Welcome back to the blog cuties! In this week’s post, we’re so excited to be diving back into the topic of travel. When we originally started Living & Lifestyle (we didn’t even have that name at the time). We would occasionally write about adventures we had gone on. But after we continued to develop the brand and lean more into health & wellness, we were told not to cast our net of topics too wide. But it’s time to change that thought! Travel is something we adore, life is not the same without adventure. And we have so many travel stories to share, so why not connect with our community about them?!
Our first travel blog back is going to be about Tulum, Mexico. The Ultimate Tulum Trip. I (Cornelia), travelled to Tulum back in 2019. Feels like another lifetime ago, my life looked so different! But the memories are still so strong. I had only been to Mexico once before this trip, and that was to Puerto Vallarta on the western side of the country. Tulum was a whole new territory for me. I took this trip with my long standing travel bestie, Lindsey. We had been to many countries together before, mostly on the other side of the world! So a trip in our own continent was a new experience for us.
We first flew into Mexico City, which I’ll make another blog about soon! After spending a few days in the capital, we flew east to Cancun, Mexico. From here we rented a car and drove down the coast to Tulum. We spent 4 days in Tulum. It was a contrast to our adventures in Mexico City, and when I first decided to write a piece on Tulum, my thoughts weren’t 100% positive. That trip came with some challenges for me personally. But when I started to dive back into photos and remember all of our adventures, I’m sure glad we went. It’s a laid back, sunny destination and there’s lots of amazing things to see, do and eat! So let’s dive into the Ultimate Tulum Trip, hopefully these tips help you on your next trip!
Keep on reading to find out our ultimate Tulum Trip Travel Guide!
Where We Stayed
Tulum has lots of accommodation options. You can either opt into a resort if you’re looking for a more traditional all-inclusive vacation. Or, you can choose from a variety of options along the beach or in town. We personally just went on Airbnb and did a quick search to find our hotel. If you want to save some cash, stay in town rather than along the beach. There are plenty of boutique hotels, AirBnBs and hostels, just a short 5 minute drive or a 20 minute bike ride away from the beach. You’ll be paying half the cost and can still easily access the beach and the best bars. We cannot recommend our place enough! Plus, there’s an incredible poke spot #hashtagepoke downstairs. It’s worth checking out even if you end up staying somewhere else.
If you’d like to be on the beach, we would recommend LA ZEBRA HOTEL
Tulum is full of gorgeous beach clubs and oceanside bars. Hanging by the ocean with a margarita in hand will be an amazing part of your trip, trust us. But, keep in mind that many spots charge a hefty fee to use their facilities; up to $120 for the day to have a few drinks. If you’re on more of a budget, skip the fee and find yourself at La Zebra. We found this gem in another travel blog before landing in Tulum and we are so glad we did! The beach was beautiful, you could lay in the sand or find yourself a bed for a very reasonable price. We ended up spending maybe $50 each and had a fantastic day with drinks and meal included! Plus we scored and were there at the same time as the Mulberry Project Tulum. Check them out right now!!
Where We Ate
MATCHA MAMA
A taco a day in Mexico is a must! But, sometimes it’s nice to start the day off on a refreshing foot. Especially when your stomach doesn’t always leave you feeling as blissful as the surroundings around you do. Matcha Mama was right across from our hotel in town and wow were we thankful. They offer every type of bowl or smoothie you could ever imagine. Plus, their iced americano is one of the best I’ve EVER had. And I drink a lot of coffee. Looking at them now, they’ve expanded into the USA. They’re doing really well for themselves!
La Zebra
As I talked about above, we spent the day at La Zebra, enjoying drinks from the Mulberry project and indulgins in some delicious eats from La Zebra’s kitchen. Probably the best tacos I’ve ever had in my life. And the guac, don’t even get me started! 😍 Since we were only in Tulum for a few days, I didn’t really find anywhere else that I adored as much as these two places. But if you’d like a further guide, check out this Tulum foodie guide!
Where We Adventured
We spent 3 full days l in Tulum, and there was lots to explore and do! Here are some of our highlights.
- Cenote Car Wash – Hitting up a cenote in Tulum is a must if you’re an adventure seeker. They are fresh water pools of water, formed in an old cave system. Cenotes are crystal clear and so delightful for a swim! If you don’t love the ocean, a cenote is perfect. We found cenote car wash to be a great option as it’s affordable and not too crowded. Read more about this cenote, here!
- Templo del Dios del Viento – This historical landmark was a beautiful way to spend a morning. With gorgeous views, and incredible history, Templo del Dios del Viento is a must-see if you’re making your way to Tulum. It’s not far from the town’s centre, so it’s an easy half day trip! It takes about 2 hours to complete.
- Rent bikes and ride to the beach! – Tulum is really accessible by bike, so it’s a fun way to get around. We rented a car for our trip, but if we had of had more time, we totally would have spent more adventures on bike! Everyone rides around on them, you feel like you’re in the best beach town adventure.
Where We Relaxed
We spent our final morning taking a yoga class at the Papaya Playa Project. This is a gorgeous venue where you can rent villas, hang out for the day, take a yoga class or just hit up the beach. It has a very tranquil atmosphere, probably the most relaxing place we went in all of Tulum. I believe their villas are on the pricey side, so if you don’t want to stay here, I definitely recommend at least spending a morning! Yoga overlooking the ocean was one of a kind.
Helpful Tips For Your Tulum Trip:
- I would recommend renting a car in Cancun and driving down to Tulum. It was super helpful to get around, especially if you want to do a day trip to a cenote.
- Plan to say 4-5 days. It’s a place where you could spend a lot of time, but can also fit a lot in, in a few days.
- Tulum is a hub for creatives and Influencers. That is one caution I’d make. A lot of people are there to shoot content, it doesn’t feel like a super authentic Mexico experience. I think it’s important to note that before making the trip!
- There are a ton of great bars to check out in Tulum, if you like to party, this is a great place for it!
That sums up our Tulum trip travel guide! Tulum is a place everyone should see, at least once in their life! It’s a creative hub for travellers and a great spot to meet new people. The beaches are beautiful and the atmosphere is super playful. Here at Living and Lifestyle, we are going to put more of a focus on travel in 2025. It’s a passion of ours, so why not share the love with all of you! If you want to keep an eye on our travel content, make your way over to our travel page of the blog. TRAVEL CONTENT.
xo
Cornelia & Meg
