I turned 40 in the jungle, jumping in caves, and exploring ancient ruins. You should too!
Tulum is my favorite place that I discovered this year. I must admit that I was hesitant to attend since it seemed like everyone has been going there. Now, I understand why. It has such a bohemian, relaxed vibe, with amazing food, and lots of natural treasures to visit. If Tulum has been on your bucket list, plan a trip now!
Fun Facts about Tulum
Tulum is about 2 hours from Cancun Airport. The original name of the area was Zama which means Dawn. However, once the ruins were discovered, they changed the name to Tulum means “Wall” in the Mayan language. Surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, it is the most visited ruins site in the Yucatan Peninsula. Here are the vitals on my trip to Tulum.
Areas to stay in Tulum
I stayed in the area of La Veleta. I absolutely loved it! It’s a quaint neighborhood with lots of restaurants, street food, and activities. It was easy to walk around and I was able to take morning jogs in the area without concern for safety. When I return, I will definitely stay in this area again.
Places to stay in Tulum
Once I decided to stay in La Veleta, the hardest part was picking a place to stay. From my research, we could not go wrong with hotels or Airbnbs. Since we were a month away from the trip, hotels were selling out quickly, so we settled on an Airbnb. If you adore the pictures, you will love seeing it in person. It is an experience. There is no tv or radio. Honestly, we didn’t miss it as our days were spent exploring, our evenings were spent in restaurants, and our nights were filled with wine and lounging near the jacuzzi. If you are looking for a quiet ambiance, that will allow you to embrace your Zen, this place is it!
If you prefer hotels, these were also on my list:
- Delek – This hotel is on the beach.
- Hotel Bardo – It is an adult-only resort 20 minutes from the beach.
- Papaya Playa hotel – This hotel is part of the Marriott program.
Flights
We flew into Cancun. Since we bought the tickets a bit last minute there were around $500. It varies by season and location.
Transportation
Transportation was a bit tricky. After reading multiple blog sites, I was torn if we should rent a car or use Taxis. There are multiple stories of the police stopping travelers and demanding money or being arrested. I did not want that headache. I settled on using a taxi service which was reasonable once you asked the prices ahead of time. There are bikes and ATVs that you can rent on almost any corner. I would rent a bike on my next trip as it is an easy and affordable way to travel in Tulum.
Activities of Interest
Cenotes
The Cenotes were the highlight of my trip to Tulum. I love all bodies of water and was curious to see them in person. Pictures do not do them justice! We visited Cenote Tortuga was my absolute favorite. It was about 20 minutes driving from where we stayed. There were 4 different cenotes that we could jump in, swim through, and enjoy the cool water. Given our time constraints, we took a private tour which was worth the extra $20 per person. We also visited other Cenotes such as Cenote Tankah, and Cenote Taak Bi Ha. Also, just as a warning, the enclosed cenotes have bats. It freaked me out a bit!
Ancient Ruins
Tulum Archeological site was a sight to see. One could only imagine what life was like during that time. Near the walls of the ruins, there were breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. I must admit that it was very hot when we arrived at the ruins. Therefore, we did not spend a lot of time there.
Downtown
Downtown or the city center area was very generic. Filled with tourist dining and souvenir shops, it felt like a typical tourist area. I was glad that we did not stay there.
Beach Clubs in Tulum
Now the beach zone area was lively. The strip of beach clubs and restaurants was bustling with energy. It was difficult to choose where to go. We visited Taboo and Tantra. Both had great energy and pricey drinks which is what we expected for that area. After we left the clubs, we ventured to Rosa Negra which I really enjoyed. It was towards the end of the day so there were fewer people. We were able to get a table and prime service for the hour we were there. The music was on point and they even sang happy birthday to me and brought free cake.
Best Food in Tulum
Y’all… all the food that I ate in Tulum was amazing. There were fresh juices everywhere, a man selling coconut water outside of my Airbnb, and taco trucks on almost every corner.
In La Veleta, we discovered Asian Bodega which was a Mexican and Asian fusion. Delicious! I had their papaya salad and shrimp fried rice. It was so good, we ate there again on our last night.
In the Beach zone, Mamazitta was amazing. We arrived for my birthday dinner at 8 pm, and I was treated like the birthday queen upon entering. With a live singer, the ambiance allowed us to eat delicious food and party at the same time. I thought I had energy, but the waiters were all about making sure I had a good time. If it’s your birthday or you are celebrating
Best Beaches in Tulum
I must admit with only 4 days in Tulum it was impossible to see and do everything. I was only able to visit 1 beach, Tankah. It was small and a bit rough for my liking. However, I did take a dip. It’s hard for me not to jump into the ocean whenever I am near it.
Typically, I also mention a nightlife spot. Once again, I was in bed before we could make it to the nightlife since our days were so full.
Overall opinion about Tulum
Tulum was such a vibe that I plan on returning very soon. With its’ relaxed atmosphere, dusty roads, and organic food, it is a great place to relax, be adventurous, chill, or party. You get to pick what type of vacation you want which makes it an ideal vacation destination.
Til next time…
