Tulum, Mexico

This past August Nathan and I spent our ten day honeymoon in Mexico and it was a total dream. We spent the first half of our trip in Tulum. Situated on the Caribbean Sea this  coastal jungle immediately whisks you away with its beautiful beaches and lush but laid back jungle laced with the scent of copal to remind you of its mayan roots. It’s truly a magical romantic place. Having visited other popular spots along the Mexican coast like Cancun and Rivera Maya where large resorts are the norm Tulum has perfectly camouflaged them into the scenery as not to distract you from the natural beauty of the land and sea. The town of Tulum is a fifteen minute drive to the beach and a great place to grab some cheap but absolutely delicious tacos, shop for souvenirs and get a taste of local life. This is by no means an exhaustive hit list but these are the places we stayed, ate, drank, shopped etc.

Quick Tips:

• Bring Cash! Most of the places we visited took cash only. Pesos preferred!
• A rental car might be necessary depending on where you are staying and what you plan to do. Uber was difficult to use since the wifi is very spotty beach side. Taxi’s are available and bicycle rentals are everywhere too.
• Bring mosquito repellent or plan on buying it there!
• Get reservations before your trip since a lot of the good restaurants book quickly.

STAY

Tiki Tiki  @hoteltikitiki

Located in town this small boutique hotel is a hidden gem. Mid century vibes, beautiful grounds with a great pool with bar.

Azulik  @azuliktulum

This place! If you’ve ever wanted to stay in a magical jungle tree house on the beach this is your spot. If you don’t book this spot make sure to check out the gallery space and their restaurant Kin Toh for dinner or drinks.

EAT & DRINK

El Coco Loco

No website but I’ve linked the address for a great roadside spot in town to grab a coconut and a straw to remind you that you’re on vacation! $

Matcha Mama  @matchamamatulum

With two locations, one in town and the other beach side, Matcha Mama is the perfect stop for matcha, bulletproof coffee, smoothies and killer açaí bowls. $-$$

Tulum Art Club  @tulumartclub

Check out this spot for local coffee, smoothies & local kombucha on tap. $

Kin Toh  @kintohtulum

Kin Toh is located in the Azuik Hotel and its such a stunning restaurant perched up high in the trees. The meals was modern Mexican and fantastic. $$$

Taqueria Honorio

This taqueria is famous for their cochinita pibil which is a slow roasted pork from the Yucatan Peninsula. They also have vegetarian options as well. A great spot for breakfast or lunch.  $

Antojitos La Chiapaneca

We came back to this spot a couple of times for lunch because the Al Pastor and fresh tortillas are amazing. Also loved the sopes! $

Hartwood  @hartwoodtulum

Get the reservation as soon as you can! This was the one restaurant I had been wanting to eat at for years and it did not disappoint. The menu changes daily and is all local seasonal ingredients cooked over wood. $$$

Casa Jaguar  @casajaguar_tulum

We loved this super romantic jungle vibes of this outdoor restaurant. The drinks and the food were both great. Make sure to check out the Chai House cafe in the back for an afternoon pick me up before the restaurant opens. This place also turns into a club late night so if you want to get your boogie on this is the spot. $$$

Posada Margherita

We didn’t dine here but it came highly recommended for Italian and it’s also a beautiful hotel.

SHOPS

The main road in town is great for souvenirs of all kinds.

SITES

Cenote Calavera

There are lots of cenotes in Tulum and we enjoyed this one since it was smaller, more quiet but still beautiful and close to town.

Tulum Mayan Ruins

We didn’t go because we were planning on seeing the pyramids outside of Mexico City but I would recommend seeing the ruins.