I have been trying to get to Tulum for four years now when I originally bought tickets to go with friends and ended up having to work--staying behind stalking all their facebook photos. Well Memorial Day 2016 trip planning came and I thought--it's time!! This was a special trip since I got to finally explore with my brother and get him his first passport stamp!
WHAT TO PACK: Sunscreen, Bug Spray, Hat, Bathing Suit, Sundresses, Yoga Outfits, Sandals, Sneakers (No need for heels even for the nicest spots) & Ca$h
TIPS: Get Pesos before heading to the beach area of Tulum. Most ATMS there either don't work or will steal your identity. There are a few places in town that will convert money for you but make sure you check a few places to find the best exchange rate. Many restaurants and bars will take your USD but the exchange rate they're charging you is much less than if you would just exchange at a bank. Also NO ONE takes credit card anywhere.
STAY: We rented an airbnb in the Aldea Zama neighborhood which is centrally located between the beach area (the strip/resorts, hotels, clubs are over here) and the town (more backpackery area/less touristy restaurants). I liked having our own little apartment since we had been staying in hotels for the previous two stops in our Mexico trip.
EAT: The more trendy/hipster/cool restaurants are almost all located by the beach, there are some great bites and hidden gems in the town though if you venture that way, below find a list of the spots we had time to check out. There's definitely no shortage of deliciousness in Tulum--however don't be surprised that most of the prices are similar to larger cities in the States.
(BEACH) Our large group we travelled with split up, some of us went to ZAMAS and the others went to the infamous Hartwood. We all regrouped later and the general consensus was that all the fuss and wait for Hartwood was not worth it. I felt bad (well not really) when I explained that our dining experience at ZAMAS was out of this world. We ate under the stars on the edge of the water with only a candle to illuminate our table. The guacamole is fantastic and everything was cooked to perfection. BONUS: They have a HUGE bar with tons of options of local and imported spirits. The barmen are very well informed and eager to share the lesser known Mexican spirits such as Aguamiel (honey water), Raicilla and Sotol (strongggg).
(TOWN) Quick, Cheap, Healthy, Filling Food. This spot was great for my carnivore brother & bf and fit my vegetable desires. The burritos are SUPER filling and come with 5 different sauces, our favorites were the white & pink sauce (we like spicy). They have coconut tortillas and options for anyone who is Gluten free or vegan. Came here twice, affordable and great to grab to go before heading to cenotes. Bonus: Free Wifi
(BEACH) When my friend wanted Italian food for the last night in Mexico I was hesitant. Glad I listened! Homemade pasta, fresh ingredients and rotating specials every night. The ambiance and setting is a dream from the moment you walk down the dimly lit pathway. This was by far the most gorgeous dining experience in Tulum. Three of my friends and I split 3 entrees, a salad and 2 bottles maybe 3 of wine and spent about $50 USD each BONUS: Amazing complimentary bread & cheese plate. Tons of Photo ops.
(BEACH SIDE) Gorgeous breakfast or lunch spot located on the sand at the Sanara Resort. If you're not in love with the coco... don't come. Everything is healthy, fresh & flavorful. The place isn't cheap, spent about $40 USD for 2 juices & fish tacos.
LA MILAGRITA
(TOWN) Cute little spot tucked away off the main street of town. Grabbed breakfast here, had a huge plate of 'Huevos Divorciados' (eggs served with 2 different delicious sauces-red & green), rice & beans for $4 USD. Fresh squeezed OJ & Free Wifi
(TOWN) Great for a large group dinner, we had about 13 of us and service was quick. The backyard is totally unexpected and cute, prices were affordable and the fish taco platter was the biggest I've ever had anywhere. I wanted to finish but struggled. BONUS: Complimentary Chips & Salsa (<-which was pretty fire)
DRINKS: There is no shortage of places to drink in Tulum, most spots have fresh squeezed juices and even cocktail programs.
CASA JAGUAR (BEACH) Thursday nights are the spot here, I wasn't in town on a Thursday but did get to see the venue. The space is beautiful and the food I saw looks ridiculous, it's definitely added to my list for my next trip.
GITANO (BEACH) Friday nights this place is PACKED! It's a cool restaurant, the food was okay but I personally didn't think worth the price. They call themselves a Mezcal bar but it's really just a bar, they have everything and there's no emphasis on Mezcal. Cool spot to grab a drink and if you want to dance and have a party scene, come on a Friday.
PAPAYA PLAYA (BEACH) You know when you watch movies and the characters go to these really awesome beach parties and are dancing in the sand under the moon having a great time? THIS IS THE PLACE! Saturday night's the spot is Papaya Playa and it was my favorite place in Mexico. They have great music (the DJ is in a tiki hut with a giant disco ball), you dance on the sand with the ocean next to you, the table service is arranged in stadium style seating overlooking the dance floor. When you need a break from dancing you can go to the daybeds on the sand or grab some amazinggggg tacos.
TO DO: I figured I would probably just hang out on the beach my whole time and relax in Tulum, while I did get to do that, there was also tons of things to do! In fact you could probably spend 10 days here and still not see everything.
CENOTES! I've been dreaming of exploring cenotes for years now and my expectations were more than met.
- CENOTE DOS OJOS Is the most popular and well known cenote--for a reason. The water is crystal clear, slightly cold when you first jump in but you'll adjust. Definitely rent the snorkel gear to check out the underwater stalagmites
- CENOTE JAGUAR This is a lesser known cenote that is just a short drive (maybe 2 mins) from Dos Ojos. It's not in a cave, it's more of a lagoon. The water is warmer here and there are two platforms to jump off in. BONUS: There is a zipline included in your entrance fee, you can go up to 3 times
BEACH! Tons of beachfront that stretches for miles and miles. TIP: I suggest going all the way down by Alaya, I found that the water in this area had no seaweed compared to the beginning stretch of the beach.
RUINS! The area is rich in Mayan history. We chose to explore COBA , since this is the only pyramid in the area you can actually climb (wear sneakers). TIP: Rent a bike! This will be your saving grace in the Mexican sun. You can take a 10 minute bike ride to the pyramid or walk 45 mins each way, people will offer to give tours, if you keep going further in they will do it for cheaper then the tours outside the ticket office.