Article: Best Places to Visit in Tulum, Mexico
Best Places to Visit in Tulum, Mexico
Best Place to Stay:
We stay at Tao Tulum which is located within a private neighborhood in Tulum. The area is made up of high-end condos with various amenities including two pools, a gym, and a 2-minute walk to Aldea Zama. I had the opportunity to stay at a friend’s condo in the neighborhood - she has offered to give you all 10% off when using the code “THEJOURNEY” to book her condo through Airbnb. Here is the link to book: NEW Private 2 br/2ba Boho chic condo ~ Aldea Zama. If you want a quieter Aldea Zama experience, my friend’s condo is the place to be. It is family-friendly, private, pristine/clean, and high-end. It has a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms, with extremely fast wi-fi.
Visiting Aldea Zama:
Aldea Zama is a luxury residential area with incredible restaurants, yoga/fitness studios, and high-end shopping. It is a 15-20 minute bike ride to the beach road. You can rent bikes through Airbnb or do it on your own.
I would recommend not renting a car during your Tulum visit if biking works well for you. Each beach club has free, easy-access “parking” for bikes. If you are going to go farther down the beach road, I would recommend taking a taxi. The traffic gets really bad on the beach road at certain times of the day and evening, and having a car can take hours. The bike paths are well-lit once you get off of beach road, although I would NOT recommend biking at night as beach road itself is not lit and is not safe. During the day, biking is very safe, and again, they have built incredible bike paths up into beach road. Once you get to beach road, the bike paths are non-existent (on the public side) and are not so great on the private side but as long as you use caution you should be fine!
Aldea Zama Restaurants That Are Worth Checking Out:
-Safari Comedor Zama: It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor and is known for incredible tacos and margaritas.
-Totem Restaurante Italiano and Pizza: If you are in the mood for pizza or other Italian staples, this is the place to visit! Visitors fall in love with the atmosphere and service.
-Campanella Cremerie: When it’s time for dessert, this location is a must! They are known for delicious ice cream and gelato.
-Nikkori: All sushi lovers need to make a stop at Nikkori. They offer a wide variety of sushi and other Japanese meals.
-Cafe Maya-Xel: This cafe has a 5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor and is recommended by many! It has stunning decor and ambiance. It’s the perfect place to either grab a quick coffee or stay all day and work!
Restaurants in this area are always changing and being added as it's growing quickly!
Best Beach Club Restaurants and Bars:
There are definitely many different vibes that you can experience and choose from while in Tulum. You can find the crazy party scene with DJs, dance floors, hookahs, loud music, and expensive drinks. Since that isn’t everyone’s vibe, there are also quiet, more seclusive beach clubs that close earlier in the evening for those going for a more relaxing feel.
Favorite Beach Club:
-Papaya Playa: This location has a very tranquil vibe! It has relaxing beach beds that you can spend the whole day at. On the private side, the seaweed is constantly being cleaned up and the beach is always well taken care of. Most of these beach clubs cost a certain amount of money per day but you can reach that amount by paying for food and drinks. Prices are always changing but when I recently visited, Papaya Playa on a Saturday is 1,000 pesos per person for the whole day (that is about $50 USD). As I mentioned, that money can be used towards food and drinks, and you do get access to the pool, beach chairs, cabanas, and wonderful service. When I work there during the day, I sit up at the restaurant. When sitting at the restaurant, you do not have a food or alcohol minimum for the day. Be sure to ask before you sit down what the daily peso price is to rent a cabana.
Favorite Restaurant on Beach Road:
- Mezzanine: This restaurant has some of the best Thai food in the area with an incredible atmosphere.
