A perfect day in Tulum (+ good addresses)

There are days like this when I dream of a perfect day. From my bed, under the covers with chocolate hidden under the pillow, some days come to mind. Days so perfect that I feel happy just diving back into the memory... And one of those days, I spent in Tulum, our first stop in Mexico!

I have already talked a bit about Mexico. Arriving from Belize, at the end of our Latin American exploration, we quickly decided to have a new honeymoon adventure! Is it our fault if we arrived precisely on the anniversary of our wedding? It seems big as a house, yet nothing was premeditated! And to think that it was in Mexico where we dreamed of having our honeymoon 5 years ago, but work commitments made us change plans and head towards beautiful Venice.

But since we are stubborn and patient, here we are in our second honeymoon:

It's like the urge to hum while repeating >: I challenge you to repeat this word several times without starting to sing! Well, in my bed, I totally feel like dancing! It's the vibe of Tulum that's getting to me...

I remember our arrival very well. We had barely crossed the border when we were already enchanted by this country that attracted us so much. However, I discover the city of Tulum with a perplexed gaze. More than a city, Tulum feels like a roadside rest area, with some hotels and restaurants lining the main road of the Yucatan. But the weather is nice, the sun shines as brightly as the smiles of the locals, and the music resonates to the sound of sizzling fajitas...

Quickly, I discover that Tulum is more than just this cluster of houses by the road. Tulum is a maze of checkered alleys, small residential neighborhoods dotted with trees offering refreshing shade, and at the end, a fine sandy beach occupied by a few hotel complexes. Tulum, it's three atmospheres so different!

My perfect day starts with a light, fruity breakfast bought on the street (without hot sauce, gracias!). It continues with a morning walk at the archaeological site that gave its name to the city, pauses for a meal of flavors and health, resumes with a dive, and culminates with a delicious dinner followed by the best movie experience of my life.

You don't visit Tulum; you stroll through it. Its ruins by the beach give the site the appearance of an amusement park created solely for the pleasure of passersby. An unusual setting that seems more suited for lounging than for studying history.

No, undoubtedly Tulum is not the most beautiful or most impressive of the Latin American archaeological sites I have had the chance to visit. But it will always hold its unique scent: that of sunny vacations.

Visiting Tulum: practical information

Address: Carretera federal Chetumal - Cancún km. 230, Tulum

Access: a bus connecting Cancun to Tulum stops at the archaeological site (about a 12-minute ride); it's about a 1-hour walk from the center of Tulum

Hours: open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM

Fee: 65 pesos

Tips: it's better to arrive early to avoid the heat and crowds.

We had never eaten at a vegan restaurant! Vegetarian, yes (in fact, some of these restaurants around the world are among our best culinary memories), but vegan, not yet... The opportunity presented itself at a beautiful open-air restaurant, hidden in lush greenery.

If I can easily say that it's the best vegan restaurant of my life (since it's still the only one so far!), I can also add that we had a feast! We ate with our eyes and our stomachs: the presentation of the dishes was beautiful, very neat, just like the balance of spices and flavors. A delight!

A zen atmosphere for a break away from the hustle and bustle of the main road or sea. A small bubble of silence and greenery.

More information in the good addresses at the end of the article.

One of our most mystical dives! An ambiance worthy of a Nicolas Hulot documentary: the adventure at the end of the flashlight!

A magical dive that still ranks in my top 5 today (along with the Galapagos, which are still very hard to dethrone!).

I talk about it here to detail the adventure and explain in detail what to expect for those interested in cave diving (or cenote diving). And to give you a glimpse, here's our diving video in the cenote.

More information in the article > and in the good addresses at the end of the article.

THE BEST movie experience EVER! Even today, not a week goes by without us reminiscing about that movie night! Where to begin to tell you about this delightful evening?

Welcomed by Oscar, the manager and initiator of this beautiful project, we choose our menu at the same time as our film. Eating in front of the screen: vacation to the power of 100! But not just any meal or any screen... We are led between little houses built in nature, as if emerging from the trees. Each of these little houses is a movie theater. The principle: enjoy a film with friends or family in a private room while enjoying nature! The walls perpendicular to the screen are made of glass or screens, allowing us to enjoy the view of the forest as well as its nighttime sounds: the hooting of owls, the croaking of frogs, the buzzing of little insects.

We chose the film for the occasion: The Labyrinth. While this film is nothing special, it matched the forest ambiance of the place perfectly! Enough to enhance the screening with sounds that create a three-dimensional sensory experience!

At the beginning of the screening, we receive the sacred popcorn: the appetizer. The meal continues: sitting in our comfy chairs, a small side table next to us, we receive serving after serving of the main course and the gourmet dessert. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. One of my best meals in Tulum!

A complete experience: romantic, original, delicious, and cinephile... What more could you ask for? Oh yes, that the concept expands to our area (please!): one quickly becomes addicted!

