I must admit, I’ve been back from Tulum for over a month now. I’ve been meaning to post my complete Tulum travel guide up here for some time, but life always seems to get in the way, especially now that it’s summer. But better late then never, right? I have FINALLY finished my Tulum travel guide for you all and I must admit, I think it’s pretty epic. Tulum is hands down one of my favorite beach cities and I would absolutely be going back in the near future to visit again.
In case you haven’t seen every blogger on the universe frolicking to Tulum lately, it is absolutely picture-perfect. Every turn you make is a new Instagram opportunity, and to be honest, my boyfriend had to actively remind me to put my phone away (I just wanted to take all the photos!) But it also has some of the most delicious drinks and food I’ve had while traveling, and the beaches and cenotes are to die for! So, in this travel guide you will be finding where to stay, where to eat, and where to play!
Where to Stay:
I stayed at Viento de Mar – a new boutique hotel right in the middle of Tulum. We stayed in a beachfront hut, the hotel offered a pool, dining services, and beach cabanas. You can even rent bikes from the front to bike around the water!
Try La Zebra Tulum if you have a larger budget. It’s towards the end of the Tulum road, right by cute boutiques and restaurants. I ate breakfast here and it was an absolute dream!
Mi Amor is perfect for couples looking to escape their real world and enter a romantic fantasy. It’s surrounded my pools and the drinks are equally romantic. (I didn’t get a photo, sorry!)
Where to Eat and Drank:
Zamas: Honestly, the best guac around. Go, trust me.
Papaya Playa Project: This is an eco-friendly hotel that has an epic beach party on the weekends. They have a big outside bar and restaurant perfect for getting dinner or grabbing a drink. My favorite part of this hotel is that their cabanas are open all night so you can lay on the cabanas, look at the stars, while listening to the music behind you. (I didn’t get a photo, but it’s awesome, trust me.)
Posada Margarita: The most amazing Italian food around in the most romantic setting.
Kitchen Table: This is a restaurant on the jungle side of Tulum and it doesn’t have appliances. The chefs go out and buy fresh ingredients every day and adjust the menu for the seasons. I got the arugula pineapple salad and ahi and the boyfriend got a quesadilla and steak. All was absolutely AMAZING! However, I’ve heard great things about the octopus if you’re into that kinda thing..
Where to Play:
Playa Del Carmen: I stayed in Playa Del Carmen before heading to Tulum, but if you’re only going to Tulum try to visit the Playa Del Carmen downtown. It’s fun to walk around, go in and out of the bars and restaurants, and to see the coast. Plus, snorkeling over there is pretty grand – I saw a turtle.
Take a cenote tour: Cenotes are fresh water holes in the ground all along Tulum. Cenotes are still used as the cities source for fresh water, and they come in all shapes and sizes. I took a Cenote tour one of the mornings I was there and explored three cenotes. If you do nothing else in Tulum, I was 100% recommend dipping into a Cenote or two. I went on the Adventure Cenote Tours and had a wonderful time!
Go for a bike ride: You can rent bikes all along the Tulum coast. It’s a fun idea to take the bikes out and go visit each boutique hotel and see what they have to offer.
Walk along the beach town: If you don’t want to bike, I would still suggest walking into as many hotels as you can. Each are so unique and interesting, it’s worth taking a few hours to do it!
Visit the Mayan Ruins: The Mayan Tulum Ruins sit along the sea cliff at the very end of the road on the beachside area of Tulum. Think ancient Roman ruins, but older. These are gorgeous, and if you think ahead, you can wear your bathing suit and pack a towel and drip into the ocean when you’re done!
Go into town: Go into town for some great and cheap Mexican food. Just keep in mind that most places out there don’t have an alcohol license so fill up on the cervesas and margaritas before!
Well, that’s it! Let me know if you’re been and have any other recommendations in the comments! I hope you all make it there soon!