Mexico
Are you thinking of backpacking or travelling to Mexico? Either staying or visiting the Tulum area?
Keep reading for all the tips, secrets and best things to do for planning your own trip!
Tulum is located in Riviera Maya, state of Quintana Roo. Tulum very much reminds me of parts of Bali (if you have ever been, you might agree), with their bamboo and wooden handmade furniture or gifts, the scooters driving around the roads, dogs and other animals along the streets passing you by and much more.
Where to Stay…
First thing on your mind, is where do I stay.. Right?
When choosing where to stay in Mexico depends on what you personally prefer. The popular places people stay when travelling to Mexico are the hotels which are all located off the main road along the full stretches of the beach fronts. These are normally your ‘all inclusive’ hotels perfect for a get away relaxing holiday with no fuss.
For a hotel in Tulum I chose to stay at the Bahia Principe Grand Tulum Hotel. This is located about 15 minutes up the main road from the main busy part of Tulum if you want to be a little more out of the way and get a taxi down. If you like the lively busy location with night life then staying on the main stretch of Tulum beach (also known as 'Down Town Tulum') is the perfect spot.
Therefore, if you can choose to stay in down town Tulum area where you can book a hotel or apartment if you are looking to be in the heart of the culture and do things your own way. You can book these through either Airbnb , Booking.com , or their own website of the place you find. Here you will be either going to restaurants and Cafes in the town or if it’s an apartment that you have chosen with a kitchen, you can cook your own meals. You will find mini markets all around or you can visit the big main supermarket Chedraui which I did.
I stayed in the town central of Tulum for the first few nights of arriving in Mexico. Staying at the Kuukum Tulum Hotel, this is located in down town Tulum but is off the main roads and is a quiet little spot. This is great as a cheaper option or if your backpacking.
Best Things To Do in Tulum..
There's many popular tourists things to do whilst staying in the Tulum area. If you do want to visit some of the popular places, then keep on reading.
SFER IK
This was one of the places on my list to visit. SFER is a art museum for Architecture and building design. Made from wood, trees, branches and .... A way of creating a building through art in a sustainable way.
To enter there is a fee of 10 USD per person. When you enter you will need to take of your shoes which allows you to talk around barefoot and feel the nature handmade floor. You can also stay at SFER which also allows you to see more of an insight to the grounds.
Are you thinking of backpacking or travelling to Mexico? Either staying or visiting the Tulum area?
Keep reading for all the tips, secrets and best things to do for planning your own trip!
Tulum is located in Riviera Maya, state of Quintana Roo. Tulum very much reminds me of parts of Bali (if you have ever been, you might agree), with their bamboo and wooden handmade furniture or gifts, the scooters driving around the roads, dogs and other animals along the streets passing you by and much more.
Where to Stay…
First thing on your mind, is where do I stay.. Right?
When choosing where to stay in Mexico depends on what you personally prefer. The popular places people stay when travelling to Mexico are the hotels which are all located off the main road along the full stretches of the beach fronts. These are normally your ‘all inclusive’ hotels perfect for a get away relaxing holiday with no fuss.
For a hotel in Tulum I chose to stay at the Bahia Principe Grand Tulum Hotel. This is located about 15 minutes up the main road from the main busy part of Tulum if you want to be a little more out of the way and get a taxi down. If you like the lively busy location with night life then staying on the main stretch of Tulum beach (also known as 'Down Town Tulum') is the perfect spot.
Therefore, if you can choose to stay in down town Tulum area where you can book a hotel or apartment if you are looking to be in the heart of the culture and do things your own way. You can book these through either Airbnb , Booking.com , or their own website of the place you find. Here you will be either going to restaurants and Cafes in the town or if it’s an apartment that you have chosen with a kitchen, you can cook your own meals. You will find mini markets all around or you can visit the big main supermarket Chedraui which I did.
I stayed in the town central of Tulum for the first few nights of arriving in Mexico. Staying at the Kuukum Tulum Hotel, this is located in down town Tulum but is off the main roads and is a quiet little spot. This is great as a cheaper option or if your backpacking.
Best Things To Do in Tulum..
There's many popular tourists things to do whilst staying in the Tulum area. If you do want to visit some of the popular places, then keep on reading.
SFER IK
This was one of the places on my list to visit. SFER is a art museum for Architecture and building design. Made from wood, trees, branches and .... A way of creating a building through art in a sustainable way.
To enter there is a fee of 10 USD per person. When you enter you will need to take of your shoes which allows you to talk around barefoot and feel the nature handmade floor. You can also stay at SFER which also allows you to see more of an insight to the grounds.
The Tulum Ruins
The Tulum ruins are also called Tulum Archaeological Zone. You can either be dropped off by a taxi here so far and walk down or if you are using your own transport like a scooter or ATV, there are places you can park up for free or pay as little as 50 pesos.
Visit Down Town Tulum
This area is also known as the Pueblo. The area alongside the beach with all the pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops and beach clubs. This is a very long road.
For the first time, we actually walked the full length of this in the boiling heat which took a few hours. However, it is best to hire a scooter, bicycle or Quad ATV.
There are only a few ways you can access the public beach for free which is at the start of the road as when you make your way down, the road is filled with hotels, beach clubs ect. You can also pay to enter a beach club where you can sit and get a drink on the beach front. this can range from 200 pesos to 600 pesos if you want to pay for your own bed lounger on the beach.
Cenotes
Mexico is known for there Cenotes. The country with the most cenotes in the world. If you are unfamiliar or unsure what a cenote, this is a natural unground reservoir filled with water. Some are unground which you will climb down into or open cenotes which you can just step or jump into.
See my photo below
All of the cenotes have a fee to enter them normally starting from 150 - 500 pesos.
A few of the ones in Tulum are:
- Cenote Calavera
- Cenote Santa Cruz (which require booking ahead reservation)
- Cenote Nicte Ha
- Cenote Dos Ojos
- Gran Cenote (more pricey to enter)
Visit Punta Allen
Punta Allen is the largest village in the Sian Ka'an reserve. A island like place that is quiet fishing village. It has a population of less than 400 people and has more than 300 different species of birds.
The village of Punta Allen can only accessed by a 50 kilometre track. Before entering you will also need to pay a tax towards preserving the habitat.
A true slice of Caribbean heaven! With its white sands, crystal waters, palm trees (you get the picture). Which makes it obvious that it is well known for people being proposed too or celebrating something special.
Getting Around Tulum...
Getting around can be easy enough depending on how you decide to travel.
You can either opt for the taxis which are safe enough to use and you can stop a taxi pretty much anytime in Mexico, they are everywhere. However using taxis a lot to get from place to place is expensive, for example: our trip from the hotel to down town Tulum was 800 pesos which is around £30.
A cheaper option is renting a scooter, bicycle or ATV. There are plenty of places on every street in Tulum to rent scooters and bikes.
- Bikes are usual around $12 USD
- Scooters are from $30 USD
- ATV that we rented was $60 USD for 24 hours
One thing I will say.. is make sure to head to the beach for sunrise.
I would wake up at 6am, go grab a black coffee and head to the beach and sit on the sand waiting for the sun to rise.
Many people would wake up to do the exact same. The best fresh feeling to start your day!
If you have been to Tulum and visited some of the places I mentioned. Then let me know where you have been..
If your thinking of going - drop me a message with any questions you might have.
Sending all my love
Jess