UPDATE December 2019: unfortunately, Zine has closed its doors!

All these steps made my day a memorable, incredible, beautiful day... but they alone wouldn't have made it a perfect day. The essential ingredient: the beautiful encounters.

And in Tulum, they were not lacking! Almost every person we spoke to, from the hotel manager, restaurant or cinema staff to passersby in the streets left a positive mark. If this day makes me want to smile, it's especially thanks to them. With an astonishing warmth, we found ourselves there having a drink with the owner's daughter, who, learning that we are on our second honeymoon, offered us a frame of love skeletons (yes, it's romantic!), here with the chef's wife who speaks about their dreams and their life...

Inspiring people by their optimism, courage, and resourcefulness: people who have dreams and do what it takes to fulfill them! The real American dream...

Almost across from the previous hotel, this hotel offers a much better welcome and rooms with a good price-quality ratio. Clean, very good service: nothing to complain about. No particular favorites, but a good address, well-located along the main road of Tulum and in the center.

Address: Calle Luna Norte 5|Tulum Pueblo,Tulum

We landed in this hotel completely by chance (we had envisioned another one a bit higher up the street, but it was full). Special mention for the warmth and kindness of the welcome... all very Mexican! The hotel staff is very attentive, always ready to help. A beautiful space in the main courtyard, with hammocks strung in front of each room; spacious and clean rooms, all in a peaceful neighborhood, away from the hustle and bustle of the main street while being very close.

Address: Calle Orion sur Entre Sol y Venus 316,Tulum

The worst welcome we received during our entire trip in Mexico (or even during all our travels in Latin America!). At the reception, we quickly felt that we were not welcome, with our appearance of backpackers with our big bags on our backs. The receptionist didn't want to let us see a room before confirming that we were staying at the hotel, implying that we were dirty and that by going to see the room, we would dirty it, trash it, or steal things... He must have had bad experiences in the past. But given the unwelcoming reception, we preferred to look elsewhere!

Address: Av Tulum entre Beta y Orion sur Tulum

Warm and romantic atmosphere, with candlelight in the restaurant garden, friendly service, a family welcome... and the best pizzas in all of Latin America. If you want to vary your pleasures and break away from the Mexican diet, this pizzeria run by a talented Italian is an excellent address for you. A bit off-center, it's worth the few minutes walk to reach this little Italian paradise!

Address: Calle Coba, La Veleta, Tulum

Very pleasant outdoor restaurant with a zen chic vibe. Everything is designed to make you feel light and well: the surrounding plants provide a refreshing green setting in this beachfront environment. And everything we tasted, from juices to dishes to desserts, was delicious! A delightful first experience of vegan cuisine! Not to mention the service: attentive, warm, and discreet. A very good moment of tranquility and flavors.

Address: Carretera Tulum Boca-Paila Km 6, Ejido Jose Maria Pino Suarez

The first thing I remember about this restaurant is the energetic and warm welcome from the manager: the kind of woman who knows where she is going and does not depend on anyone to achieve her ambitions. Proud of her restaurant, she welcomes foodies like a family matriarch. Special mention for the ceviche of super fresh shrimp and the chicken quesadillas. The only small downside: its location, slightly off-center and at the junction of two major thoroughfares; but once on the terrace, with the colorful decor, ambient music, and delicious dishes, you forget about the traffic.

Address: Av coba 77760,Tulum

The name is clear: right in the heart of the Mexican cliché, the taco! Between a street stall and a small restaurant, Los Tacos de Don Diego is full of colors and offers flavorful dishes: a pleasure for the stomach as well as the eyes! A good address for the wallet too.

Address: Avenida Tulum entre Jupiter y Acuario,Tulum

UPDATE December 2019: unfortunately, Zine has closed its doors!

Our biggest favorite in Tulum and probably from this first trip to Mexico! An experience we won't soon forget... and ready to repeat as soon as possible! And beyond the movie experience itself: perfect welcome, delicious food, top-notch projection quality. If you like the concept, don't hesitate to try! Ziné is a bit off the beaten path (about a 20-minute walk from downtown Tulum), but the walk is worth it.

We chose the diving agency >for our first cave diving experience, and we are thrilled with this choice. The staff (dive master and driver) is professional and very friendly. The little extras that make a difference: everything is included, complete equipment for immersion in caves, as well as drinks, snacks, and excellent sandwiches for post-dive (very comforting!).

Website: Deep Life

And for diving enthusiasts, here's the video that captures our various underwater discoveries in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, and Belize: >.

Traveling provides many firsts! And on this perfect day, I experienced them in succession: first ruins by the sea, first vegan restaurant, first cave dive, and first special movie experience!

It was a day filled with curiosity and indulgence, sprinkled with daring and adrenaline, and topped with beautiful encounters: a perfect mix for a perfect day!

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