Tulum has a special place in my heart. This was somewhere that was on my list for a long time and whenever someone wants to travel somewhere tropical, I always recommend Tulum! I was lucky enough to visit as a newlywed for my honeymoon back in 2021. To me Tulum is so authentic but still has that trendy touch. It was such a special time and I’d like to share some insight, I hope you find this helpful!

How to get There

When traveling to Tulum there is no direct airport to Tulum. I booked my flight and car rental through Expedia and had a smooth flight and car rental experience. We flew out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and landed in Cancún International Airport. We flew Spirit, it’s not usually our first choice but since the flight was about 2 hours and very well priced we went with it. We landed in Cancún around 2:30pm. Since Tulum is an hour away from Cancún we rented a car at the airport. I booked this through Expedia as well through Hertz at the airport. I preferred this option so we didn’t have to travel through a shuttle to get to another location.

Where to Stay

I’m a huge Airbnb advocate. I always feel like when I stay at an Airbnb home in another state or country it makes the experience that much better. We stayed in la Veleta at an Airbnb that was a dream. It was in the jungle of Tulum and had so many amenities. Some amenities included a private chef for hire, private massage therapists and a private plunge pool. The condo was surrounded by nature and a bike ride into town, the cenote caves and some of the best beaches.

Places to Eat

There were so many delicious places to eat in Tulum! Authentic Mexican cuisine is probably my favorite, not to mention everything was so fresh; most places we went everything was cooked to order.

Match Mama

One of the first places we ate at was called Matcha Mama. This place was super bohemian and aesthetically pleasing. All acai, juices, or smoothies were made fresh. If you’re looking to start your morning energized and refresh this is definitely a spot to start the day.

Azulik – Kin Toh

One very popular restaurant we went to eat was Azulik – Kin Toh. We went at night and got to enjoy sunset but I would love to visit during the day. The view when we arrived was amazing, and the found was 10 out of 10. The service was exceptional and the ambiance was just breathtaking. Azulik is a resort but if you have a reservation at their restaurant (Kin Toh) you’re able to wander the property. Keep in mind this is on the pricier side, we were splurging since it was our honeymoon.

Clan Destino

If you’re looking for a good burger look no further! Clan Destino is a MUST visit. They had live music, great happy hour and insanely good burger. The cenote in the middle of the burger joint was unreal. Watching local children jump in and out of it was adorable and being able to take in the ambiance of this place was such an epic part of our trip.

Places to Visit

Tulum has so much to offer! This small city has so many cenotes, beach clubs and adventurous opportunities! What I loved most about this city is the authenticity and how welcoming the locals were. Here are some must see places to visit:

Gran Cenote

Gran Cenote was so refreshing and relaxing. The water in end of March/beginning of April was very cold. Cenotes are usually cold as they are natural but since the cenote is very shaded I imagine in the spring time it only made it colder. This was such a cool cenote to visit because if you swim into the cave you’ll see real bats flying around the cave. It was a intimidating for me at first but definitely worth it.

Casa Malca

Casa Malca is one of Tulum’s iconic luxury resorts that offers a day pass for just $50-$100 to visit for the day. The day pass price includes, a beach lounger, beach service (waiter, refills of ice, someone to clean your glasses even!), pool deck lounger, and the dollar amount you paid goes towards any food and beverages. We started off the day on the beach having guacamole, tequila shots and Tulum beers.

We later did some exploring around the property. Don’t forget to visit the underground pool! Fun fact: This was one of Pablo Escobar’s former mansions.

CINCO Tulum

We visited this beach club/glamping resort called CINCO Tulum. This spot was so beautiful, delicious and relaxing. We had breakfast there and spent most of our time relaxing and taking in the sea. With our day pass it included, umbrellas, loungers along the beach and offered beachside service. To spend the day at the beach club it was $50-$55. This place had some great accommodations if you’re looking to go glamping beachside.

What to Pack

When packing for Tulum for two adults we were able to share one large suitcase. Since the weather is tropical and it’s a beach city you spend most of your time in light wear clothing. Here are something I packed:

• swimsuits
• cover ups
• dresses
• semi-Formal outfits for restaurants/nightlife
• sandals
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• hat
• shorts

Extra Tips

Before you visit make sure to check reviews, make reservations anywhere you can and do your research. Although Tulum is a touristy city Mexico can be dangerous. As a Spanish speaker I was happy to be able to communicate with locals so be sure to brush up on some basic commands.