lucky enough to witness a beautiful sea turtle nesting and watched her swim back into the ocean at Coco Limited.
Azulik
I’ve never stayed here but Azulik I was only impressed by the architecture and not the staff. This extremely pricey resort is dedicated to reconnecting with nature and the environment. It’s right on the beach and offers several dreamy bamboo villas that everyone raves about on Instagram. They have no air conditioning, no wifi, and no electricity after a certain time.
Personally, I think this place is beautiful but their rooms are anywhere from $600-$1200 so it’s a lot prettier to look at than stay at. We wanted to dine at their restaurant but we were turned away by the staff unless we paid $80 each. Some of my family members got in free two days later. We only got to view the museum.
Casa Malca
Pablo Escobar’s mansion was turned into a beautiful luxury hotel filled with funky art and beautiful views. There are several rooms with amazing decorations and a spiral staircase that leads up to the roof that overlooks the ocean. Even if you don’t stay here, its definitely a site to see. Click here for more info.
Other places to look into:
- Zorba-gorgeous beach homes that have a more romantic vibe. It has a rooftop patio and is perfect for holidays and other personal events. I think this is a beautiful hidden gem in Tulum and the price is worth the beach home if you visit with a group!
- Delek-these gorgeous cabanas are the perfect Tulum vibe offering ocean views and an amazing spa. This has a variety of options for rooms so it could fit many budgets.
- Be Tulum-as one of the luxury boutique hotels, it is more on the pricier side but it is absolutely beautiful. Be Tulum has so many unique features including an amazing pool and restaurant. If you are looking for luxury and a unique place to stay, this may be a great choice!
- Papaya Playa Project– This is a hot spot whether you stay here or not! It’s a very lively hotel which events always happening here. It’s known for how awesome the hotel is and how great the party scene is here. They have a variety of prices for stays here and their event calendar can be found on their website.
- Green Tulum Cabanas & Gardens-super inexpensive cabanas for those who are interested in less luxury and more adventure and nature. These will give the Tulum jungle feel for less. However this is another location that does not have A/C so it is fresh air only but provides mosquito nets around beds.
Places To Eat:
Yelp was our best friend when searching for food in Tulum. It was difficult to find authentic Mexican food, which I found very weird. Many restaurants are on the pricier side but we found some great places that my family and I loved. We went into town and bought pan dulce (sweet bread) and groceries for the times we needed snacks or didn’t have the energy to go out and eat. We were able to make our own sandwiches and breakfast. We also enjoyed going downtown for more authentic meals. This is where you’ll find food like street tacos and smaller, locally owned restaurants. Also, Tulum has a lot of vegan options that are amazing!
Raw Love
Raw Love is my favorite cafe in Tulum! Their whole menu is vegan (besides the honey). I ate here mainly for breakfast and enjoyed a smoothie bowl and avocado toast almost everyday. I also loved the lattes, my favorite being one with reishi and honey as a sweetener. Their menu is smaller with not too many entrees. They have pizza, pad thai, and salads aside from their drinks and bowls that I didn’t get to try. I’ve heard a lot of great things about their desserts as well! I wish we had a Raw Love in Arizona.
Macondo & La Popular at Nomade
Both restaurants are located in a beautiful setting, one right on the beach and the other in the middle of the hotel. We didn’t try any tea or food at Macondo, but it was beautiful! It’s a Moroccan-style restaurant and perfect for pictures. We grabbed a quick bite at La Popular and it was pretty pricey. Two margaritas were about $20 USD, but the food was really good! I recommend visiting if you’re interested in a nice lunch or dinner on the beach, it really was worth the experience.
La Barracuda-great seafood with lots of options! Everyone raves about this place for seafood. It’s not very pricey and good for seafood lovers.
Charly’s Vegan Tacos-these vegan tacos have become very popular for how flavorful and healthy it is. All of their sauces are homemade and their tacos are unique to their restaurant.
Antojitos La Chiapaneca-we loved these tacos! They were only about $1 each and you can add cheese which I enjoyed. The salsas were really good and super spicy.
Posada Margherita-amazing beach views. On the pricier side with a smaller menu list but the ambiance is nice.
I Scream Bar-one of my favorites in Tulum! We got to hang out with the owner and his dog who follows him around and loves the night life just like he does. since this is a popular bar, I’m not sure if they’re only open at night BUT the tacos were amazing! They have a variety of tacos and salsas. Also try their mezcal if you dare.
