I am SO excited to share our 3-day trip to Tulum! As some of you know, we spent this past weekend in good ole’ Mexico – man, oh man, did we miss the beach. We were beyond excited and so grateful for this sweet escape.
Our 3-Day Trip to Tulum
We decided to squeeze in a quick 3-day trip to Tulum as a little mid-winter reset – and it was so worth it. We flew in on a Thursday evening, which gave us two full days to soak up the beauty and vibes of Tulum.
It was our second time visiting, but honestly, I enjoyed it so much more this time around. (I was super ill to my stomach the first time – not fun, haha.)
Unpopular opinion: do not visit Tulum in the summer. The humidity is next-level miserable. Winter months are the move – trust me!
About Our Stay: Ahau Tulum
If you’re planning a 3-day trip to Tulum and looking for a romantic, beachfront escape – Ahau Tulum is a must. If you follow me on the ‘gram, then you saw how stunning this resort is. It’s a luxurious and peaceful spot that’s perfect for couples. While it’s not all-inclusive, the location, design, staff, and those views made it totally worth it.
We had an ocean view from our little hut, and I kid you not – the view was SPECTACULAR. The entire resort has a peaceful, eco-chic vibe that instantly makes you feel at ease.
Since we booked this trip super last-minute, we didn’t have a lot of options and ended up booking a room with double beds. (Worth it – we were adamant about staying at Ahau!) The room was spacious, cute, and came with amazing views. I especially loved the balcony and how central the resort was to everything. If you’re planning a trip and want to be close to all the hot spots, I highly recommend staying in this area. There are so many beautiful properties nearby – honestly, you can’t go wrong.
Pros:
- As I mentioned above, the location was perfect. Ahau is centrally located along the “zona hotelera de Tulum” (aka the hotel zone), so you can easily walk to restaurants, shops, beach clubs, etc.
- The beach was clean and free of algae. When we visited in the summer of 2018, the beach was covered in stinky brown algae – we couldn’t even get in the water!
- The people at the resort were so kind and welcoming.
- Gorgeous beach views, which meant beautiful sunrises every single morning. I had so many peaceful moments just soaking it all in. We even did one beach yoga session while it was nearly empty – magical.
- Free access to Tulum Jungle Gym – such a fun spot to check out, especially if you love working out.
- Impressive Wi-Fi throughout the property (which I appreciated for obvious Instagram reasons 😉).
- Oceanfront and indoor yoga classes available.
- That famous wooden sculpture, Ven a la Luz by South African artist Daniel Popper, is located right outside Ahau. It’s a huge photo spot, and yes – there was always a line.
- The onsite restaurant offered fresh coffee (or tea) and the most delicious granola bars each morning. Just send a message via WhatsApp and they’ll deliver it to your room – loved that!
- There’s an observation deck on the property where you can catch the sunrise or sunset. (Can you tell I’m obsessed with both?)
Cons:
- Loud music at night – not sure if it was from the resort next door or the actual neighbors, but it was definitely noticeable.
- The A/C only worked from 7 PM to 9 AM, which made it a little tough to fall asleep. The humidity in Tulum is no joke – and I say that as a girl from Houston, a.k.a. the most humid place on earth. (OK, maybe I’m exaggerating… but still.)
- Our room had a few issues with water pressure and temperature. We reported it, but eventually gave up because we didn’t want to spend our trip dealing with maintenance. We just rolled with it and enjoyed everything else.
All in all, Ahau was the perfect home base for our 3-day trip to Tulum – peaceful, convenient, and so beautiful.
Restaurants in Tulum
We spent most of our time exploring the shops and eateries along the hotel zone. Since we didn’t get to see much during our first visit back in 2018, we made it a point to take full advantage this time around – annnnnd we definitely didn’t hold back, lol.
If you’re planning a 3-day trip to Tulum, these are the restaurants I’d recommend checking out. Each one brought its own vibe, flavors, and unforgettable memories:
- Chambao – I highly encourage you to visit any of the restaurants owned by Grupo RosaNegra. It’s a collection of high-end restaurants with live entertainment, and let me tell you – the waiters and staff make you feel like the most important person in the room. We’ve been to two so far (Chambao and Rosa Negra), and both were very impressive. Yes, they’re pricey, but totally worth it for the food, service, and ambiance.
