Tulum, Mexico is one of the hottest places to go over the past few years, and for good reason. My husband and I finally visited in October 2020 following the release of covid restrictions – we were dying to go somewhere for a long weekend. Our actual honeymoon was cancelled with no reopening date in sight so this was actually our first trip as husband and wife! Sooo I guess our Tulum Honeymoon counts as our first one! Who says you only get one honeymoon?!
Tulum is one of those places that does not seem real. The dreamy beach destination has the whitest sand and the bluest water, seen best from the cenotes, and is brimming with ancient mayan history at the Tulum ruins. If that weren’t enough, it is filled with the trendiest eco-friendly hotels, open-air restaurants with quintessential “tulum decor”, and is highly wellness-oriented.
Tulum effortlessly creates an environment where the indoors and outdoors become one. There is everything from boutique hotels to larger resorts to airbnbs accommodating friend trips, bachelorette parties, honeymoons, or solo travelers alike. Whether you want to practice yoga on the beach, have a little adventure, eat smoothie bowls, or drink margaritas beach-side, Tulum is perfect for any traveler. Here is my complete guide for planning a trip or honeymoon to Tulum.
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Where to Stay in Tulum
First things first, where should you stay in Tulum, Mexico? There are two options: the beach zone or in Tulum town. I recommend the beach zone otherwise you will drive back and forth to access the beach and its’ many great restaurants.
For my first trip to Tulum, I wanted to stay somewhere oceanfront with trendy, but minimalistic decor that simply screams Tulum. We needed a good beach bar and a pool as well at our boutique hotel. Enter Hotel Panamera.
Hotel Panamera
The property sits oceanfront featuring only 14 rooms with a large central restaurant and bar that serves both the STUNNING pool and beach side patrons. The hotel pool is so picturesque and the beach bar serves up inventive cuisine and classic cocktails. We enjoyed live music and lounging in beach chairs while we sipped Allende beers and margaritas!
Disclosure: the rooms are very minimalist. Seriously, the bathrooms do not have doors. I would make sure you are comfortable with whoever you travel with. We honestly did not spend a ton of time in the room together and gave each other space so it was fine for a long weekend. Next time, I would spring for a suite to have a bit more space!
We unintentionally visited over Dia de los Muertos and were thrilled to see Tulum celebrating accordingly. There were no parades due to the pandemic, but the businesses started decorating first thing that morning! The hotel was quiet in the morning, but busy at night on the weekends as the restaurant and bar serve the public (and it was Dia de los Muertos weekend in Mexico).
Overall, Hotel Panamera is a lovely beach hotel property featuring beautiful interior design, great food and drinks, and well appointed amenities. I would absolutely recommend it as one of the best hotels in Tulum for couples and solo travelers whether to stay or for a meal!
Tulum has so many trendy hotels and these are some of my other favorites! Perfect for a honeymoon to Tulum.
- Hotel Panamera – intimate and minimalistic with an amazing beachside restaurant
- Be Tulum – relaxation sanctuary with a great beach bar for day parties
- Hotel Bardo – fabulous rooms with private plunge pools
- Nomade – wellness focused with middle eastern inspired restaurant, Macondo.
What to Do in Tulum, Mexico
There are tons of activities in Tulum whether you are more adventurous or want to be lazy in the sun. It’s the perfect honeymoon destination because there’s something to please everyone. So what should you do in Tulum? The choice is yours…
Gran Cenote
If you know anything about Tulum, you’ve likely seen the cenotes. Cenotes are essentially large sinkholes from limestone rock that have filled with clear water over time. They are basically underwater caves to cool off from the hot Mexican sun! I visited Gran Cenote which is closest to Tulum beach, but there are tons all over the Yucatan Peninsula. Go early, like when they open, as traffic down the one dirt road of Tulum can get very busy. You’ll pay the $15 entry fee then be required to shower off before entering the water. Don’t bother doing your hair and makeup so you can enjoy swimming! We had our hotel arrange a taxi and the driver waited while we explored the cenotes since it can be hard to find a return taxi that early.
Tulum Mayan Ruins
We wanted to spend most of our vacation time at the beach so we combined our activities that required a drive into one day. Following our cenote experience, our next stop was the Tulum Mayan Ruins! Tulum has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean and the ruins sit up high on a cliff overlooking the blue waters. You’ll travel back in time wandering through the ancient Tulum ruins. Definitely bring lots of water and wear tennis shoes, because my sandals did not quite cut it!
Beach and Beach Bars in Tulum, Mexico
The beach bar at Hotel Panamera is open to the public and it was always busy throughout the day. There are tons of party spots and laid back places depending on your preferences. Wander up and down the beach to find what best suits your vacation style.
