“It’s a vibe.” That’s what all the cool kids are saying when they talk about Tulum. Tulum is a beach town an hour and half south of Cancun, Mexico filled with bohemian vibes but with cosmopolitan taste. I first visited Tulum in the winter of 2018 with my boyfriend (now hubby) and then we had our wedding there in October of 2019.
Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the closest and most convenient airport to Tulum (approximately 90 minutes away). I found pretty inexpensive flights with Jetblue and Delta along with the use of Google Flights to track prices. (Note: Please check with any travel advisories regarding travel and COVID-19. One of my coworkers was just there in August and she reported that she was comfortable with traveling to/from Mexico with the guidelines. However, I’m not THAT comfortable yet to travel outside of the Northeast for now.)
To get to Tulum, you can either arrange private transportation with your hotel, rent a car or take a charter bus (ADO). Private transportation costs approximately $120 USD (one-way) and accommodates 6-people comfortably. Bus tickets can be purchased online or at their kiosk once you land in Cancun. The bus costs approximately $15 USD (or $262 Mexican pesos) and it leaves you right in town. From town, you can take a taxi to the beach strip for less than $10 USD. Rental cars can be arranged from the airport if you would like the freedom of coming and going as you please or your hotel can also assist with booking a rental car to use while in Tulum.
Now where to stay…
If you want the true Tulum experience, stay on the beach; if you’re adventurous and want to explore Tulum more like a local, stay in town. I’ve stayed at El Pez, Maria del Mar, KASA Parota, and Villas H20. Maria del Mar was our favorite spots on the beach; it was like waking up in a dreamy postcard.
And where to eat…
In town, you will find Burrito Amor for breakfast, Antojitos la Chiapaneca for genuine Mexican tacos, Encanto Cantina for a romantic, intimate dinner, and Natural Juice for smoothies. On the beach road, you will find beachside bars like La Zebra, Mia Beach Club, and Be Tulum, no frills taco spot such as Taquería de Eufemia, and the best Italian (Yes, Italian!) food is at Posada Margherita. Also, a fancy romantic dinner can be enjoyed at Mi Amor with a dining area that feels like you’re floating above the pool with the sounds of the ocean waves crashing in the background.
If you want to get off your beach chair, here are some things to do…
The town has small hotels, restaurants, and shops along with banks/ATMs, pharmacies, and medical clinics. This is the best place to get souvenirs and cheap eats. You will get a better currency exchange rate in town rather than on the beach strip.
The Tulum Ruins are located north of the main highway from the beach strip. You can access the ruins by walking, biking, or taking a taxi. The entrance fee is approximately $5 USD per person. It’s best to visit early in the morning and you would only need an hour to explore. If you want to cool off after exploring, bring your bathing suit and a towel as the ruins are on a public beach.
The famous cenotes…a cenote is a sinkhole that has filled up with natural spring water. Some are underground and others are above ground but they are all super refreshing. The cenotes are protected and this is where you would need biodegradable sunscreen. There are a cluster of cenotes located north of Tulum (approximately 20 minutes) right off Highway-307. The best way to get there is by car or with a tour group. When you get the main entrance, you get to pay in advance for all the cenotes you want to visit. Thirty minutes at each one is enough time to swim, cliff jump, and snorkel. Below is a list of the cenotes I have visited and some that I have heard you should not miss: Cenote Dos Ojos (as the name suggests there are 2 parts to this cenote and it connects through a underwater passageway), Cenote Sac Actun (it’s straight out of a movie!), Cenote Nicte-Ha (this one was my favorite!). It’s above ground and looks like a massive lily pad and Cenote Jaguar (has a zipline across the cenote through the jungle). TIP: Bring your own snorkel gear before heading to the cenote (you can buy at any of the local shops).
I’m looking forward to traveling overseas again (hopefully soon!). What are some places you’re planning to visit in the near future or post-pandemic?
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