Tulum is by far one of my favorite spots in Mexico with the jungle vibes and access to wonderful beaches. My 30th birthday trip was definitely out of the ordinary traveling with 18 girls and having to accommodate everyone but Tulum made it easy for large groups and thankfully I had a really amazing friend to help me coordinate the trip who specializes in Luxury travel.

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Getting Around

In oder to get to Tulum your best option is to fly in to Cancun and then take a car service from Cancun to Tulum which will take you anywhere from 1/5-2 hours. I suggest pre-booking your transportation even if there are only two of you so that you don’t get ripped off by Taxis at the airport. The trip should cost $100-$180 to get you down to Tulum.

Once in Tulum, you don’t need to worry about getting around the town because everything is within walking or biking distance. Of course there are taxi cabs that run through out the town but I highly recommend renting a bike from your hotel to explore!
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Hotels and Things To do

There are a ton of options in Tulum for you to stay at all depending upon what atmosphere you are looking for, the price, location etc.
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Cabanas Tulum– Great for groups

BE Tulum – More intimate for couples

Nomade – More intimate for couples

Azulik – Most expensive hotel if you can afford to stay here! Here you’ll see the instagram famous tree houses

Casa Malca- Luxury hotel, art boutique – Pablo Escobar’s former home. This you’ll see all over instagram as well with the couch and white drapes that are actually wedding dresses.

Papaya Playa Project– Great nightlife, good for groups- Don’t miss out on one of their parties!

La Zebra– Cute boutique hotel with Salsa dancing on Sundays

“Ice cream bar! Ice cream bar!” – Bolas De Postre – If you’re out roaming around on a weekend you won’t miss the sounds of people chanting “ice cream bar” Ice cream bar”. This is a great late night spot where the bartenders will jump up on the bar and pour drinks down your throat without warning so get prepared! The atmosphere is wild and they serve drinks until 1am. Although they are a Vegan Ice Cream Shop, they’re definitely best known for their wild parties at night!
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Recommended Restaurants

Rosa Negra– My most favorite restaurant in all of Tulum! They took such special care of me for my birthday, no joke the entire restaurant had sparklers and they even brought me a cake. This place is great for groups and the food is pretty delicious too! Oh and did I forget to mention that they give you a free glass of champagne when you take a stroll over to the bathroom?

Cenzontle – Quiet, quant, jungle vibes! Great for groups as well but small amount of tables. You feellike you are eating in the jungle with all the greenery that builds the “walls” of this restaurant. Outside and open air like most restaurants in Tulum, the food here is off the charts!

Charly’s Vegan Tacos– This spot was definitely on my list before heading to Tulum. I saw it posted everywhere on Instagram so I just had to see what all the fuss was about. Tulum is a very health conscious place so it’s definitely nice to try some Mexican food that wasn’t too heavy while spending the day at the beach!

BE Tulum – Great lunch by the beach. Grab some food and then grab a cabana on the beach to chill out and relax. ( You do not need to be a member of the hotel in order to eat lunch here )

Ziggy’s / Frescos– Since we stayed at Cabanas Tulum Hotel we had immediate access to Ziggy’s beach bar which served up some delicious Mexican for breakfast lunch and dinner! How could you not enjoy the ocean view, food and of course the infamous swings. Frescos is super healthy with Avocado toast, coconut flour pancakes, ahi tuna tacos and more on their small but perfect healthy menu.
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Don’t miss your chance to swim in any of the beautiful Cenotes in Tulum. The cenote meaning to the Mayan people was so sacred that they believed that cenotes were the crossroads to the underworld. It is also believed that some Gods resided in these underwater caves. Cenotes were highly significant as they were one of the only sources of water, plus they were also used for sacrifices to please the Gods and bring good fortune. The Cenotes are still sacred to the Mayan people today, meaning most cenotes are closed off from public use.

Some of the Cenotes that I recommend are:

Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Calavera

Car Wash Cenote

Cenote Zacil-Ha

Cenote Caracol

Cenote Sac Actun