Tulum

Tulum is best understood as four separate areas: the town (or “pueblo”), the beach, the ruins and the cenotes. Each has its charms but you need to spend time in all four to best understand the appeal of Tulum.

Town

La Palmita’s location is so central that it is really easy to get around town. There is a nice restaurant, Del Cielo, adjacent to the front desk serving simple and delicious food. Lots of cute shops are around the corner on the main avenue. The grocery stores are in walking distance too, though you may want to cab it back. Bars like Batey (amazing mojitos, live music) & others on Calle Centauro serve good cocktails and feature late night DJs. All are in stumbling distance. Some newer neighborhoods like La Veleta and Aldea Zama are a short drive or bike ride away.

Beach

The beach is probably why you decided to come to Tulum, and it lives up to the hype. Miles of white sand and palm trees. The beach of the hotel zone has been built up a lot in recent years but it still keeps its jungle vibe. Plenty of boutique hotels, cool bars, beach clubs and a vibrant shopping scene. The public beach is within the Jaguar National Park and is less developed and quieter; some lovely beachclubs, such as Cinco Tulum, were grandfathered in within the Park and are great hangs. Go south into the Sian Kaan Biosphere for a sense of the old Tulum; those remote beaches can feel almost private.

Ruins

The Tulum ruins are incredible and worth the visit. The ancient walled city was an important port and is very well preserved. The instagram ready juxtaposition of the pyramids perched on rock cliffs overlooking the gorgeous turquoise waters are a must see. Bring a suit, as you can take a dip in the water and look up at the magnificent ruins above, a welcome respite from the hot sun. There are many other ruins in the area worth visiting, including Coba and Muyil.

Cenotes

Cenotes are perhaps the most unique and gorgeous feature of Tulum. Created by the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. Cenotes were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Maya, and occasionally for sacrificial offerings. Today they are beautiful and refreshing swim and dive spots unique to the Yucatan peninsula. The largest underwater cavern system and the oldest human remains of the americas, dating back 12,000 years, are part of Tulum’s legacy.