This was my first time to the Yucatán and I’m hooked. What a beautiful part of Mexico! Our trip was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Plenty of lounging, shopping, eating, and exploring is always a good time, right?! Tulum is a dreamy, boho paradise. If you’re looking for ideas on what to do, hopefully this list helps you out!
Day 1
Arrive and settle in. The Tulum airport is about an hour from the hotel district (one of the main places to stay along the beach). We rented a car at the airport (highly recommend) and drove to the grocery store on our way to our hotel.
Zorba Beach Homes was a dream location and their villas are absolutely gorgeous. We stayed in Villa 2 which was a 3 bedroom, 3 bath villa that fit the 4 of us perfectly. I cannot recommend them enough. They were above and beyond in hospitality and were there at all times to accommodate us and answer our questions.
Dinner was a short walk on the beach to La Zebra and while the restaurant has great reviews, we were there on a Sunday night with a prefixed “street food” menu and it wasn’t our favorite. But I don’t feel that was a true representation of the food they have to offer and would love to try them again.
Day 2
Beach day. It was windy while we were there which everyone said isn’t typical but we still made the most of it. This was our day to chill, breathe in the fresh ocean air, walk along the water, read, and settle into settling (you know it always takes time to unwind).
Dinner was at Nü and everything was amazing. The only thing we didn’t love was the shrimp. The cocktails were especially tasty and Tia may or may not have created her own cocktail that they said they’re going to put on the menu and call the “Spicy Tia” 😉. The Sweet Potato Agridulce, Himachi Tiradito (Japanese sashimi), and broken beet salad were our favorites!
Day 3
We started each day by viewing the sunrise and walking on the beach. (The best way to start the day!) Day 3 was all about exploring the hotel district. There are a ton of shops to walk through and restaurants and hotels to look at. We took our time wandering which I always love. Matcha Mama was a great place to break and get coffee or tea.
Lula was our choice for dinner and while it had the best setting of all of the restaurants we went to, it was one of our least favorite meals. But I would try it again for breakfast if I went back!
Day 4
Spa day!! This was truly a treat! The Mayan Clay Bathhouse experience was one of a kind. Set in the jungle, we had the place to ourselves and I have truly never felt so relaxed after a spa treatment. If you can do this, I highly recommend it. The clay body wrap and sound bath were something I will never forget. Perfect for groups or couples.
The morning started with a trip to Nimeno Bakery in town. So so good…should have gone back! Followed by the spa, and then a late lunch at Vivo. Still dreaming about the enchiladas. Quite possibly the best I’ve ever had.
Hartwood capped our evening with our favorite meal of the entire trip. I had high expectations for this place and it did not disappoint! The only thing I didn’t LOVE was my cocktail. Otherwise, the food was 10/10. I could have drank the ceviche. The menu changes daily based on what they get from the farms and the sea so it’s another one-of-a-kind experience but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Make reservations!
Day 5
Let’s go exploring! We booked a 10-hour excursion through Boutique Tours and we would do it all over again. You can choose from 10 different tours and they take care of everything. We chose to visit Chichen Itza (one of the 7 wonders of the world), swim in a cenote, go to Valladolid (a beautiful colonial town), and eat a meal cooked for us at a Mayan home. Our tour guide picked us up, drove us around, answered all of our questions, and dropped us off happy, full, and tired at the end of the day. This was a splurge but we all agreed it was worth it. Learning about the Mayan culture, making tortillas with abuela, swimming in a private cenote (just us!), and eating a home-cooked traditional Mayan meal was so special. Another 10/10 experience.
Day 6
A morning to relax was just what we needed! And then we were off to go snorkeling at the 2nd longest reef in the world. When is snorkeling not fun? The 4 of us girls have never snorkeled together and we loved making this memory. There’s something special about being on a boat, swimming, soaking up the sun, eating fresh food, and watching the sunset. This was a day for the books. Puerto Aventuras offers a variety of packages. We did have to drive over an hour to get there so if you don’t rent a car you’ll have to look into transportation.
Day 7
Our last full day. Another sunrise, another beach walk, and another relaxing morning. The afternoon was spent exploring the hotel district even further. This day was all about enjoying the last of the sun, body surfing the ocean waves, and appreciating what the area has to offer. Basically shopping and beaching.
Our last dinner was at Casa Banana. Another winner! We shared our dishes at almost every restaurant we went to so we got to try a variety. I loved the roasted pear salad and wild mushroom risotto here. (All this talk of food and now I’m drooling 🤤)
Day 8
Time to go home. Sad face.
I have yet to mention that Zorba had a tiny beach shack restaurant that had the best cocktails of any place we went to. Plus incredible chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and fish tacos. We ate here quite a bit and if I ever went back and stayed somewhere else, I would try to sneak in for a drink and a bite (wink wink). It was wonderful. Breakfast on our last day was a yogurt bowl w/granola and fresh fruit. The perfect meal before a flight.
All in all, Tulum was a Caribbean dream. I want to go back. And I want to take everyone with me.
Let’s GO!
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