Leaving The Best For Last (Tulum, Mexico)
So after having experienced the fun vibes of Cancun and the tranquility of Holbox, what makes Tulum my personal favorite of the three? The combination of having the most impressive beaches, smaller crowds, and less expensive accommodations.
Getting there
From Holbox, we took a 30-minute ferry to Chiquila and drove for approximately 2.5 hours to Tulum. We took the adventurous less driven route, which goes through the middle of the jungle. I was not planned; it was the way google maps took us through.
Tarantulas were not something I was expecting to come across here, but drove through a tarantula-infested road.
Paulina had me stop to photograph one from the car. I found funny that she thought the tarantula could jump into the car through the window. The tarantula was nice enough to pose for us. Nothing crazy happened but minutes later we also encountered a monkey that crossed too fast for us to photograph.
City and Beach
Tulum town was nice; it did not have a big shopping mall, too much car traffic, or many beachfront luxury hotels. Tulum’s uniqueness is found in its uncrowded majestic beaches, its historical Mayan ruins, and its inexpensive accommodations (If booking a place in the town).
We felt very safe leaving our stuff behind on the sand since we did not see too many people, and it was easier to keep an eye on our things.
There wasn’t loud music everywhere or many vendors like on other beaches.
At dusk, the sky turned blue-purple, reflecting it on the ocean and creating one of the most relaxing atmospheres I have ever experienced in my life.
Our Airbnb Apartment
We rented a two luxury apartment at a place called “Panoramic,” which has a nicely equipped gym, a relaxing lounge area in the garden, and an astonishing 360-degree rooftop infinity swimming pool.
The first floor had a bed, bathroom, and kitchen. The second floor was outdoors had a small private swimming pool, grilling area, lounge chairs, and a beautiful jungle view.
Cenote Dos Ojos
Cenote “Dos Ojos” is approximately 30 minutes away from Tulum. Its impressive water-filled cave allows people to swim through it. We took a snorkeling tour that starts at one of the cave openings, known as an “Ojo” or (Or “Eye” in English), and swam almost to the other cave opening (The other Ojo). Surprisingly, arriving to the second Ojo requires swimming underwater to make it to it. The second Ojo permits sunlight from outside to come in, which is how we knew we were watching it when submerging underwater.
Tulum Archeological Zone
These impressive ruins are right at the beach and are definitely worth visiting. However, to fully appreciate them, I recommend taking a boat tour to see them from the seashore. Also, having a tour guide helps make sense of what you are seeing.
The tour offered a follow-up visit to the coral reef and provided us snorkeling equipment. We had giant manta rays swimming under us as we snorkeled over the coral reef. I suggest anyone taking a snorkeling tour to avoid eating before taking the tour to prevent vomiting.
Exploring Playa del Carmen
We made a day trip to Playa del Carmen to find out what is so popular about this beach and quickly realized that the city might have a lot to offer due to its large size and high population. While we were here only for a day, there were some things that stood out.
We began our exploration with a visit to a high-rated burger restaurant called Mu. Burgerhouse. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining options. The outdoor dining area was particularly delightful, with a serene garden setting adorned with beautiful plants hanging from the walls. A large tree provided shade, while soothing background music added to the ambiance. The indoor dining area, though smaller, boasts a cool industrial design.
We ended up dining inside as it started raining. While Paulina likes more simple burgers, I enjoyed eating my mouthwatering gourmet burger. If you come here, make sure you order their incredibly delicious Maracuya (Passionfruit) drink. It’s a drink that should not be overlooked when visiting Mexico.
We walked on the popular Fifth avenue and entered a very distinctive church named “Señora del Carmen”; it has a gigantic arched window with a majestic beach view.
The charming beach offered more of the same Caribbean sea beach experience. The only drawback was the large crowds on the beach. We were trying to stay safe from coronavirus, so this became a little concerning. Other than that, if you like high ambiance sites, loud music, and big crowds, then this is the beach for you.
Day trip to Xcaret
Interestingly, whenever I asked people where in the Riviera Maya I should visit, most of them said Xcaret.
We took a 45-minute trip from Tulum to Xcaret.
Xcaret is is a combination of a water park, zoo, and theme park. Some of my favorite activities here were:
- Swimming in the river.
- Watching countless of animals
- The Xcaret theatrical performance
- Eat at the Mexican food buffets.
I was fascinated Xcaret’s emphasis on Mexico’s rich history and culture through its shows, food, sights, and decorations. It became clear why most people recommend me visiting Xcaret.
Thoughts
Tulum is my personal favorite town from the Riviera Maya. To me, the beach here was the most beautiful. Its luxurious and inexpensive rental apartments, along with its centric location, make it an attractive option if having to pick only one place.
If you are searching for a place to spend a wonderful vacation, then you will not go wrong with visiting the Riviera Maya. All places here have something special to offer that will, undoubtfully, create some of the most memorable experiences.
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