Get the to go guide free!

 

white sand – fringed hammocks – tacos

 

 

Just don’t miss…

1. Go early and swim in a cenote before the tourists arrive – try Gran Cenote or Cenote Calaveras.
2. Grab a hammock on the beach and watch the sun rise over the ocean.
3. Take a road trip to Coba and buy lots of hammocks, dream catchers and blankets along the way.

 

Tulum is a quiet beach town two hours southwest of Cancun. The best way to get there is to fly into Cancun International Airport and then rent a car from one of the car rental counters right outside baggage claim. The drive is an easy, straight-shot down a modern highway connecting Cancun to Puerto Morelos, Playa Del Carmen, Akumel and then finally, Tulum. Alternatively, you could take the ADO bus to PDC and then hop on the Mayab bus from PDC to Tulum, but I highly recommend getting a rental so you can explore beyond your hotel in Tulum. Read more about transportation.

 

Stay on the southern end of Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila (toward Sian Ka’an Reserve) where the beaches are quieter and there’s less commotion.

Book a room at Yoga Shala ($49-109/night) for a prime location. The beaches are less crowded but there are still plenty of restaurants and boutiques within walking distance. Yoga classes are offered 3-4 times a day for $15 USD or you can lounge on the beach all day in front of Ahau Tulum, across the way, for free. I switched to a triple bedroom with a shared bathroom for the last two nights of my stay, and there were so few guests the bathrooms didn’t feel shared at all.

Try MangleX ($75/night) for privacy and adventure. There is a pool, four secluded cabanas and a private cenote on the property. This far south, the beaches are quiet and there are more palm trees than buildings. Book directly through their website in advance if you want to pay with a credit card.

 

Snacks

Get into the healthful spirit of Tulum by ordering a smoothie at Raw Love, the all raw and vegan cafe on Ahau Tulum’s property, hidden behind the guest cabanas just steps from the beach. And while you’re there, Ahau Tulum has the best guacamole on the beach.

Breakfast

Order huevos rancheros and the watermelon mint cooler at Zamas for breakfast. You’ll spend around 150-200 pesos for delicious food and an amazing view. While the breakfast prices are a little higher at Casa Banana, their date smoothie and bread platter are to die for. Try Canopia, the house restaurant at Yoga Shala, for eggs benedict.

Lunch

The little joint Burrito Amor in town is great for lunch. Order the vegan burrito if you want to try grilled cactus and make sure to load up on the housemade sauces! The hibiscus water is the perfect way to cool down while you wait for your food.

Dinner

Fill up on tacos at Taqueria la Eufemia. Grab a table on the beach and a cold beer as the sun sets. Tacos are just 20-30 pesos a piece and there’s a DIY salsa bar inside. The grilled fish taco and mushroom/garlic tacos were my favorite.

What I wore a lot of in Tulum…

1. bikini / 2. white dress / 3. red dress / 4. beach bag / 5. sandals

 

Take this guide with you!

If you are headed out on the road, the last thing you need is another guide book weighing down your bag.

The one-page printable is great if you want space to jot down your notes (including 4 mini worksheets!) and it folds into quarters to fit right in your pocket. The mobile download is easy to save to Google drive or Dropbox so you can access it from your phone with or without wifi.

 

Want to know more about Tulum? Try reading…

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