I don’t really consider myself a “travel blogger,” but when I do take a vacation, I make sure it’s planned to a T! Tulum has been on my bucket list for years, but I could not find a friend to go with me (can you believe that?! THE DISRESPECT) lol. I’m just not that solo traveler type of girl. It is important for me to explore alongside someone who enjoys taking photos (duh!), loves the nightlife, and does not judge if I have to pack an extra look with me — because I can’t have photos of me at a different location with the same outfit #influencerlife #eyeroll lol. Well this is when Mr. IG Zaddy, aka Mikey, comes to the story! Mikey is a dear friend of mine who has killer style, an amazing sense of humor, and is always down for a good time. I honestly don’t know why it took us this long to go somewhere together.
I met up with Mikey in Tulum since he lives in NYC because he is that cool lol! From the minute we met, the fun did not stop. First thing we did was to (obviously) order margaritas before the bus from Cancun airport to Tulum. The fact that he was down to drink a LARGE-sized cocktail the min we got off the plane, I had a feeling that things were going to be lit in the best possible way.
We arrived to our hotel and OMG! You guys, best hotel in the world and here is why! Below are my recs on where to stay, eat, and play in this beautiful Mexican Town.
Kanan Hotel & Spa: When doing research for places to stay in Tulum, Mikey and I did our homework. We needed to make sure that the hotel was aesthetically beautiful, in a great location, and of course, within our budget. It prob took us around two long weeks to finally make a decision. I found Kanan hotel on Bookings.com. It’s a brand new hotel so there were NO reviews at all. We were skeptical at first but then realized that they were part of the Ahau hotel chain, which was a good sign. They have hotels all over Tulum and they are all to die for. Kanan hotel passed our checklist with flying colors! There isn’t a place in this hotel that was not Instagram-able! It is also an adults-only hotel, which sealed the deal for us. I don’t mind kids but sometimes they could be “vibe killers” lol, especially if you are trying to relax and have grown-up time at the pool. Their restaurant is so good, too, and our room came with beautiful beachfront views. Best part was our own tub! Well, everything was amazing but that was def the big highlight. The hotel also sits in a stellar location. This is where we met our new friend, Hector, who is the concierge/front desk manager and truly a blessing for our official “friendship honeymoon” lol. He was kind enough to take us to all the happening and new spots in Tulum. Hector also has his own tour company where he can take you around Tulum with his stylish red Tuk Tuk. Coolest way to experience Tulum! Highly recommend booking his services. He knows what’s up, babes!!
Where to Eat and Play in Tulum
Garden Tulum: I did some restaurant research prior to our trip, but I also knew I wanted to visit and feature places that have not been on everyone’s go-to list! Here is when Hector comes to the rescue! He recommended we visit Garden Tulum, and we’re so glad we listened. The restaurant has been open just a little over 7 months, and they are actually still in their “testing service” period. They focus on Medetirranean cuisine with a Mexican twist. We loved everything we ordered. Best part was the customer service! Our server took the time to get to know us, and during our chat, he remembered I was celebrating my birthday weekend so he even played a birthday song for me and sent out a celebratory cocktail! So sweet #heartmelts.
Playa Mambo: OMG! I love me a good beach party, and let me tell you, Playa Mambo did not disappoint. The minute you walk in you feel like you are in a movie. The beach views are spectacular, complete with a cute bar and cabanas. The DJ was playing fun tunes, and next thing you know, I hear timbales playing! I lost it lol, it was next-level experience. Hard to even put it into words! Watch the video to truly get the vibes we got.
Cortazar Bar: So Mikey and I LOVE us a good speakeasy, especially those that play R&B and hip-hop! Well guess what? We found one in Tulum. We actually randomly stumbled into this place because the music lured us in! I think they were playing B.I.G and we were like, “Word”? Lol the rest is history, this was our nightcap spot. Bartenders are super friendly, and the place is small but we liked that to keep things intimate with major cool vibes.
Azulik: I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this place and it was my number one pick to stay at. But reality check! I’m not baller like that…YET! lol but I still wanted to check it out, so we opted to have breakfast here and I’m so glad we did. You guys! This place is jungle next level. The food was good too and staff are more than willing to get on top of a chair to get you your IG shot! YEP!!! Lol so yes, def worth the visit. You can take pics at the restaurant and at their store, but you have to stay at the hotel if you want to do more exploring.
Casa Malca: I found this place on the ‘gram! It used to be Pablo Escobar’s mansion. NO wonder the bad ass vibes were everywhere!! We highly recommend visiting Casa Malca for some beach time. We booked a cabana and had a few drinks with a view. Don’t miss the hidden tub located in the middle of the jungle by the entrance. That is GOLD IG material. They also have a cool couch swing.
Ahau Tulum: This hotel is obviously part of the Ahau Collection. We came here for their breakfast and our meal was delicious. Their hotel’s dog “Bandida” peacefully sat next to us, and she was the cutest alongside their hotel cat who snoozes at the hotel entrance. Magical little place.
I’m not really an outdoorsy person but I really wanted to experience the cenotes (scenic sinkholes). We went for a guided tour at first, but we quickly realized that was not our vibe. Who wants to be photographed w/ a life vest on #notcute lol. The tour was just fine but not the experience we were looking for. So we decided to explore the cenotes on our own and that was SO much better. We visited Cenotes Calabera and El Gran Cenote. Both legit spots. My rec would be to visit these places super early to avoid the crowds. Also lots of mosquitoes here so come prepared to get bitten but totally worth it! Cenotes Calabera has an awesome swing where you can snap photos from above. I don’t know how to swim so there went my IG opp but it was cool to see other people do it! El Gran Cenote is a good place to see turtles because the water is super clear. Lots of kids, though, so it’s much more family oriented.
Mayan Ruins: We were literally here for less than an hour lol — it was too hot to explore but we wanted to make sure we had video footage of this historic sight. I think it was worth it. You can do a tour, but we again decided to explore on our own, which I think was a good idea. We actually hired a taxi that day to take us around the cenotes and the ruins. The total cost was around $100. Throughout the entire day, we felt safe with our driver.
The best way to get around is def by using cabs or biking. There is a local mini bus that can take you to places around the area, but you kind of have to know exactly where to stop. I would probably not use this unless you spoke Spanish lol but I did not feel unsafe at all.
Tulum is going down in history for me! Hard location to top.
For more travel posts, visit our travel section, and as always, follow me on IG for my latest travel/outfit posts! Big thank you to Mikey (IG Zaddy) for all the amazing photos he took of me and for not sharing those that did not come out so cute lol (watch video to truly feel the Tulum vibes).
