I finally decided to book a trip to Tulum after stalling for 2 years. I fell in love with the Be Tulum Yaan Wellness Spa photos circulating online in 2017 and I instantly knew I’d travel there someday. Tulum is considered the sibling to Cancun and Playa Del Carmen but it’s much more laid back. The smaller beach town is situated on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. The home of tranquil beaches with sugar colored sand and cobalt blue waters, the well preserved Mayan Ruins, and hundreds of cenotes. If you love the jungle aesthetic this is the perfect place! It’s very eco-chic with some of the best bohemian designed hotels. There’s ocean front beach clubs, plenty of top notch restaurants and bars that serve the best food and drinks! Scroll for more inspo and extra details <3
Places we visited
Gran Cenote (pronounced say-notay) – beautiful garden cenote with crystal clear turquoise water, so clear you could see turtles and tiny fish, ideal for swimming and diving, considered sacred waters by the Mayans – you have to wash yourself from head to toe before you can enter using the showers on the property, entry fee was 10 USD, there’s hundreds of cenotes throughout Tulum, they does not exist in many parts of the world, I highly encourage visiting!
Azulik – rustic-chic, electricity-free villas, set in a tropical jungle, private adults-only beach resort, clothing-optional beach, kin toh restaurant
Nomade – next door to Be Tulum, beach lodge with full service spa, beautiful structure, natural modern design, upscale, sophisticated health-focused restaurant
Raw Love – IG famous towering wood sculpture by daniel popper, nice outdoor cafe with a hippy vibe, gourmet raw vegan food, superfoods, acai bowls, healing shots and elixirs, juice detox
Rosa Negra – rustic sophisticated atmosphere, mexican, latin, seafood, International, contemporary cuisine, tonic drink, steak tacos and empanada, katryna had tuna, very classy, great for date night!
El Santo – located in town, breakfast and brunch restaurant, rooftop outdoor seating, I had the salmon avocado toast, katryna had the acai bowl
Ruins of Tulum – ancient walled city perched on the edge of a cliff in Quintana Roo overlooking the Caribbean ocean, was built to be a seaport fortress, with steep ocean cliffs providing protection from the East, and a large limestone wall enclosing the rest of the city on three sides.
Kin Toh – inside Azulik , fine-dining, Mayan-Mexican cuisine, luxury restaurant, very dark/low light at night and no a/c but there are fans, up in the trees and in front of the Ocean
Chichen Itza – Big pyramid, was named one of the new seven wonders of the world , I would love to see this if I go back, about 2 hours away from Tulum
Casa Malca – Pablo Escobar mansion, popular swinging couch photo with curtains made from wedding dresses! art, nature, and laid-back luxury
I Scream Bar – hipster vegan ice cream dive bar, turquoise cars hanging from the ceiling, menus made out of car, outdoor seating, can get packed in the evening, happy hour
Matcha Mama – fruit bowl/ice cream out of this world! plant based, Matcha, smoothies, bowls, açaí, kombuchas
Gitano – Restaurant and Mezcal Bar, set in a magical oasis in the lush jungle of Tulum Beach, amazing ambiance very grown & sexy. So upset I do not have photos of the bar! it was so elegant and beautiful
Be Tulum – airy, exotic boutique hotel, spa resort, $$$$, hotel inspired by the rustic charm and raw natural beauty of the Mayan Riviera and holiday between the jungle, sand, and sea
La Onda – next to Matcha Mama, we went around lunchtime but they specialize in italian and pizza cuisines
Casa Jaguar – small rustic restaurant deep in the heart of Tulum´s jungle
More Details
Where did we stay
- Una Vida Tulum – jungle aesthetic, very pretty! 1 bedroom suite has separate kitchen living area and a separate bedroom and bath. very affordable, has a/c, located in town
Helpful tips
- There’s no uber or lyft but there are taxis lined down the street ready to take you where you want to go. Always confirm the price before you drive off
- Most places accept Visa and Mastercard’s but I’d withdraw some pesos to tip drivers. 50 USD = 1020.79 PESOS
- Most establishments speak English, the drivers not so much, it may be helpful to brush up on a little Spanish. For the most part you can tell them the name of the place you’re trying to get to and that will be fine
- Most popular places are all on Tulum Beach, downtown Tulum is 20 mins one way on a 2 lane road – consider hotel location
- We flew into Cancun – 1hr 30 min drive to Tulum , Cozumel appears to be closer but it’s 2hrs away (pickup from airport was 115$ one way, our hotel arranged it) the company provided water, beer, sodas, wifi, and fresh towels
What to bring
- Bring DEET spray – tulum is very humid and you are in the jungle so tons of mosquitoes, sunglasses, and a hat/raincoat or umbrella just in case it rains
Best time to visit
- December is the busiest month to visit, October is considered the wettest month, November is a great time to visit as rainy season is wrapping up and it’s not filled with tourist (though Tulum has become more popular these last couple years so it could be more busy now than before, i’m not sure)
Tulum November 2019
Leave a Reply