We spent 4 relaxing days in Tulum celebrating the New Year. Tulum has so much to offer! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing get away, an action packed adventure, a yoga retreat, or a thriving party scene- you can find it all here. You’ll find great food, nice people, & happy vibes around every corner. A few very important tips to those planning to travel to Tulum: (1) book your transportation from the airport to your hotel in advance. You will want to fly into Cancun and make the drive to Tulum (about 1 hr and 45 mins). We hired a transportation service through our hotel, but many people rent a car instead. I would say it depends on what you’re most comfortable with. Renting a car can be useful if you wish to drive around and tour multiple cenotes. But, I would first check to ensure your hotel or bnb provides parking. (2) TAKE OUT PESOS AT THE AIRPORT PRIOR TO ARRIVING TO TULUM!! Everything we had read prior to our trip said there would be multiple ATM’s right along the main road, and there definitely was. However, every single machine was out of service for the entirety of our stay. We walked around for hours searching for ways to take out cash and eventually had to take a cab several miles into town to find a working ATM. Save yourself the trouble and come prepared so you don’t have to worry about it once you get there.
WHERE TO STAY:
We stayed at Zamas Hotel during our visit. We enjoyed our stay here and would recommend it to those traveling to Tulum. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the restaurant had great food and happy hour specials, and we loved our private little bungalow located right on the beach. Every morning we got to wake up to the ocean just footsteps from our front door. While we enjoyed Zamas, we did find ourselves often needing to cab south to and from the restaurants/bars we wanted to spend the majority of our time at. With the traffic in Tulum being a bit hectic, this was the one inconvenient part of our location and we would probably choose to stay at a hotel a mile or two further south during our next visit. However, there is still plenty to see and do right around Zamas (quite a few things from my list below) so, I would absolutely keep it in mind as an option on where to stay!
WHAT TO SEE AND DO:
1. Tour the Cenotes (there are plenty to choose from, the closest and most popular Cenote is the Gran Cenote just north of town. We chose to only visit this Cenote as we had limited time and no car, but I think it’s well worth touring several if you can. Tip: arrive early to avoid the crowds. The Grand Cenote opens at 8 am, and I would recommend getting there no later than 9-9:30 am).
2. Rent a bike and go exploring (there are several places to rent a bike in town and many offer a 24 hr rental for only $10. This is by far the easiest & cheapest way to get around).
3. Take a yoga class (just about every hotel will offer yoga, and if they don’t, they will be able to direct you to the nearest yoga class provided. You can also hire a private yoga instructor if you wish)!
4. Get a massage & facial at The Mayan Clay Spa (book in advance).
5. Visit Pablo Escobar’s old mansion, Casa Malca, which has been refurbished by an art dealer into a hip hotel (I would recommend coming for a drink during the day to explore rather than at night).
6. Check out one of the lively day parties at Papaya Playa Project or Coco Tulum
WHERE TO EAT:
1. Kitchen Table – (this is a must during your stay. Reservations become available ONE week in advance online. CASH ONLY!)
2. Arca – (beautiful atmosphere, great food)
3. Nü Tulum – (great drinks, food & ambiance)
4. Ziggys – (casual, fun vibe with live music sandy floors and bar swings- also, great food!)
5. Hartwood – (some of the best tacos in Tulum, there usually is a line to get in once it opens)
6. La Eufemia – (hippy taco joint, $1 tacos and beers, with couches, a DJ, and beach access)
7. Tunich – (great spot for breakfast/brunch).
8. The Real Coconut – (healthy option for breakfast/lunch).
WHERE TO DRINK:
1. Gitano –(beautiful and lively bar with jungle vibes. Good drinks, music, ambiance).
2. Rosa Negra- (Across the street from Gitano, fun atmosphere).
3. Azulik – (very unique & beautiful hotel which opens up to the public every day at 5:30 pm. I recommend getting drinks here in their treetop loungers to watch the sunset).
4. Papaya Playa Project – (often hosting DJ’s with a lively party scene).
Passage Seventeen. 