Tulum

August 9, 2019

Happy Fearless Friday!

I’m back with another travel post and I’m super excited to share my experience and thoughts about my recent trip to Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico.  I have to mention that I’ve been to Cancun before and even saw the Tulum ruins on that trip about 3 years ago, but I’ve heard so many good things about Tulum that I wanted specifically take a trip here as I’ve heard it’s very different from Cancun.  

I arrived in the evening via the ADO bus from the airport and had to take a taxi from the station to Tulum.  It’s also worth mentioning that a translation app is necessary as most people only speak Spanish including the taxi drivers. It took about 3 hours to get from the Cancun Airport to Tulum.  Also, make sure you exchange for Pesos prior to getting to Tulum, because it can be a bit of a hassle if you wait. Patience is a virtue people lol, because the trip to Tulum from the airport seemed so long. But it is definitely worth it, I promise!

Acacia Tulum

Where I stayed:

The first couple nights I stayed at Acacia Tulum.  Its on the outskirts of the town pretty much in the jungle, but gated.  The grounds have about 5 separate huts with a nice common are right in the middle of the property with wifi of course.  A hut with air conditioning, kinda crazy right? I loved it as soon as I arrived and I was greeted by Billie the property’s pit bull/protector who was so playful and sweet.  Bikes were included with the stay and I definitely recommend finding a spot that provides bikes because it can be the best way to get around the town or even to the beach.  Taxi drivers were so inconsistent, it was hard for me to know if I was getting a fair price.. 

For the last four days of my trip, I stayed at the Highline Tulum which is a newly developed building with an infinity pool on the roof.  I loved the pool, it was so relaxing swimming while enjoying the view. It was really nice, but the location wasn’t very accessible to the city or beach even though it’s located in between both.  You would need an rent a car or be willing to ride bikes for at least a mile to get out of the area.  

The Food:  

Hartwood

Hartwood - Let me start by saying that this was one of the best meals I’ve had ever! My drink- I tired an Ixchel which has mezcal cucumber pineapple, so different from any drink I’ve had and very tasty 😋. Their menu changes so often that they keep it on chalkboards throughout the restaurant. I know it sounds weird for an upscale place but I was digging it. The Ceviche?! 🔥I had the skirt steak with mash potatoes again some of the best mashed potatoes! I’m not sure what they do to them but I couldn’t stop eating them. And last but not least the Honey pie with camomile whip cream 🤯. This spot is a must try if you visit Tulum. 

MurMur - This was a bit of a blur because to be quite honest, I may have been under the influence, BUT I do remember the chicken and Brussel sprouts were really good.  This place is one of the really good spots to eat in along the beach.

Burrito Amor - This spot was not far from the Tulum Center in the city.  Its a great spot to grab breakfast or lunch and not break the bank.  The burritos here are great!  Chipotle who?! LOL.  My sea bass burrito was amazing! 😋 make sure you add lime! Oh and I also had the breakfast burrito bowl with eggs and Pico de Gallo 😋😋. Yes, I made multiple trips here. It’s worth mentioning that I’m not a much of a burrito eater but I loved this spot.

Rosa Negra - This place was always live every night if you’re looking for a cool night spot for drinks and music! Whenever I passed this place, there was something going on whether it was great music or everyone had sparklers, etc. Great spot to have a little fun.

ARCA - This place is very interesting and their menu was a bit hard to navigate, but it could definitely be great for some I’m sure.  But I also did not get full and had more than a full corse meal.  The roasted bone marrow was interesting, but it was just ok for me.  The soft shell crab was pretty good and probably my favorite part of the meal.  The dessert selection was very limited so I actually didn’t try any of the options.

The Beach/Beach Clubs:

Coco Tulum Resort

Coco Tulum - A hotel/resort on the beach that has a beach club, beachside bar, and a spa.  This place was really nice and I loved the white painted wood and bright decor.  

Azulik

Azulik Tulum - A beach front resort with a tribal concept with crazy decor and a great vibe.  It’s a little expensive, but I would recommend at least stopping by to have a drink.  Prepare to be amazed.  

The hotel zone has a totally different vibe than the city center.  I recommend experiencing both.  The hotel zone has a bunch of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and shops.  This area is a bit touristy but it’s really nice and has a very fell good vibe.  The city offers more culture and more of a variety of restaurants and authentic Mexican food.  

“South African artist Daniel Popper, known for his massive figurative sculptures, has constructed a new artwork as part of an arts and culture festival in Tulum, Mexico. The towering installation is titled Ven a la Luz (come into the light), and is comprised of wood and rope formed into a female figure. Her torso is filled with lush green plants, which creates an archway for viewers to walk through.” - LAURA STAUGAITIS

Landmarks and tours:

Tulum Ruins

I visited Chichen Itza City on a tour and its definitely worth the drive from Tulum.  It’s truly amazing what the Mayans left behind.  This is where you can learn about the Mayans and the significance of the Kukulcan pyramid and other buildings of Chichen Itza. Next we stopped at Valladolid, a larger city between Chichen Itza and Tulum. I did a little bit of shopping and was able to see the local culture and architecture. On the same tour, I visited the Suytun Cenote.  This Cenote has a platform right in the middle of the cave which provides a very instagram worthy setting.  I wasn’t very happy to visit in the middle of the day when it was very crowded so I couldn’t get the shot I wanted, but oh well.  It was still worth the trip.  Cenotes are a must see when visiting Tulum and there are many to choose from. I would also suggest the Car Wash Cenote not far from Tulum.  Turtles tend to come out there around 4-5pm when the people leave.   The Tulum Ruins are close and worth a trip as well.  My favorite part of this site is the iguanas that live there, they’re everywhere lol.  Also, the view from the shore is amazing.

Kukulcan of Chichen Itza

Tulum is very unique and has some many great things to see. I had such an amazing time and I plan on going back soon. Maybe because it’s a jungle by the beach with so much history. I definitely recommend finding out what “all the hype” is about.

Signed,

Shygirl

P.S. the summer is a great time to go if you don’t like crowds. It can be hot, but it was worth it for me. After all, us introverts will ask “Who all in there?" before going into the pearly gates of heaven lol.