Tulum, Mexico is something akin to an adult instagramable Disneyland. Located about an hour south of Cancun, this city has both a bustling town area and an idyllic beach drive. Around every corner there is a new spot to sit and take in the scenery, grab a yummy (and pretty) bite to eat, or snap a picture. Here is a list of all the tips, tricks and recommendations from my Tulum trip!
This post is all about how to make the most of your Tulum trip!
GETTING THERE
The closest, cheapest, most convenient airport to get into Tulum is the Cancun International Airport. From there, there are several ways to get to your final destinations. If you are staying at some sort of resort, they may very well have a shuttle service, so check in with your lodgings. But most likely, it will be up to you to book your travel from Cancun.
Rent a car
For many, renting a car in a foreign country can be intimidating. While enforcement of traffic laws seems to be a little bit different, if you are a comfortable driver in general, it shouldn’t be an issue. The key is truly to take it slow and practice your best defensive driving. There are many different car rental services near the airport, so you generally have your pick of pricing and availability. When renting the car, make sure you do a thorough inspection and take pictures of any scrapes or dings so that they won’t try to claim you made them.
Booking a Driver
If you aren’t comfortable driving yourself, there are many options for hiring a driver to take you to your destination. These range from private, to group shuttles, and also range greatly in price. You may even be able to check with your hotel to see if they provide a shuttle service.
Getting around Tulum:
Depending on where you are staying (and whether you rented a car or not), you may need a way to explore other areas of town. While there is currently no Uber, you will see that there are a great number of taxis available. Just as a tip: tell them where you are going and have them quote you a price beforehand. But if you plan on visiting cenotes or the ruins, it is nice to have a car at your disposal.
WHERE TO STAY
There are two main parts to Tulum, there is Tulum Town and Tulum Beach. While both have a lot to offer, they definitely have two very different vibes.
Town
If you’ve been to other towns in Mexico, Tulum Town has a very similar feel. Streets are lined with restaurants, stores and street vendors. The main stretch offers tons of options for food and drinks and shopping. It also has more of a local feel.
Around town there are also tons of amazing Airbnb options. We stayed in one that was its own little slice of paradise, with a private pool, fully equipped kitchen and plenty of room. Many of the rentals have amazing natural design elements that make you feel like you’re in a tree house. No Tulum trip would be complete without spending some time in town.
Beach
Tulum beach is without a doubt responsible for the more iconic images from Tulum. When I say that every corner is worthy of snapping a picture, I’m not exaggerating. If you’re looking for a place to stay that is close to the water, as well as walking or biking distance from some of the best restaurants and sights, this is the place for you. Just a short car ride from town, you feel like you are stepping into another world when you get to Tulum beach.
Lining the shore side of the one street down the beach, there are countless boutique hotels and resorts, eco hotels and more. Some of these sights have even become incredibly instagram famous, like Azulik Resort, known for its jungle/treehouse aesthetic. We stayed at NEST Tulum, an eco boutique hotel with absolutely stunning grounds and delicious food. Any spot along the beach will give you access to the most stunning beaches and will surely be a Tulum trip to remember.
WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK
There are truly so many amazing places to eat and drink in Tulum. These are just a few of the favorites that we found during our Tulum trip!
Hartwood
Hartwood Tulum is not only home to some of the most delicious food, but it is also an extremely unique dining experience and concept. This restaurant is completely “off the grid,” using only solar panels to power the restaurant and using wood fired ovens to cook all the food. It is a truly unique experience to dine within nature in a completely sustainable restaurant. The cocktails and seafood are absolutely exceptional.
Ziggy’s Beach Club
For a daytime outing, head over to Ziggy’s Beach Club. Pull a swing up at the bar or order some food and sit in the restaurant or on the beach. It is the perfect place to enjoy the beach, a cocktail, some lunch and snap a few photos for the Gram.
