THAT TIME IN TULUM....
If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it's lethal.
-Paulo Quelo
TULUM
We’d heard some great things about this sexy little getaway. We had heard that the crowds are small, the water is clear and the jungle is alive with energy. We decided to fly down for a long week to experience this eco-adventure first hand.
Naturally, to fully take advantage of the beautiful beaches of Tulum, you’ll want to bring your SUP along for the journey. While this may seem a bit daunting at first, it’s actually much easier than you’d expect and we experienced virtually no problems flying across international borders.
When you arrive in Tulum, the first thing you’ll notice is that there are really three different Tulums. There is the town of Tulum tucked away in the Jungle, there are the ruins, and lastly there is the beautiful stretch of white sand with a spattering of tiny boutique hotels steps away from the water. The latter is where you want to be! After a couple days of relaxing on the beach and practicing yoga, you’ll be ready for some paddling. A few hundred meters off shore you’ll find reefs with tons of fish and if the wind cooperates some 2 to 3 foot waves to surf. The best part about bringing your own stand up paddle board is that you’ll likely be the only one on the water.
The stand up paddling isn’t limited to the ocean. Continue down the road to the “end” of Tulum and this is where the road turns to dirt, the adventure begins and the fun and remoteness ratchets up about five notches. This dirt road extends for more than 500,000 hectares into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve teaming with crocs, birds and an abundance of wildlife.
Just because you're in the jungle and miles away from the nearest powerline doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy amazing nightlife and delicious food. Tucked away in the jungle is an abundance of restaurants lit by candlelight . However, don’t let the rustic setting fool you. The food, wine and drink selections are all quite impressive. Some of the places that you’ll definitely enjoy are Casa Banana, Mulberry project, and the wood fired pizza restaurant at Aqua Tulum.
Good food, remote beaches, and an amazing nightlife aren’t the only options that this eco-enclave offers. There are captivating ruins, stunning cenotes (natural sinkholes) and more great food than you could sample in a lifetime. Needless to say, you’ll want to go back very soon thanks to relatively easy flights from Texas and across the U.S.