Tulum was the first international trip the 14 of us took. It was a solid destination for our first trip because it’s like ~baby steps~ international for Americans. You can get by with minimal Spanish because a lot of people converse in English. The Tulum beach hotel zone is very commercialized and caters heavily to tourists. It mostly has high end hotels with only a couple backpacking, hostels. It’s got a couple food trucks but mostly has high end restaurants. and yes, I did choose the location for it’s aesthetic.
Planning for the Trip
- You need a passport. No visa required if traveling from the US.
- The closest airport as of 11/2023 is CUN (Cancun). You will need a car/taxi to drive ~1 hour 45 min
3. Parking on Tulum Beach can get expensive, ~$20-30/night. But so is catching a taxi every time you need to get around so it’s up to your discretion!
Let your friends know these additional costs because it’s easier to plan ahead. There’s no large surprise shared costs that makes them annoyed at splitting. In our squad, everybody agrees getting a car, splitting groceries, buying alcohol is just an expected shared costs so it doesn’t even make the end of trip venmos awkward. Huge fans of Splitwise here.
Accommodations
Villa hunting is my favoritest part of any trip planning. I love picking based of aesthetics, design and comfort. My friends level me out by prioritizing proximity and location. I always make sure there’s at least 10-15 reviews because I’ve heard of way too many horror stories where the house a) doesn’t exist b) the host ghosts Knock on wood. I refuse to let that happen. *shudder*
-16 guests max
-6 bedrooms, each with a balcony+hammock
-fully equipped kitchen rooftop
-private pool
-Air conditioned
-Hair Dryer, Shower Gel, Shampoo
Activities in Tulum
Tulum offers a lot in terms of activities and attractions for all types of travelers. The active types have plenty of snorkeling and cenotes to explore. Climb the ancient ruins like Tulum Ruins or Coba Ruins. Stroll along the beach shopping at cute little boutiques.
Cenotes
Cenotes are sinkholes that you can snorkle and float around in! 12 KM and a 30 minute drive from Tulum beach, nested in the lush jungle area of Tulum lies Gran Cenote, a natural wonder that beckons travelers with its crystal-clear waters and otherworldly beauty. This semi-open cenote, a sinkhole formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, offers a fun escape from the tropical heat and a glimpse into the mesmerizing waters of the Yucatán Peninsula.
There’s lockers to stow belongings, showers to rinse off anything that would harm the ecosystem and clear instructions to guide visitors as the descend into the cenote. A network of underwater caves and passages awaits exploration as a cave separates the two well lit pools. Swimmers can snorkel or simply float amidst the tranquil waters and explore the diverse wildlife. You’ll see alot of turtles and fishes but don’t touch! Let them live.
It’s one of my favorite places to visit in Tulum because it’s that gorgeous. There are plenty of other cenotes, but Gran Cenote is the closest to the hotel zone and I’ve found it to be the most aesthetically pleasing. I promise it’s an unforgettable experience so don’t skip it!!
📍 Gran Cenote, Quintana Roo 109, 77796 Tulum
📍 Gran Cenote, Quintana Roo 109, 77796
Snorkle Tour near Akumal Ruins
As we exited the Gran Cenote parking lot, a salesman offered up $30/person snorkeling. Tour was 7/10 because the water’s great, lots of turtles but it was also really fast lol The guides make you swim hard so it wasn’t like the leisurely float I had in mind. They take you out near the ruins, about 300 ft from shore via a boat. Snorkle gear and life jackets were provided!
Snorkle Tour near Akumal Ruins
Dining and Nightlife
Tulum is that town when it comes to the vibrant food and restaurants that blur into clubs. When it comes to dining, there are plenty of options that can accommodate large groups. It’s easy to do a mix of high low with cheaper acai bowls in the morning, food trucks for lunch and then indulge in the fine dining for group meals at restaurants. It’s not hard to get a reservation for a large group-but restaurants don’t larger groups past 10pm. So don’t get too lit that you forget to get a resy if you’re running late from afternoon activities . As empty dinner plates get taken out, some restaurants like Rosa Negra and Bagatelle push their chairs and tables out of the way to transform into a great club scene.
📍Rosa Negra
APPETIZERS: $6–$30 USD
TOSTADAS: $15–$45 USD
SASHIMIS: $18 – $60 USD
CEVICHES: $20 – $45 USD
SOUPS: $12 – $23 USD
SALADS: $16 – $20 USD
RISOTTOS, RICE & PASTAS: $27 – $55 USD
MEAT: $30 – $310 USD
FISH AND SEAFOOD: $35 – $176 USD
TACOS: $20 – $55 USD
learn more here
Group Dynamics ~checking the vibe~
Alotta people ask how I travel with this many people but it’s actually really easy. Group dynamics works because we all want it to work. We grown. and with that growth comes a desire to not be a group filled with pettiness. Also the majority of the group really leans into the “go with the flow” vibe. We’re there for the experience so if we’re cycle out who’s sleeping on a couch bed, it’s not really a biggie. The guys are mellow and we let different people take the lead when they need to. It’s 3 girls that really drive the activities or it would just be a taco binge on the beach for a week.
I own finding the destination, flights and airbnb. Rosa and Paige do the activities, food, main attractions and day to day planning. The boys usually pick up the groceries because they’re the ones with the appetite and Theresa leads on throwing it together. This is a system I don’t take for granted. Bless.
And the best part is-nobody is forced to do anything they don’t want to do. If you wanna chill in the villa, you get to. No hard feelings. We’re not cultish where it’s like where one goes, we all go. Like Matt fell for the best pizza on earth sign and had pizza multiple times in Tulum. Bold choice. Girls didn’t agree. But you get the point-group trips that are healthy include some solo runs and some smaller group treks.
📍La Onda
