Tulum Tranquility
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This morning I asked Jay what single word he would give to each place we've been so far on our Mexico adventure.
Cancun...tequila. Isla Mujeres...charm. Playa del Carmen...alive.
For Tulum, we settled on "soulful". Tulum is a city of consciousness, thoughtful down to every last detail. Shops, food, beaches, and architecture are all works of art, each designed as an opportunity to slow down, marvel, and connect. Gone is the touristy neon of Playa; in its place are dusty mauve pillows, seas of soft white and beige linens, and shabby chic, rustic furniture for sun-streaked travelers to curl into as the evening breeze picks up. Lanterns drip from trees and the bicycles with wicker baskets are the preferred mode of transportation. You can get coconut or almond milk in your coffee, vegans are in Heaven, and an alchemist from Paris is nestled smack in the middle of it all.
Yogis mix with divers, with fishermen, with DJs, with chefs, with dreamers, with writers, with children, with languages, with sea salt, with love. Tulum is more than soulful. Tulum is soul-overflowing.
There are two distinct segments of Tulum: the pueblo and the beach. Our hotel is in the former, and the town boasts more affordable prices and a taste of local living. Xscape is run by the most helpful, excited staff who eagerly greet us each day. We've found Mexico welcoming and warm at every juncture. Burrito Amor is a few blocks away, and the home-made coconut tortillas keep us coming back. Try the pulled pork and pineapple burrito.
Beauty in simplicity: Xscape Tulum
Home is wherever I'm with you
A few miles from Avenida Tulum is the narrow street that divides the beach from the jungle. Miles of boutique hotels, restaurants, yoga studios, and shops mosaic Zona Hotelera. My family stayed at the El Paraiso Hotel, opening their cottage door to sand and hammocks. We took a boat from their shore to snorkel with turtles, string rays, and electric colored fish; our captain stopped at a shoreline cenote where the cool, fresh water gurgled up against the ocean. You can feel the difference between the fresh and salty water and the combination seems to wash away worries.
The Azulik Hotel is the crown jewel of Tulum, inviting travelers to be awestruck in the treetop hammocks of Kin Toh (the restaurant), tip toe barefoot through water features in Zak Ik (the boutique), and consider different perspective in Ik Lab (the art installation). Like many spots in Tulum, the Azulik has created space to just "be".
"Shopping" at Zak Ik
Where's Jay?
Where's mama?
Ik Lab, Art Instalattion
A table with a view at Kin Toh, Tulum
A change in perspective at Ik Lab, Tulum
Casa Jaguar
My brother and Jay loved the beachfront Ahua Jungle Gym with Flintstone style weights and contraptions, Raw Love has rejuvenating smoothie bowls and vegan pad thai, and Hotel Sotavento's Mexican pizza with carne asada is non-negotiable. Casa Jaguar shone with craft cocktails, the red snapper catch of the day, and ossobuco; my sister is a churro connoisseur and gave them top ratings. Jay's quote of the trip is, "Where is the bad food? We can't find bad food!" My mama hasn't found a guacamole that doesn't make her smile, and my new favorite Spanish word is "totopos", because we always need a few more tortilla chips.
Raw Love relaxation
Jungle Gym gains
Raw Love vegan Pizza and Vanilla Smoothie Bowl
As we stay goodbye to our visitors, we welcome the second half of our trip. We have a few more soulful days in Tulum, then head west and inland to the capital of the Yucatan: Merida. Thank you to everyone following our journey. Leave us questions in the comments or shoot us a message if there are things you want to hear more about.
