There’s no denying that turning 30 is a huge milestone. That is why I knew that I couldn’t go without doing something big to celebrate. With that in mind, a few months ago, my sister Ale and I started planning a trip to Tulum to celebrate me entering into a new decade. Although my birthday is in January, we decided that December would be the best time to head down. It’s right before the high season and I could combine my work holidays to get more time off.
Tulum is small compared to other tourist destinations like nearby Cancun, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a plentitude of things to do. Ale and I had more than enough ways to spend our time during the 5 days we were there, and that’s without leaving the city. So, if you’re planning a trip there yourself, I’ve summed up our daily adventures to offer you some inspiration.
DAY 1 (Settling In)
Ale and I made it to Tulum pretty late on our first day. To make our transition easier, we decided it was just best to settle into our hotel instead of trying to make our way into town. We stayed at the Aluna, which is a pretty cool eco-friendly hotel that opened last summer. We ate dinner at their restaurant, and the drinks and food were pretty amazing and well-priced. Actually, we dined here on most nights because Aluna had a pretty good menu and the staff was awesome.
DAY 2 (Pool, Beach and Tasty Eats)
On Day 2, we started our morning at the hotel pool before biking down to the beach. We stayed at a smaller hotel and Tuesday was a slow day, meaning the pool bar was closed. This was not a problem for us since we were mainly there to relax. But it’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking to stay somewhere with more of a party vibe.
I would recommend riding your bike to the beach in Tulum at least once. Since I hadn’t ridden one in years, I figured it was something I should relearn to do before hitting my birthday milestone. As you can guess, I definitely bit it once or twice. However, once I got the hang of it, it was pretty fun.
But enough about me learning to ride a bike. The real reason to take a pair of wheels down is the incredible view. I wish I had the balance to document it on video, but every turn was spectacular. You’re practically riding through the jungle as you make your way to the beach, and that’s something I don’t think you can appreciate the same way by taking a taxi.
There’s a public beach in Tulum next to the Mayan Ruins, but if possible, I’d suggest visiting a beach club. We had access to the Villa Pescadores beach club via our hotel, and it was a nice and quiet spot to enjoy drinks while listening to the ocean waves. The hotel itself was pretty cool as well, with hammocks outside the rooms lining the path to the beach.
After the beach we went back to our hotel to get ready for dinner. We decided to head down to Casa Jaguar in the zona hotelera (hotel district), and we were very happy with our choice. To start, the restaurant itself is beautiful and makes you feel like you’re dining in the middle of the jungle. And the food and drinks did not disappoint! Ale and I both had the octopus in macha sauce and agreed it was incredible. I personally wanted to try all the cocktails on the menu, but settled on the Copal Mezcal, which had a nice kick to it. Dinner here was more pricey than at places near the city center, but at $80 total it wasn’t too outrageous for a fancy meal.
There is quite a bit of traffic down the zona hotelera, making it difficult to take a leisurely stroll. But, I definitely recommend taking a moment to observe your surroundings every now and then. It’s quite magical walking through the jungle, and you can spot cute scenes like this all around.
DAY 3 (Cenote Cristal, Tacos and More!)
One of my main objectives this trip was to visit at least one cenote. And while the forecasts predicted rain and thunder on our third day, Alejandra and I still made our way to Cenote Cristal, just about a mile from our hotel.
If you don’t know what a cenote is, it’s a natural sinkhole. While the cenote caves tend to be a more popular tourist destination, Cenote Cristal was pretty stunning. The water in the cenote was very clear and was surrounded by beautiful scenery. There are plenty of places to sunbathe on a sunnier day, and a diving platform for those who are brave (I was not). It even rained while we were there, which made the experience even more peaceful and unique.
Unlike other popular cenotes, this one is located next to a highway and doesn’t have the usual traffic flow. We were actually the only people there for most of our visit. Therefore, to avoid getting stuck out in the middle of nowhere, we made sure to get our taxi driver’s number before he took off.
After spending some time swimming in the Cenote, we headed to the center of town for lunch. This place is frequented more by locals and has plenty of great places to eat. Ale and I both enjoyed delicious tacos and horchata at Antojitos la Chiapaneca for only 100 pesos ($5USD)! Afterwards, we headed a few steps down to Flor de Michoacan for dessert.
DAY 4 (Walking the Tulum Ruins and Enjoy Drinks by the Beach)
We couldn’t leave Tulum without visiting the Mayan ruins. Part of the beauty of Tulum is its rich culture, and walking the ruins was a good way to get in a quick history lesson for me. Although there are companies that will try to sell you a tour package just outside the ruins, I would say that you can get as much out of it by walking around and reading the descriptions for each building.
You’re definitely in for a treat if you visit the ruins. Aside from the beautiful architecture, you’ll experience amazing natural scenery and be surrounded by creatures such as iguanas and coati. I actually didn’t know what coati were before visiting, but they seemed to be so used to people that they would walk right up to you.
It was really amazing to see how well-preserved many of these buildings were. So, you definitely get a glimpse into Mayan culture. And, thanks to the ruins’ beachfront location, every turn presents another stunning view.
Since Tulum functioned as a port city for the Mayans, one unique aspect of these ruins is that they have their own private beach. Visitors are definitely encouraged to take a dip in the water after they are done walking through. And, by the looks of it, there were plenty of people willing to accept that invitation.
Day 5 (Healthy Eats at Raw Love and More Beach Time)
On our last day we decided to take it easy before our flight. We headed back to the zona hotelera for breakfast at Raw Love. This restaurant had plenty of yummy vegan and raw treats such as smoothies, kombucha, and smoothie bowls. Ale and I enjoyed smoothie bowls and hot chocolate before heading out for one last stroll on the beach. For two people that were there to take it easy, it was the perfect way to end our trip.
That’s it for this travel diary, but I plan to bring you more posts like this in 2019. I hope you all enjoyed reading it. And let me know if I’ve helped you add any spots to your itinerary, or if you have any recommendations for future trips to this amazing place.
To end, I also want to wish you all a happy new year! My gut tells me that it’s going to be fantastic, especially with my 30th just a few weeks away. After all, I’ve gotta enter into this new year and decade on a positive note, right? Until next time, friends!