Tulum, Mexico
I have called Tulum Mexico my home away from home for the last couple of years now. I spent approximately eight months in total living in Tulum & there is a reason why. Tulum is so much more than the instagram filters, aesthetic, & beach road. Tulum is a sacred magical vortex that personally shifted my life in extraordinary ways & accelerated my growth to new heights. From the people you meet to the remarkable beaches & ocean blue water, Tulum is pure magic. There are so many hidden gems in & around Tulum.
Tulum itself is very small, but the energy is very big. I will say there are definitely some Do’s & Don’ts when traveling to Tulum.
Let's start with the Don’ts:
- Don’t only stay on the beach road - Tulum is known for its famous beach road. You will find amazing parties, aesthetically pleasing restaurants, & way to over priced garments plastered along the coast. But make sure to go into town & visit more of the local areas. Food & everything is way more cheap in town than it is on the beach road.The beach road is a huge tourist trap. Even though there is a lot of gentrification taking place in Tulum, there is still a Mayan rich culture if you go looking for it. Travel around the more local areas of Tulum & get to see how the Mayan people live. Buy from local markets & support Mexican businesses.
- Don’t go to Tulum during high season - Honestly, you can but be prepared for a whirlwind of overwhelming situations. I would say try to stay out of Tulum for January & February if you can. Locals usually leave during this time as tourists can get out of hand & the beaches are packed. It’s hard to go anywhere alone during this time.
- Don’t contribute to the pollution & use biodegradable supplies - As Tulum grows in popularity the town struggles to deal with the amount of waste produced by locals & visitors, & now faces various environmental challenges. It's super important when traveling to anywhere to always try to live as waste-free as possible. Bring your own water bottles & fill them up, don’t over consume & litter, & make sure to recycle & compost. Try to leave Tulum better than you found it.
- Don’t miss going to the ruins - There are Mayan ruins everywhere in Mexico & I highly recommend going to one or two while you are in Tulum. It's an amazing experience & reminds us of why this land is so sacred. It’s also a great way to tap into the history of the Mayan culture & to understand more about the ancients & why they resided in Tulum.
Now let's talk about the to Do’s:
Photo by: Mermaid.ish
- Do visit unpopular Cenotes - Tulum has a magical, ethereal, underwater world beneath it. Cenotes are sacred fresh & salt water pools residing underneath the earth in Tulum & Quintana Roo. There are tons of Cenotes you can go to & explore but some have become very popular & super touristy. Cenotes I would recommend are: Cenote Verde Lucero, Cenote Angelita, Car Wash Cenote, Cenote Corazon, Cenote Bonita & Celestial, Cenote Escondido (Touristy but worth it), The Manatee Cenote. Cenotes are a must when traveling to Tulum, they are a next level experience.
Photo by: Mermaid.ish
- Do try a Temazcal - Temazcal is a sacred sweat lodge detox that has been used in many different cultures around the world. Temazcal is big in the Mayan culture & has been used to detoxify the body, mind, & spirit. It's a very intentional & spiritual experience that brings you deep into the whom of Mother Earth to then be rebirthed. Traditionally led by a medicine woman, Tezmacal is something I would recommend experiencing if you feel the calling to detox & purify. Always make sure that you are experiencing this ceremony with a reputable elder that you resonate with.
- Do check out Sian Ka’an Biosphere - If you're looking to connect deeper with nature i highly recommend checking out Sian Ka’an. It's a gorgeous nature reserve past the end of the beach road. You can check out the stunning green lagoon & be immersed in the raw nature. I’ve seen huge crocodiles here, & different types of exotic birds & wildlife. It's definitely worth checking out if you want to get out of the hustle & bustle of Tulum. You can also book a boat trip around the lagoon for about $700 pesos per person (Maybe cheaper with more people)
Note: You need a motorbike or car to get to the reserve, it's a very far & bumpy road you can't get to on a bicycle. You can get a cab & negotiate a price.
- Do connect with the community around you - I have met some of the most amazing, interesting, & talented people in Tulum. Attend a local yoga class, go to a workshop, or go to an ecstatic dance. There are so many fun things happening in Tulum & a great community to tap into. There is really something for everyone in Tulum… whether you want to party, relax or try something new.
In the end, you choose the energy you attract.
With Love,
Jia. xx
