Santa = Greg
Itinerary
Friday
- Margarita | It’s absolutely imperative that your Tulum weekend starts with a cocktail on the beach, no matter what time it is. Most hotels will offer a “welcome drink” upon check-in so kick off your shoes, dig your feet in the sand and relax in the sun.
- Be Tulum | Grab lunch at the boutique hotel with tables set up in the sand. You can never go wrong with ceviche, guacamole and an ice cold Victoria.
- Shopping | Tulum has excellent souvenir shopping. Check out Josa Tulum for beautiful kaftans and swimsuit cover-ups, Coqui Coqui for candles and fragrance, and La Troupe for cute swimsuits, textiles and accessories.
- Hartwood | Have your first dinner here because chances are you’ll be returning for another meal. Do not miss the grilled octopus (pulpo) and “Passion in the Jungle” cocktail. The scene is hip and despite the restaurant being run by New Yorker expats, there’s a decidedly LA vibe. All of the locally-sourced food is prepared on a wood burning oven and open grill. Come early and look for the white sign on the jungle side of the street.
Saturday
- Cenotes | Wake up early to beat the crowds and enjoy a dip in the bright blue waters. From Tulum, you have 2 options. 1) Gran Cenote (Sac Aktun): A cenote that lives up to its name in size just 2 miles outside of town. Open 10-5 daily. 2) Dos Ojos: a smaller cenote 9 miles south of Tulum where IMAX filmed part of their film “Journey into Amazing Caves”. Open 8-5 daily.
- Excursion | Hire a guide or a driver to take you to… Option 1) Tulum Ruins – the only Mayan city ever built on the coast. Option 2) The Sian Ka’an Canal - guided kayak tour of the a 1.5 million acre protected Unesco World Heritage site. Option 3)Akumal (“Place of Turtles”) Beach where sea turtles nest (end of April-October) and hatch (June- Nov.) Snorkel side by side with them these sweet creatures in the crystal blue waters.
- Casa Violeta | Enjoy a fresh fish entrée seasoned with local passionfruit and the airy atmosphere of this restaurant on the beach. Sip on a fresh margarita and listen to the waves crash into the beach just a few yards away.
- El Tábano | Settled back into the lush jungle, this local joint serves up regional flavor in what feels like someone’s kitchen. Service can be slow, but the same can be said for anywhere in the Yucatán.
Sunday
- Yoga Shala | Start your day with an early morning yoga session at this open-air studio. A few class times and styles are offered a day at $15 per class.
- Mayan Clay Spa | By now, you’ve received ample sun and the healing properties of Mayan red clay helps to soothe and moisturize skin. Schedule a mayan clay massage clay to detoxify and remineralize the body’s organs. If you get a sunburn, the red clay acts like an aloe to help speed up the healing process. Small jars can be found in many of the gift shops around town.
- Lunch | Take a break from the guacamole and margaritas (okay, maybe not those) and enjoy Posada Margherita‘s wood-fired pizzas and pastas. For a more casual option, check out the Tacolum truck serving up langosta tacos and fresh young coconut.
- Beach | Enjoy another excursion to the ruins, cenote or canal. Take a walk into town or rent a bike to browse the boutiques for textiles and other trinkets. More importantly, be sure to spend a lot of time doing nothing. Grab a book, post up on the beach and lose track of time.
- Casa Banana | This Argentine restaurant specializes in steaks and chorizo, as well as an international wine list. Of course, they offer hand-shaken margaritas and fresh seafood plates which are as equally delectable. Enjoy the romantic ambiance and take a moonlit stroll on the beach where crabs make their nightly migration from the beach to the jungle.