From Zen to Nightlife, Tulum has it all…
…and just like that, we were airborne once again for the first international trip of the year…to Tulum, Mexico. Where the ruins hold history, the jungles speak of calmness and serenity, and the beach awakens the soul.
Flight to Tulum
We booked on Frontier two months prior to departure due to a great “teaser” rate. I’ve flown Frontier one other time prior (domestic flight) but flying with them on an international flight was interesting to say the least. They are strict about the 40 lbs. check-in bag limit. Ours was at 48 lbs and paid a $75 overweight bag fee because we didn’t want to deal with taking out packing cubes and stuffing them in a backup. At the end, the flight with frontier probably ended up costing us about the same, maybe a bit more, than one of our regular airlines (UA, AA).
Also, their “stretch” or “extra leg room” seats really are not that much different than the $40 seats. Leg room might be a half inch more, if that.
My advice to you, book Frontier for a short domestic flight - not a 3+ hour flight.
Transportation from Cancun to Tulum
There’s only one way to get to Tulum - flying into Cancun, Mexico and taking either a public bus or private cab. Some resorts might offer airport pick up but ours did not. Prior to arrival to Cancun, we booked transportation through e-transfers (taxi service located at the Cancun airport). One way for six adults was approximately $180. The ride from the airport to our resort was roughly 2 hours with minimal traffic. Grab a cocktail and snacks before getting in your cab from one of the two bars directly outside of the arrivals terminal. Cocktails make the ride go by faster!
Where to stay
We stayed at Dunes Boutique Hotel (mid-beach area) in Tulum with most restaurants, bars, and clubs within walking distance. There are no all-inclusive resorts in this area. For all-inclusive resorts, try the hotel zone in the north beach side of Tulum. Most hotels in mid-beach are boutique or eco lodges. Keep in mind, most eco lodges will shut off a/c and water at certain times of the day or night. Hence, eco!
Hospitality at Dunes was impeccable! They even decorated all of our rooms because we said we’re all celebrating something different. Birthday, anniversary…LIFE! Two of the three rooms were on the first floor with cute patios out front. Our room was on the second floor with a balcony facing the ocean. Gorgeous sunrise views from room 10! Note - the hotel does not have elevators so if you’re unable to climb too many stairs, request a room on the first floor.
Take advantage of the morning yoga which starts daily at 8:30am for an hour. It’s a great way to kickoff the day and clear your mind. Yoga is free for hotel guests.
What to pack
Day time - swimsuits, shorts, rompers, swim cover-ups, t-shirts
Night time - dresses, jeans, pants
Tulum is a very casual city. No need for dress shoes, slacks, heels, or fancy clothing. I’d advise against maxi dresses if you plan on walking through the city. Too muddy! Flats and sneakers will thank your feet at the end of the night. Don’t forget the bug spray. I was bit all over my legs when we made the walk from Be Tulum to Kanan Rooftop!
Bars, Restaurants, Nightlife
You won’t go hungry or thirsty in Tulum. From casual to “less” casual, there is something for everyone. Here are a few of my favorites:
Casa Jaguar - reservation encouraged. After dinner, head back into their patio area for a DJ party.
Kanan Rooftop - perfect for sunset. No reservations or minimum per person.
Karma - no reservations needed for an early dinner or sunset drinks
BAK - 10pm fire show that lasts 10 minutes. Reservations encouraged.
Ilios - dinner show around 10pm for 30 minutes. Reservations encouraged. We meant to only grab pre-dinner drinks there so we sat at the bar but the music and vibe was so much fun that we ended up staying until midnight.
IT Tulum - their dinner show was cancelled for Friday night but we went in just to see the decor and cenote. I’m sure their parties are amazing but it was dead the night we walked in.
Gitano - think rave. Rooftop area has a quieter area if you want to take a break from the rave.
Safety note - most of the night clubs solicit drugs near the restroom. Be aware of your surroundings, and just keep walking. No need to stop to say “no thank you.”
Beach Clubs
Tulum is known for its beach clubs….where most have a $250 per person consumption just to sit on a public beach, use the club’s loungers, and order food/drinks.
Taboo - lively with hip hop music but weak cocktails
PPP - known to be the “life” of beach clubs but they didn’t have a DJ until 5pm on a Saturday. So, not really the party beach club they advertise themselves to be during the day
Mia - we spent one entire afternoon here. Great service, food, and drinks for the $150 per person minimum consumption required. No extra charge to use the beach loungers. Only downside of this club - no umbrellas. So, get there early and reserve a lounger under the tree for some shade.
Playa Paraiso - quieter area without DJs, near the cenotes. Negotiate the lounger and per person costs! Definitely bring cash for this year because they ask for cash for the loungers, whereas the consumption can be charged to a credit card for an additional 5%.
Other things to do
Cenote + ATV - Near Buut Ha Cenote is another cenote area with three cenotes, zip lining, and ATVs. Plan on spending at least 3 hours here. Cenotes can be as deep as 15 feet but a life jacket is provided and is required of all visitors going into the cenote. Bar and food on site. You cannot take anything other than your phone into the cenote so plan on leaving everything in the car (if you have one) or rent a locker.
Ruins - no more than an hour is needed to walk through the ruins. Try to go as soon as they open to avoid the crowds and heat. Best to wear light clothing, and sneakers or flats.
Ride a bike - our hotel offered free bikes without a time limit. Definitely grab a bike if your hotel offers one or if you’re able to rent one and go for a morning ride around Tulum
Boutique stores - fun to walk through but if you plan on purchasing jewelry or garments, be prepared to shell out $100+ for anything on the rack
Ven a Luz (near Kanan rooftop) - the infamous chest open IG spot. We didn’t make it here but that’s a reason to come back!
Azulik for sunset ($50 per person minimum consumption required which includes 1 drink). Better off going to Kanan instead.
Overall:
Recommended for couples or group of friends/family
Best for ruins, cenotes, beach clubs, food, nightlife
Plan for at least four nights minimum
Budget $500 per couple in cash (no need to cash to pesos) in addition to the daily CC expenses
Credit Cards accepted at most restaurants/clubs/bars
Have you been to Tulum? What were some of your favorite spots? Drop a comment! We will likely be back to Tulum soon.
