My Tulum Travel Guide
This past week I took a mini vacation to one of my favorite spots- Tulum, Mexico! Tulum is located on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It’s a small town and is about 1.5 hours from Cancun. It’s known for its gorgeous beaches, spiritual and relaxing vibes + eco-chic atmosphere. If you follow me on IG, I’m sure you saw some of the fun spots I visited but wanted to compile everything into an easy travel guide :)
Where I stayed:
I stayed at the insanely gorgeous Villa Yum Kaax! It was decorated to perfection and I loved the minimal, unique decor. The villa has 6 bedrooms, all decorated differently and 8.5 baths. It sleeps 14 people and has a rooftop pool + patio jacuzzi. Location wise, it’s about 15 minutes from the town center and about 25 minutes from the beach. It was a bit farther out than I would have preferred but it made up for it with how stunning the airbnb was.
The previous time I visited Tulum, I stayed at the Downtown Tulum Hotel (formerly known as Casa Pueblo). This was a lot closer to the beach (about 7 minutes), and was a lot closer to some of my favorite restaurants, hotels + nightlife. If you plan to go out a lot and explore Tulum, I recommend staying close to or on the beach!
Activities to do:
Yacht Club Company- My friends and I rented an amazing boat for 4 hours from Yacht Club Company. They made the process so seamless. The boat rental included lunch, open bar + a ton of on-the-water activities. It was such a fun activity. I highly recommend it!
Gran Cenote- Tulum is known for its gorgeous cenotes. It’s basically a deep, water-filled sinkhole in limestone that is created when the roof of an underground cavern collapses. It creates a natural pool filled with beautiful blue water. We visited the Gran Cenote because it was only 15 minutes from where we were staying but there are so many in Tulum. I recommend looking on Instagram and researching, the one we went to was pretty last minute and touristy!
Habitas- If you are looking to relax by the ocean and are into wellness, check out Habitas. It’s a luxury hotel on the Caribbean Ocean and offers Mayan-inspired wellness practices. It’s stunning. They offer massages, a Mayan clay and cacao ceremony, sound meditation, and aromatherapy. Even if you aren’t staying there, you can visit for the day and explore everything the hotel has to offer.
Taboo- Rated one of the best restaurants and beach clubs in Tulum. If you’re looking for a fun day party, drink some chic cocktails, and eat delicious Mediterranean inspired food, you should 100% check out Taboo.
Places to eat:
ARCA- One of my favorite spots!! It’s located near the beach, in the tropical jungle of Tulum. I highly recommend wearing bug spray because of that lol. The food they offer is micro-seasonal. Open-fire cooking is an integral part of the menu which is composed of small plates intended to be shared.
Gitano- A restaurant & jungle room set in the jungle of Tulum Beach. It’s designed so beautifully and seamlessly integrated into the lush jungle environment. The menu contains seasonal/local ingredients and is a modern take on traditional Mexican flavors. Their cocktails are inspired by 1940’s tropical Tiki bars with local seasonal fruits and herbs.
Philosophy- Another favorite of mine! The location of this restaurant is unreal. It's located inside Casa Malca which was Pablo Escobar's former Tulum Mansion, turned into a boutique hotel by Lio Malca (a New York art dealer). The restaurant itself has incredible views over the blue sea during the day and moonlit silver waters at night. It’s decorated very uniquely and it’s worth the visit. I highly recommend checking out the lobby of the hotel too. It’s truly incredible.
Rosa Negra- This spot was probably the highlight of the trip! It’s such a fun restaurant that offers Latin American cuisine and rustic cocktails. By the end of the night, it turns into a full blown party. Think sparklers and everyone dancing on the table! Such a fun atmosphere and is a MUST!
xx
Drew