i visited tulum, mexico for four days last week with one of my best friends and absolutely fell in love with the city. please trust that anything that i write in this post simply cannot capture its magic. no words can fully describe paradise.
but i’ll try. if you’ve been wanting to visit tulum and know more about one of mexico’s most beautiful cities, then this blog post is for you. keep reading to learn what to pack, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and important tips.
I. What to Pack
the weather was great during our entire visit aside from a little rain on the third day. temperatures were around 80-90 degrees and the air was pretty humid. you’ll want to pack light layers, multiple swimsuits (humidity makes it harder for them to dry) and mosquito repellant. check out my pack with me video to see the pieces that i brought along for our trip.
II. Where to Stay
we stayed at a beautiful boutique hotel called hotel cabanas. it’s in the heart of the main strip and next door to the very popular ziggy’s beach club. we loved the minimal decor, beach access and small private pools for each room. plus, your stay includes breakfast which is delicious items like coconut pancakes, artichoke omelets and fresh juices. i could have overdosed on the passionfruit and watermelon juice. SO DAMN GOOD!
honestly, you can’t go wrong with choosing a hotel on the beach. from what we saw, each one was more beautiful than the next. the interior aesthetic is jaw dropping and open concept architecture feels otherworldly.
some of my other favorite hotels are azulik ($$$$), be tulum ($$$), the beach hotel ($$$) and jungle keva tulum ($$). there’s a big price increase when staying beachside, but no worries if you don’t want to splurge. there are plenty of beach clubs that allow you to purchase a day pass to enjoy the beach and amenities.
III. What to Do
tulum truly has something for everyone. our trip was focused on rest and relaxation, but we could have just as easily turned up. there are countless beach bars and hookah lounges that line the main strip. plus, the restaurants are open late and are great for celebrations like birthday parties.
however, tulum is the kinda place where you’ll enjoy doing nothing. give yourself at least a day to sit by the pool or on the beach and sip cocktails, order room service and just vibe. aside from lounging, we loved yaan healing spa. in fact, we visited twice.
first, we did a private mayan temazcal ceremony which is an ancient spiritual ceremony held inside a sweat lodge. for two hours, we sang, set intentions and sweat profusely. thankfully, we took breaks after each one of the four rounds.
our faces pretty much say it all in the photo lol. it was definitely a life changing experience that i’m proud to have accomplished. i’ll never forget the ceremony’s leader telling us to “close your eyes. you have everything that you need inside.”
yaan also has an amazing spa that includes massages, facials and mayan ritual treatments. my bff and i visited a second day to enjoy massages and the grounds which includes a steam room, sauna and two pools. unfortunately, they’re pretty strict about allowing only an hour to visit the premises. despite our time limit, it was absolutely heavenly.
my body worker recommended that i immerse myself in the ocean the next day at 6 am to help purify my mind, body and spirit. i’m terrified of the ocean, but pushed myself to do it with my bff’s encouragement. it was a lovely way to end our trip on the beach at sunset.
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IV. Where to Eat
the food in tulum is incomparable. there’s a big focus on wellness and fresh ingredients so even the small roadside restaurants are delicious. if you’re a seafood lover, then get ready to go wild.
Restaurant Recommendations
la malinche: binge worthy small bite tacos at affordable prices. there’s at least a dozen to choose from and you can’t go wrong.
rosa negra: one of the best meals that i’ve ever had in life. we demolished the conch ceviche, grilled octopus, seabass prepared table side (yep, you read that right) and chocolate dessert stuffed with ice cream and fresh fruit. if this restaurant isn’t award-winning then someone is slipping on their job. it’s pricey, but worth it.
nomad: delicious mediterranean food with even better decor. it’s the perfect spot for a light lunch and to snap some great photos. also, THE DRINKS!!!! i devoured a smoky house made bloody mary that made my heart sing.
meze: another mediterranean spot that we also enjoyed. it gave me a miami vibe, but authentic. when you arrive, it feels like you’re walking into the jungle, then you turn the corner and see breathtaking decor. drinks were also a ten out of ten.
V. Don’t Forget
covid: the us requires proof of a negative covid test before returning from mexico — even if you’re vaccinated. grab it before arriving at the airport if you can. if not, you’ll be stuck in a long line to get tested and wait for your results.
don’t drink the water: this seems pretty obvious, but when they say don’t drink the water, they truly mean DON’T DRINK THE WATER. this includes brushing your teeth and possibly ice if you want to be super safe. i woke up in the middle of the night projectile vomiting from using the water to brush my teeth. yeah, not cute.
watch your surroundings: tulum is a pretty safe city for tourists since they’re vital to the economy. however, it’s still located in mexico and the drug trade is real. on our first night, we stumbled upon dozens of police who were investigating a murder that had occurred shortly before we arrived. while folks told us it was likely gang-related, stray bullets don’t have names attached. again, watch your surroundings.
shopping: tulum artisans make beautiful jewelry, shoes, hats and clothing. i fell in love with the long-flowy linen sets, but they’re pricey. bring extra cash if you want to treat yourself, if not make sure to at least grab some copal and palo santo to remember the trip.
overall, our trip to tulum was nothing short of amazing. it’s the first time that i truly gave myself permission to relax on vacation and just soaked it all in. i’m even more grateful that it was a special trip with one of my closest friends. we laughed, drank, took naps, read and talked about everything from celebrity gossip to our biggest dreams to durags. she’s my ace, and i couldn’t have imagined a better travel partner.
have you visited tulum? drop a comment sharing your tips below!
This was sooooooo helpful! It’s good to know that 4 days was enough time to really enjoy yourself. I think that this will be my next destination You’ve sold me!
Thank you for this blog post. Tulum has been on my list, prayerfully I will be going in August. Love that you conquered your fear and RESTED! Excellent recap. THANK YOU