Day Trip to Valladolid
Tulum is only an hour from Valladolid and Chichen Itza making it a great place to day trip from. Valladolid is the most charming little town with pastel colored buildings. There is plenty to do from tours, learning about culture, Mayan ruins, and more cenotes.
Tour Chichén-Itzá
Chichén-Itzá is located right beyond Valladolid and is a must see in the Yucatan Peninsula. The famous Mayan ruins feature a massive step pyramid called El Castillo. The ancient city thrived from 600 AD until the 1200s!
EAT!
There are so many fabulous restaurants in Tulum especially for being such a tiny beach town. Check out what we tried below and my complete list of Tulum restaurants for my next visit!
Where to Eat in Tulum
Tulum restaurants are some of my absolute favorites around the world. It is definitely a foodie paradise! The restaurants on the jungle side feel like you are dining in an enchanted forest as they are lined with candles, copal incense burning, and chandeliers hanging from the trees. Here are my faves:
Hartwood
Hartwood is located on the jungle side of Tulum and sits back off the road in a tropical, open air setting. The food is sustainably caught fresh daily and the facility is completely self sustainable using solar panels and wood fired oven. The menus will be presented on a chalkboard and they only accept cash. What to get: habanero or grapefruit margaritas, lobster, ceviche, and tostadas. Check out more here.
Gitano Tulum
Gitano feels like you’ve stepped into the chicest jungle party! We were seated and the waiter immediately brought us celebratory tequila shots kicking off a great dinner. We had mezcal margaritas, the tuna tostada (twice), shrimp tacos, and churros for dessert! They have three locations, but I recommend the original jungle location. You can make reservations online in advance here.
Hotel Panamera
Hotel Panamera fueled us many times throughout our stay. We had great breakfasts from smoothies (with charcoal) and granola bowls to shrimp tacos at lunch and veggie burgers at dinner. I was impressed with the food quality and options.
Be Tulum
Be Tulum Hotel was also a hit for lunch and dinner where we had coronas and lots of tacos in our swimsuits!
How to Get to Tulum
Getting to Tulum, Mexico is pretty easy and inexpensive from the United States. You will fly into Cancun International Airport then have a one hour drive to Tulum from Cancun. We had our hotel arrange a private driver who was awaiting our arrival at CUN.
In the works is the Tulum International Airport expected to open in 2023 about 15 miles southwest of Tulum. Go now before they start welcoming even more tourists!
The Maya Train is a high speed train for tourists that will serve to connect the popular areas of the Yucatan Peninsula. The train is also expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
The Best Time to Visit Tulum
Tulum is warm and sunny throughout the year! You may have to worry about the occasional hurricane in September and October, but we visited over Dia de los Muertos and were fine. There were afternoon rain showers some days, but typically only lasted an hour or so. You’ll also expect lower prices during this time. The best time to visit in my opinion is December through February when it is colder in the US.
Tulum Honeymoon Packing List
Your Tulum packing list should include sunscreen, sun hats, swimsuits, coverups, sundresses for dinner, sandals, and tennis shoes for the ruins. I didn’t find it necessary to have water shoes for the cenotes, but bring them if you already have some. I also enjoyed having a waterproof pouch for my cell phone while exploring the cenotes, however, I did not actually take it underwater.
*Click any of the images to shop*
Tulum Travel Tips
- None of the ATMs worked on Tulum’s main strip – we know because we tried them all. Bring cash before you arrive as many restaurants only accept cash. We had to leave town to hunt some down.
- Bug spray – everyone said to bring it, but I didn’t find it necessary in October. You’ll likely need it most months and in the Summer. Some of the hotels will have it and the restaurants burn copal incense to keep bugs away.
- Tulum has one main road that is dirt with the jungle on one side and beach on the other. The road often floods and has potholes. Traffic can get very backed up so plan taxi rides accordingly. If going to dinner, I suggest walking on the beach side to and from. It is a prettier view anyways! You will need to pay attention and cut through a hotel or restaurant pathway to the main road.
- I brought wedges and never wore them. Like I mentioned above, the street is not very conducive to heels.
- Goes without saying, but don’t drink the water. There is a great mini market next to Hotel Panamera to stock up on water bottles.
Short and Sweet Recap
Stay – Hotel Panamera
Eat – Hartwood, Gitano, Matcha Mama, Hotel Panamera, and Be Tulum
Do – Visit Grand Cenote, Tulum Mayan Ruins, the beach and beach bars
Do you have any questions about Tulum, Mexico or recommendations for others? Drop them below!
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