The best restaurants, bars and things to do in this Riviera Maya hotspot.
Girls gone wild! What a day in the sun (and too many margaritas) can inspire you to do in Tulum #freethenips
It was the picture of a line of topless girls on the beach (seen from behind) that really got me.
I asked my former colleague and friend Megan if she’d be willing to write up a post about her trip to Tulum, Mexico. When I visited about 15 years ago, it was a sleepy getaway from Playa del Carmen, popular with backpackers and yoga enthusiasts. Then the Hartwood came.
“The water is so vibrant it practically burned my retinas. We took to the ocean immediately and dove in and out of the waves, channeling our inner mermaids. ”
Megan really captured the spirit of the coastal town that has grown up so rapidly in the past decade. –Wally
Megan, a swinging single having a blast in Tulum
Paradise Found
After spending weeks resisting responding to a chain of emails with the subject “February girls trip to Mexico!!!” I gave in and bought a flight on New Year's Eve. I didn't think I really wanted to go to Tulum with 10 girls I didn't know, but I'm easily persuaded by champagne. The girl organizing the trip was a close friend of mine, but everyone else was either an acquaintance or someone I'd never met.
The amazing Airbnb the girls found in Tulum (the hot neighbor was an added bonus)
Fast-forward to February 2018, and we descend upon Tulum from every corner of the U.S. and Europe (thanks to The Organizer having friends in California, Massachusetts, Florida, Virginia, Illinois and Germany). We rented a wicked Airbnb with a pool, two kitchens and a really hot next-door neighbor who was sunning himself in the communal pool upon arrival (we aptly named him Mexican Jesus, to give you a visual). We all decided we like this place and I decided these girls are probably pretty cool after all.
Photos can’t fully capture the cerulean beauty of the Caribbean
Setting sight on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula after a grueling 12-hour trek from L.A. was when Tulum really hit me. The water is so vibrant it practically burned my retinas. We took to the ocean immediately and dove in and out of the waves, channeling our inner mermaids. Tulum has a spectacular natural landscape, with lush jungle on one side and wild cerulean ocean on the other. Pictures can't do it justice.
The girls hunkered down at Aura beach club all day, then changed into their party dresses for nights on the town. Look closely: You can see one of the gals flirting with a hot Spaniard
It didn't take us long to figure out that getting cabs with 10 girls was a nightmare. As dope as it was, our house was far from the beach bars and clubs Tulum is known for. We managed by taking everything we needed for the day and night to the beach with us to minimize our commute and maximize drinking time. We spent most of our days bunkered out at the beach club our Airbnb host recommended, Aura. It wasn't anything too fancy, but it was run by three tattooed Spaniards who brought us an endless supply of margaritas and giggles, so we were happy.
Not a bad place to spend your days…
Megan's Best of Tulum
The tasty ceviche at La Zebra, washed down with a great local IPA
Top Restaurants
La Zebra Hotel: Gorge views, great for breakfast, lunch or dinner, even if you're not a guest.
Hartwood: Wood-fired restaurant with hyperlocal fare. Dinner only.
Top Places for Drinks
Gitano: Chic jungle restaurant. Slip on a sexy dress and be ready to dance.
Papaya Playa: Good old-fashioned beach party, from what I remember (not much).
Top Pool
Casa Malca: Pablo Escobar's old digs turned funky-sexy hotel. Great photo op.
Seven girls swim into a cave… No trip to Tulum is complete without an exploration of the limestone sinkholes called cenotes
Top Things to Do
Tulum ruins and cenotes with Sergio: Private tour of the beachfront Maya temple complex and limestone sinkholes in an air-conditioned van stocked with snacks and beer with the coolest local.
Biking along the beach strip: So much more efficient than taking cabs and also a fun way to explore.
Mayan Clay Spa: Get a mud treatment at this spa — it's insane. They massage warm mud into your whole body, including your face and hair, and then you rinse it off in an outdoor shower in the jungle.
Go glamping! Megan peeks her head out of her “tent” at Nativus Tulum
Top Place to Stay
Nativus Tulum: Glamping locale I stayed at for a night when the first round of girls left. You're literally in a tent, but a big nice tent, with a full bathroom that's outside. It's incredible, and they serve an amazing breakfast. Plus it has a private cenote and is on the beach road you'll want to be located on.
Yes, the waters of the Caribbean are delightful — but it’s nice to have a private pool as well
Top Tips
Brush up on your Spanish — you'll need it.
Stay within walking or biking distance to the beach.
Get to the ruins very early in the morning to avoid crowds (and heat).
Favorite Moments
Taking the spontaneous topless photo with all the girls after too much sun and too many margaritas.
Trying to score weed with Mexican Jesus and failing miserably.
Running into my older brother, his husband, and my nephews by complete coincidence.
“Tulum has a spectacular natural landscape, with lush jungle on one side and wild cerulean ocean on the other. Pictures can’t do it justice.”
