Tulum is a beach and town with ancient ruins located on the East Coast of Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo.
Tulum should be the new word for = Paradise!
I visited Tulum in 2009 with my university friends on our Semana Santa, or Spring Break. Out of all our travel for 18 days, Tulum was far and away my favourite. Never have I been to a place that could so instantly lighten my mood and warm my heart.
The clearest blue waters you’ve ever seen, soft white sand, cabanas on the beach and picture perfect views with the ruins, cloud studded skies as the sunsets. Sunrise, or what I saw of it, was magic and captured in my memory for all time.
Tulum has changed since I was here 3.5 years ago but the essence remains the same. The cabanas at Mariachi restaurant where I stayed last time are still here but are no longer the closest to the runs. There are 3-4 new hotels now on the beach which are located closer to the pyramids. However the cabanas remain the most economic. A “matrimonial suite” is 350 pesos per night ( $27 US) or a single low cabana with double bed for 250 pesos ($18 US). With 2 people, this is highly affordable accommodation.
Some people may not like the basic nature of the cabanas but I love it. It’s all you need. No matter where you stay on the beach, the view is the same isn’t it ? Waking up and a walking down the stairs onto stunning white soft sand, with a view of the clear blue water is all I need. We have toilets, showers and restaurants at the complex and electricity for 2 hours a night to charge electrics.
A cab to town is only 50 pesos and there you can enjoy a variety of shops, clubs, restaurants and catch the buses to Chichenitza famous pyramids or Playa Del Carmen just an hour away, another beach and famous town. The pyramids from my cabanas were just a 5-15minute walk by road and are 60 pesos to enter. You can also walk along the beach to the other hotels and restaurants and enjoy a meal or night out. We had a great time at La Vita Bella – using the WIFI and enjoying incredible fresh fish and delicious nutella crepes for dessert.
On offer at the beach is also a snorkeling tour in the ocean with a great view of the pyramids from the water. Then you have the unforgettable, unmissable cenotes! From the cabanas it was 450 pesos per person ($35 US approx). This is a must!! You go with a guide to the Grand Cenote and experience the most incredible underwater caves and brilliant colours of water. We were lucky to see turtles swimming, fish and have a great view of the underwater caverns as there were scuba divers visiting at the same time.
This is the most incredible region of Mexico and a week would be a recommended stay to experience all that is on offer. Day trips to Chichenitza, Coba, Playa del Carmen, all separately would be great to experience more of what’s on offer. Valladolid is also a pretty city not far from Tulum which could be nice for a cultural visit. If you have 10 days or more there are more extensive trips to Merida, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and even Palenque (pyramids in the jungle) from this hub.
Enjoy Tulum – My favourite place in the world!
Watch out…. You’ll be Tulum’d!
Lovelly Travels 