I’ve been holding onto this post for a bit, because there was so much covered that I don’t think I could get to nearly ALL of it. That being said, I’ll try my best.
A few weeks ago, my best friends and I traveled all the way to Tulum, Mexico to celebrate our upcoming 30th birthdays. The majority of us have known each other since college and after living with this ragtag crew for almost 8 years, they’ve become like family. And while we may not all live within a 10 block radius anymore, we make it a point to see each other as frequently as we can.
As we were brainstorming for our next adventure (appropriately dubbed the Q1 Lurdy Offsite), so many places were thrown into the mix. But, being February and cold for the majority of us, we wanted somewhere a bit more tropical. Thus, Tulum was chosen!
Since Andi and Eric have been before we had a few things we wanted to check out, but wanted to share a few of my personal favorites:
THE HAPPENINGS:
Tulum has A LOT going on. In fact, I’d say it’s grown in popularity over the past few years. There are so many things to check out, but here’s a few of my favorites:
Cenotes: There are a ton of Cenotes in Tulum and for a few pesos, you can enjoy these beautiful underground sinkholes! I promise, it’s A LOT more amazing than how I’m describing it at the moment. The water is ridiculously blue and being able to swim in natural water in the most random of places is truly incredible. We checked out Cenote Zacil-Ha and Kaan Luum Lagoon to name a few. I absolutely LOVED Cenote Zacil-Ha and they even had a little bar where you could cozy up and order a Corona or two. Pro tip: Head to the cenotes EARLY. They get packed and a little less serene later in the day.
Tulum Ruins: I’m not the biggest fan of touristy things, but the history of this place is bananas! The views are incredible (per usual) and is a great break from beach lounging if you get tired. Another tip is to again go early! Because let’s be real – walking around tourists the entire time gets a bit old.
Shopping: I can’t tell you how fun this was for me and my friends! One thing I love about Tulum and Mexico in general is that they aren’t afraid of a little color. We walked up and down the main street of Tulum wandering into shops and trying our hands at bartering. I walked away with a few badass pieces that include two bags (straw and leather), pom poms, and a headband!
The beach: If you’re in Mexico, you gotta go to the beach right? Just remember to layer on sunscreen like I did (not).
THE EATS & DRINKS
My favorite activities are usually eating and drinking. And If I’m being honest, I think it’s one of the best ways to get to know a city. Luckily, Tulum has a TON of delicious food. Some we stopped at here:
Posada Margherita – This place was the bees knees! A recommendation from Andi, she said it had the best Italian food in Tulum! 1. I was surprised that there was even Italian food in Tulum and 2. That it’d even be good. Luckily, it was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. I had delicious homemade pasta and if you ask nicely, they bring focaccia bread that’s out of this world.
Gitano – Again, this place is was so cool and I felt like I was about to see a cast member from (any, really) Bravo tv show. It’s surrounded by plants, a disco ball, and string lights that made me feel 10 times cooler.
Hartwood – Three cheers for Andi again because she got reservations here and it didn’t disappoint. Their menu changes daily based on the catch that day and luckily for me, octopus was aplenty that day. IT WAS SO DAMN GOOD. Add a mezcal margarita to the mix and it was dreamy.
Batey Mojito Bar – If you’re a fan of mojitos, go here immediately. The mojitos are delicious and the scene is lively. And even more refreshing? They include a sugar cane stick for every mojito. NOM.
Burrito Amor – We went to this place twice because it was so damn good. I ordered the shrimp burrito that was filled with purple onion & cheese, fresh lettuce & tomato that seriously hit the spot. Go here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For real.
Tres Galeones – We had dinner here one night and first off, it’s incredible! I ordered a few mezcal cocktails that were perfectly spicy and the tacos were delicious and fresh. The ambiance is cozy, cute and definitely a place I’d love to come back to.
And while this isn’t ALL of what we did, it’s definitely a pretty good recap of some of our faves. If you haven’t made the trip to Tulum, definitely eye it as your next far off destination.