We recently took a trip to Tulum and have been getting a lot of questions since about traveling abroad during COVID. Currently, there are no restrictions on traveling to Mexico by air even though the border is closed to ground transportation from the US. While it was not a requirement to have a negative test for entry, we did take a test when we got home for precautionary measures. When we arrived at the Cancun airport everything seemed very safe and clean. Almost every single airport employee had masks and face shields on. We ended up renting a car to drive to Tulum and, again, at the rental car company, everything seemed to be very safe and clean. For that trip, we flew American and felt very safe with the mandatory mask rule and the other precautions they take throughout the flight. Check out my Traveling During COVID blog post for more information on flying. All in all, everyone in Mexico seemed to be taking the virus very seriously which made me and Breck feel at ease.
Best Time to Travel to Tulum
From what I’ve been told, the weather is cooler in November and December when there is more of a breeze. We went in July and, while it was beautiful, it was HOT as hell and there were a lot of mosquitoes, so I would probably pick a winter month to go next time. July through October is also apparently hurricane season, so rooms are cheaper than other part of the year. We were lucky and ended up having zero rain while we were there. Again, just HOT. LOL.
Where We Stayed: Encantada Tulum
Our hotel also was taking all the necessary precautions against COVID-19. I cannot say enough NICE things about Encantada Tulum. Honestly, I think it was my favorite part of the trip! The staff was so nice and helpful. I would stay there a thousand times again. I also enjoyed the fact that there are not many rooms making it feel more intimate and special. Breakfast was also included, and it was so yummy (fruit, acai bowls, all the fresh juices, coffee, eggs, whatever you like). Our room had a serious treehouse vibe going on, was very spacious, and also had A/C. I kept hearing about some places in Tulum having no air conditioning, but I cannot stress to you how crucial it was since it felt like it was 10,000 degrees outside. To top it off, the drinks they made were incredible. The good thing about Tulum is everything is relatively close so we were able to bike to most places. Our hotel provided bikes and it was definitely the easiest way to get around. Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen and bug spray. I don’t think I have ever been bitten by so many mosquitoes in my life. LOL.
Things to Do
Hotel hopping is what we did most of the time, which seems to be a popular thing to do in Tulum. The cenotes are also a must! They were so beautiful. (See more on the cenotes below.) We probably would have done more exploring of the downtown area if COVID wasn’t going on, but one of our favorite restaurants was downtown and I am sure there have to be other hidden gems to be found.
Important things to remember for photography
– Sunrise occurs on the beach side which is pretty much impossible to miss
– Sunset is a little trickier because it happens on the jungle side. My suggestion would be to try to find somewhere above the trees (Kanan or Hun are a couple good possibilities).
Food
First of all, I am sure there are many people who love all the food in Tulum. Let’s just say it wasn’t my favorite food destination, and the food was definitely not my favorite part of the trip. I am pretty sure it is every vegan’s dream to give you an idea of what I mean. Also, if you eat in the hotel zone, be prepared to pay for extremely overpriced food. ? Also, be aware that some places have a minimum purchase so do your research and map out where you want to go ahead of time.
Breakfast spots:
Raw Love, Real Coconut, Matcha Mama (the famous swing). We did not eat at Raw Love or Real Coconut but heard the food was amazing at both.
Lunch/Drink spots:
Nomade Tulum: Their tacos and Tuna were very good. They also have a cute teepee spot for pictures.
Taqueria Honorio (in the downtown area): This place was super cheap and, hilariously, I think it was mine and Breck’s favorite lunch! Their tacos were incredible!
Be Tulum: We just went for drinks there, but it was super cute. Their margaritas were super yummy.
Kanan: This place had one of the most amazing sunset views in little nests above the jungle canopy. You definitely need to make reservations here, especially if you want a good seat/view. We ended up getting drinks and an appetizer because you are required to get food. I wasn’t impressed with the food, but honestly the views were outstanding so it is a must in my opinion. Also, I think I need to cut them some slack because, due to COVID, they had a bit of a reduced menu.
Casa Malca: This place is definitely one of the more photographed venues. Be aware that they do have a (pretty steep) minimum, so it is not a spot you can just pop in to get a drink and take some pictures. We ended up doing breakfast there one morning and drank wine. The place is big and there are cute pools and areas to relax, so there is definitely plenty to do and it’s worth a visit.
Coco Tulum: We had drinks here one day. It is super cute with a white swing area perfect to enjoy a refreshing mojito by the ocean.
Papaya Playa Project: We stopped here for drinks one day and it had a cute vibe for sure.
Mia Tulum: We stopped here to get drinks. They have some cute spots to take pictures.
Taboo: We enjoyed lunch here one day. I have never been to Greece, but everyone described it as a Mykonos feel and it was super fun with good live music.
Hun Tulum: I actually just took a photo here, but this place is SOO dreamy. If you can make reservations for a private dinner, I totally would. It would be an incredible place to watch the sunset above the jungle. You walk up to a giant human hand and the vibe and view are very romantic.
Dinner Spots:
Parole: This is an Italian spot with a super cute vibe and the food and drinks were pretty good.
Arca: I liked the vibe a lot and the atmosphere was amazing here, but, honestly, the food wasn’t my favorite. I have heard a lot of people say it was one of their favorite dinner spots, so maybe we just ordered the wrong menu items.
Hartwood: This was probably my favorite dinner of the trip. I absolutely loved the ceviche. It was so yummy and fresh!
Cenotes
What are cenotes? Honestly, I had no clue before doing my research on Tulum.
Cenotes are deep natural wells or sinkholes formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes ground water underneath. They were sometimes used by the ancient Mayans for sacrificial offerings. The water is cold as hell but beautiful.
Ones we visited included Gran Cenote, Dos Ojos, and Cenote Calavera.
There were a couple others I wanted to visit, but they were a little further away than we wanted to drive. Also, we were told by our hotel staff that they were only letting locals in the area at the time due to COVID travel restrictions.
