The Anit Resort Vacation: Tulum Mexico

Tulum is a stretch of Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula on the east side. It's known for its numerous all-inclusive resorts, such as those in the town of Playa del Carmen, and its long beaches. To the south, Tulum is home to yoga retreats and the preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city, perched on an outcrop above a white-sand beach.

Mexico is one of my all-time favorite destinations. A flight from NY, LA, and Dallas, is available direct making it easy to travel to this tropical jungle location. Between Cabo, Todos Santos, Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, Puerto Escondido, Cancun, Tulum, and Merida.. This is my Tulum Travel Guide: there are so many stunning and beautiful places locations, cenotes, historical plantations, and Mayan ruins to visit. I decided to make a Tulum Travel Guide of all that I have visited now and know some of the best places to stay, play & eat!

Tulum is a beautiful bohemian paradise, set on the warm crystal-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Tulum Mexico dvd interior design travels eco hotels design inspiration vacation.jpg

TULUM, MEXICO (LOCALISM IS THE GOAL)

If you know me, you will know that my preferred mode of vacation is one where there is the opportunity to immerse myself in Nature, ( Earth, Water, and Sky). Finding peace within our chaotic lives and creating the ideal flow, symmetry, and balance, are the hallmarks of the sanctuary. While my work as an Interior Designer is to provide sanctuary for the homes we work on, so of course, a vacation sanctions similar goals.

ALICIA VERA FOR THE WSJ

For many people, having a moment away from our everyday life, positioned in new places to learn about the local culture, food, and a new environmental region is a way to find sanctuary and a renewed sense of SELF in this world. Luxury in life is wrapped in our experiences more than in things. If you can travel to these places with friends or family, well, it gets even better.

Here are some highlights of a recent trip I took to the Rivera Maya in the Cancun region of Yucatan, Mexico. Some points of interest on the Rivera Maya: The Caribbean Coast of Mexico

My next trip will include :

Playa del carmen Xcaret Akumal Xel ha TulumIslands: Cozumel island Holbox Also you can visit www.rivieramaya.com and there is more info

Destination Paradise

Just looking at downtown Cancun from the sky as we flew over and into the airport, stressed me out. Yes, its a beautiful piece of land surrounded by amazing crystal clear ocean water and reefs and it is very easy to get to, but I am not a fan of densely populated shores with CONDOS AND SKYSCRAPER resorts. I prefer to visit real places and meet real people.

Hartwood Restaurant- a must-visit restaurant in Tulum. You will wait for a while, even with a reservation, so make the reservation in advance, enjoy your time, the Mezcal and the people watching.

Mexico is a beautiful place with many vacation destinations that are off the beaten path, given the richness of history, delicious food, and crystal-clear ocean beaches.

Hartwood. A meal to remember

Watch out for the TOPES!

Artful Lodging

After a 2-hour drive south we finally turn off the highway and head towards to town of Tulum. This is the land of the "TOPES"! Topes’ are lovely speed bumps in the roads to slow down the vehicles on the roads. They make you slow down too, and at first, they frustrate you because you just want to get there, quickly! Then you adjust to the slower pace and you just accept them.

You learn to embrace the TOPES.

ECO Boutique Sonara

With all the new luxury boutique hotels popping up, flying under the radar does not mean roughing it.

Surrounding Sites To See in Tulum

Tulum and many of the surrounding towns south of Cancun offer a reprieve from the intensity and hardness of Cancun, and an opportunity to experience the local flavor and uniqueness of Mexican Yucatan. Don't expect the 4 Seasons Hotel here, Tulum has its own glamour and luxury, but not in tall skyscrapers. Currently, this is the perfect destination to merge nature, relaxation, and spirituality.

Once in Tulum, you will find yourself traveling along a narrow two-lane road parallel to the beach with the resorts, businesses on the ocean side, and the jungle on the other. Kissed by the Caribbean sun and surrounded by the ice blue ocean, this is the perfect getaway that you must visit before it disappears.

You will see this is a town of environmental beauty as you plan to spend time on a glorious beach or boating on the crystal clear Ocean, visiting the wonderful "Cenotes" for swimming (sinkholes in the ground where you can swim in pristine water), and the most anticipated, a day visit to Sian Ka'an for a ride on nature's sleepy river of freshwater. You can also have the most wonderful meals if you choose correctly.