Rosa Negra-a beautiful but pricey restaurant! We didn’t get to eat here which I was very sad about. I’ve heard great things about the food, service, and music.
Things To Do:
Visit Cenotes
A few others that we didn’t make it to were Cenote Dos Ojos, Cenote Suytun, Cenote Zapote, Cenote Ik Kil, and Cenote Caracol. Tulum apart of Sistema Sac Actun (215 miles long) which is the biggest underwater cave in the world. Cenotes are very spiritual because they were sacred to Mayans since this was their main water source. They used to do animal/human sacrifices and ceremonies about the cosmos and fertility. This is why there are so many different cenotes.
Visit the Tulum Ruins
Rent bikes & explore town
Other Things To Do:
- Drive 2 hours to Chichen Itza-you can buy tours to Chichen Itza or drive there yourself. This is a must see when in any part of Yucatan! It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World since it is believed to be one of the major ancient Mayan cities. Either take the trip very early morning or in the evening. In the evening, they have light & sound shows on the pyramid. We ran out of time so next time we visit, this is first on our list.
- Go to a Mayan Mud Spa-these mud spas have great benefits for the skin. When going to a mud spa, you can expect massages, full body clay masks, and some even offer bath house therapy. A popular one is Mayan Clay Spa.
- Get a spiritual cleanse-Copal, a type of incense, is used for most cleanses. You can also check in to complete spiritual healing resorts in Tulum. The basic ones with copal can be found at many spas including at Azulik.
- Kaam Luum Lagoon-this lagoon is fairly secluded and has a huge cenote in the middle of it that’s blocked off because it’s very deep. You can go diving in it for an extra cost. This lagoon is good for swimming and relaxing and you can give yourself your own mud bath here.
- Enjoy the night life-find salsa dancing. Visit nightclubs including Papaya Playa Project, Batey, Gitano, and I Scream Bar & Casa Jaguar right next door (we had such a great time at these two, ask for a Blue Light Show at I Scream Bar and try their kick ass tacos!!).
- Experience the Moon Rituals, usually done on full moons-Papaya Playa Project has full moon ritual parties that everyone loves!
- Have a beach day at Playa Paraiso or any other beach.
- Adventure at Xcaret or Xplor-this is where you can go ziplining, swim with sharks or dolphins, go tubing, sea trek, and so much more.
- Go on a boat or snorkel tour-your hotel staff will lead you in the right direction for tours.
- Enjoy yoga or meditation sessions-morning yoga sessions are available all over Tulum! Ahau has morning yoga on the beach and we saw signs for yoga and meditation all over while riding bikes through Tulum.
Where To Visit Outside of Tulum:
Akumal-well known for sea turtle beaches, this town is only about 30 minutes away from Tulum! We visited Yal-ku lagoon and snorkeled as well, this was a very different but fun experience because the ocean water flows into the lagoon. Very inexpensive and worth it if you love sea turtles!
Playa Del Carmen-during part of our Quintana Roo stay, we stayed in Playa Del Carmen which I didn’t expect to love as much as I did. We explored the town and took a ferry to Cozumel. This town is less expensive than the more touristy Tulum and Cancun. It’s a great place to visit if you have the time!
Cozumel-when we stayed in Playa Del Carmen and took the ferry to Cozumel, we spent our day snorkeling and eating the best fresh fruit on our boat! This was the highlight of our trip, we were able to see stingrays, starfish, eels and exotic fish when snorkeling. Our tour guide was amazing and the island is amazing! You won’t have the seaweed covering the beaches here so the water is crystal clear. Definitely recommended!!
Isla Mujeres-this popular island is less than 3 hours from Tulum. There are great snorkeling spots and even an underwater museum here. It’s more popular than Holbox which means more tourism but beautiful nonetheless.
Isla Holbox-a beautiful carless island that is only about 3 1/2 hours from Tulum. Drive or take a bus to Chiquila then hop on a ferry to Hotbox. This little island is an absolute dream! There are hammocks in the water that you can enjoy and is home to flamingos! This colorful town filled with murals. You can see the bioluminescent phytoplankton beaches that light up the sand at night or during whale season, you can swim with whale sharks!
Cancun-this is the most touristy spot as everyone knows. Cancun is where everyone goes for the nightlife and activities, and it’s a little less than 2 hours away from Tulum.
Laguna Bacalar-a beautiful lagoon with turquoise waters and perfect for a swim day. It’s 2 1/2 hours away from Tulum but once you see pictures of the lagoon, you’ll realize why it’s worth the drive!
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