Gitano
During our Tulum trip this became one of our favorite spots, resisting it several times. Gitano has three locations in Tulum (Beach, Jungle of Mezze), but we spent our time in the Jungle location. This cocktail bar and restaurant has some of the freshest cocktails. The “Kisses in the Car” aka “Besos,” is a crowd pleasing mix of fruity, spicy and smoky. More than anything, Gitano is a stunning environment, with countless instagram-worthy moments throughout.
RosaNegra
Another favorite dinner spot at the beach is the beautiful RoseNegra. The space is absolutely beautiful, the food is delicious, and the venue is the perfect place to celebrate. The energy feels like a party, and has the space and pyrotechnics to make it a memorable one!
Batey Mojito & Gaurapo Bar
This very cool dive is in the heart of Tulum town and should definitely not be missed on your Tulum trip. Batey Mojito & Gaurapo Bar serves up some of the most creative fresh sugar cane mojitos. The cocktails themselves are delicious, but there is something so fun about chewing on the stalk of fresh sugar can in each mojito.
Matcha Mama
If you’re looking for something light and fresh, check out one of the four locations of Matcha Mama. Their menu includes matcha teas, açaí bowls, smoothies, juices and more! he produce in Mexico is just amazing, and this fresh stop highlights just that. And of course, it also happens to be an adorable shop equipped with one of the cutest spots to take a picture next to their “I love you so matcha” sign!
WHAT TO DO
When you aren’t eating delicious food or drinking exceptional drinks on your Tulum trip, you may be wondering what there is to see and do. And the answer is: a lot! These are just some of the things to do while in Tulum!
Swim in a cenote
Cenotes are natural sinkholes or caverns that reveal beautiful waters below. There are several scattered around Tulum that you definitely don’t want to miss out on. The two we visited were El Gran Cenote and Cenote Calavera. Calavera was much smaller, but also seemed to be less populated. It basically consists of one main hole to hump into with a ladder coming out. There is also a smaller, much “scarier” drop to the side that is for adventurers. El Gran Cenote is much bigger and more populated, but well worth the visit.
There are countless other cenotes in the area as well as tour groups that take you around the several. This Magical Cenote and Paradise Snorkeling Adventure from Viator is an amazing option for a guided tour. If you like swimming and cliff jumping into beautiful waters it is not to be missed!
Visit the mayan ruins
No Tulum trip would be complete without a visit to the Mayan Tulum Ruins. This limestone city overlooks the ocean and offers countless amazing views. It is incredibly interesting to see building that have been around since early civilizations. Get there early because there is very little tree cover and it does get incredibly hot, and crowded. But it is definitely well worth the visit.
You can even plan for a longer outing to see a bigger and more important Mayan city, Chichen Itza. This Chichen Itza Tour from Viator takes you to the ruins, a cenote, and includes tequila and lunch!
lay on the beach
Let’s be honest, being at the beach is no doubt a huge part of what would bring you to Tulum. Tulum has an absolutely beautiful beach. So pull up a lounger, or a hammock and grab a piña colada or paloma, and enjoy the waves and the sand.
ride bikes
If you are lucky enough to be staying at one of the beach resorts, they may have complimentary bikes available to ride and explore the beach! We were able to take a few for a ride to scope out all of the different restaurants, shops and hotels. It is a great way to see a lot while also generating a bit of a breeze in the hot weather.
Do some Shopping
All along the beach there are countless boho boutiques if you are looking for an extra nice souvenir or gifts for people back home. You can even find many fun boho outfits to wear during your trip. If you’re looking for something a little more kitschy, head into town where you can find more traditional souvenirs and gifts. I especially fell in love with some of the hats!
visit other beach resorts
As I mentioned above, there are countless amazing boutique hotels that pepper Tulum beach. While some of the resorts and hotels are private and for guests only, I highly encourage you to try to take a peek into some of them. Casa Malca is one such hotel (pictured above), known for its extravagant draperies made of wedding dresses. And Azulik is known for its incredible boho/eco/jungle aesthetic. These and others make for a special way to pass some time on your Tulum trip.
Enjoy your trip!
This post was all about everything you need to know to make the most of your Tulum trip!
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