Walking to our Cabanas

We arrive at our hotel and are offered complimentary margaritas at the outdoor, beachside restaurant, with the sound of the ocean waves in the background, and our toes in the sand. We check in and our bags are carried to our beach bungalows. Instant decompression. We have arrived.

What to Do

Yoga (pictured) was our first stop the next morning. We rode our bikes every day following in the morning for a fabulous Yoga session every day! This is me, very happy.

Beach Bars (pictured)

Wonderful food, drinks, and the music was amazing!

Get a Massage (pictured)

The perfect afternoon treat! A Massage and Mayan Clay body treatment, followed by a dip in the ocean to rinse off!

Take a trip to Sian Ka'an (pictured)

We hired a local Shaman to accompany us on our tour and swim in the Sian Ka'an preserve. This is an amazing freshwater ecosystem that will take a day to explore. Having a guide was such a pleasure as he showed us around the mangrove, guided us, and shared stories of the land and a few hidden spots. Meeting and spending the day with him was a special part of our trip. This amazing environmental setting is owned by an international group of preservation organizations.

Visit Sian Cain

Where to Eat

Hartwood (pictured) The wood-fired restaurant became the buzz of Tulum when it opened in 2010, using the familiar principles of seasonality and using local produce and meat. Get here early if you want to try this food experience that you will savor for years. make a reservation and anticipate a wait. We waited for a long time to have our reservation to become available and we taste-tested a few Mezcals to pass the time. It was worth the wait, and nothing short of magical. This was a meal I will always remember. hartwoodtulum.com

Posada Margherita Maybe the closest place Tulum has to a “scene,” the romantic restaurant—at night the tables become awash in tea candles nestled in mason jars—is the spot for Italian fares such as seafood linguine and Caprese salad. posadamargherita.com

This is us!

Where to Stay

La Zebra (pictured) If you follow my Instagram, you may have seen me enjoying this beach hotel, having breakfast with the sand between my toes, or enjoying a complimentary Margherita when checking in. The accommodations were perfect for all of us. LA Zebra

Our Beach Cottage at Le Zebra
Sonara Villa: This is a luxury ECO BOUTIQUE located on the beach and in the jungle. Equipped with thier own Yoga Studio, Wellness Center, and a wonderful restaurant featuring all types of great vegan to vegetarian selections. sanaratulum.com

Sanara Tulum: Eco Boutique

Sanará Tulum won the 2015 National Competition for Architecture and Interiors for Hotels from the Asociacion de Arquitectos e Interioristas, Mexico. In 2017 we were selected #3 in the 150 Greatest Hotels in the World by Harper's Bazaar.

TULUM RECAP:

The Ultimate FIVE DAY Guide to Tulum, Mexico

DAY ONE: Get Acclimated By Enjoying walking the town, visiting Tulum Beach, and traveling to the northern part of town, to visit the beach bar for the food, drinks, and fabulous music.

DAY TWO: Take a Yoga Class. After Yoga sign up for a bike tour to visit A Cenote and for dinner Explore the best restaurant, HARDWOOD. Make reservations in advance of your trip, and chill when you end up waiting for an hour anyway. Try some Mezcal and enjoy the scenery.

DAY THREE: Hire a Guide and visit SIAN KAAN the most amazing freshwater ecosystem and habitat in the world. Its nature’s lazy river. enjoy

DAY FOUR: Explore Tulum Town, and the COBA ruins to the north. You may have to take a taxi. Have your hotel get you a cab, hopefully, someone that is reputable with their customers. Always use cash, do not use your credit card.

DAY FIVE: 1/2 Day Sailing Tour and Snorkeling. YOu will swim in the ocean all day long. The water is crystal clear, and the ocean habitats delightful. It’s why we visit.

MORE RESOURCES FOR TULUM

If you desire a more luxurious experience, plenty of options abound. See more here in a feature of the region by DEZEEN with highlights on architectural eco-lodges.

For more information on ECO-FRIENDLY Luxury, visit see also TRAVEL YUCATAN

For more on about the remote island Isla Holbox, "Escaping to Mexico's Best Kept Secret this is on my list for the next visit. From dvdInterior Design Lately.......

Part 2 of our Yucatan visit:

We also visited the Mayan Ruins. On day 6, we started the second part of o and traveled to Merida for Mayan Ruins, a visit to the historic rope factory, a secret Cenote swim, and a party at our magical residence Sans Suci