- Ziggy’s – We came here for both breakfast and dinner. If you like chilaquiles, this place is a must. I ordered the red chilaquiles with scrambled egg and chicken, and HOLY CHILAQUILES – they were delish. Highly recommend. Breakfast didn’t disappoint at all. Dinner was okay – most of the appetizers I ordered were fried (which I didn’t expect), and I personally prefer to skip fried foods. But if you enjoy them, go for it! The live music at night was lovely, and sitting right on the beach made it even better – hearing the waves between songs was everything.
- Tantra – We stopped in for cocktails and to check out the scene – the music was loud and I was curious, haha. It was a total vibe. I loved the corridor entrance to the restaurant! I had the Tantra Citrus, which had Tanqueray gin with burnt pineapple, Tio Pepe liquor, homemade orange jam, and tangerine bitters. It was so good.
- Taqueria La Eufemia -OK, so ifI had to choose one place from this list for you to visit, I would pick this one. I wish we had all the time in the world to sit, try everything, chill, and repeat. This place has over 2K reviews – and it’s all about the tacos. Any taco. All tacos. Cheap and delicious. I had the fish and shrimp tacos and they were A1. Also, their maracuyá (passionfruit) margarita was chef’s kiss.
- Casa Jaguar – We came here for drinks and apps and it was so cute. Think romantic jungle vibes, candles, and a beautiful setting. People have even gotten married here! It’s way more relaxed than some of the other restaurants we visited, and it’s super convenient – located right across from Ahau.
- Chamico’s – If you love seafood, this is a must for ceviche and aguachiles. There used to be two locations, and the one by Soliman Bay was the cooler one, but it sadly closed during the pandemic 😞. That’s how we found out they had a second location in the town of Tulum (not the hotel zone), and we were so glad we still got to enjoy it.
- La Barracuda – We didn’t eat here this time around, but we did back in 2018. While scrolling through my old photos, I found a pic of the dish we ordered and immediately knew I had to include it here. If you’re into seafood and happen to be exploring the town of Tulum, definitely add this to your list. It was recommended by our taxi driver – and he wasn’t wrong. So good.
Activities in Tulum
There are so many fun things to do in Tulum. Honestly, if you’re planning a 3-day trip to Tulum, just know – it’s not nearly enough time to experience everything. The best tip I can give? Make a short list of your top two or three must-do activities so you can be sure to fit them in.
And if you’re lucky enough to stay longer than three days? Even better. Do it all, my friend.
Here are a few ideas to add to your list:
- Shopping – There are plenty of shops along both the hotel zone and the town of Tulum. Personally, I didn’t shop much in the hotel zone because while the boutiques are adorable and unique… they’re pricey. Like $200-for-a-straw-purse pricey. (I’d rather eat tacos, lol.) That said, I did grab a few cute finds in the town of Tulum where the vendors were open to negotiating prices.
- Cenotes – If I had to pick just one must-do activity, it would be swimming in a cenote. We visited Cenote Dos Ojos in 2018 and it was such a beautiful experience – magical turquoise waters and the coolest vibes. Here are a few more cenotes that have come highly recommended:
- Gran Cenote
- Cenote Carwash
- Cenote Sac Actun
- Casa Cenote
- Cenote Azul
- Town of Tulum – Take a quick ride (taxi or rental car) over to the town of Tulum. Depending on where you’re staying in the hotel zone, the drive isn’t bad at all. It’s packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and local charm. This is also a great place to buy tequila or mezcal bottles, souvenirs, or even Mexican home decor.
- Mayan Ruins – You have to see the ancient Mayan city while you’re here. It’s rich in history and one of the most iconic things to do in the area.
- Spa Services – Most resorts offer spa services, including facials, body treatments, and various massages. Perfect for winding down after a long, sandy day.
- Ancient Spiritual Ceremonies – OK, so next time I go back, a cacao ceremony is at the top of my list. These ceremonies are rooted in Mayan tradition and focus on healing, mindfulness, and connection – and they sound absolutely magical. There are plenty of wellness spots in Tulum that offer cacao, sound healing, and other spiritual experiences if that’s your vibe.
- Underground River Tour – This is still on my bucket list, but from what I’ve researched, it looks amazing! The underground river system near Tulum is part of Sistema Sac Actun, which is actually the longest known underwater cave system on earth – stretching over 230 miles beneath the Yucatán Peninsula. It even connects to cenotes like Dos Ojos. I’ll link more about their private tours here.
Travel Tips
Here are a few tips I thought were worth sharing – hopefully they’ll make your planning a little smoother as you prepare for your own trip to Tulum:
- Exchange pesos at the airport. The exchange rate is WAY better than what you’ll find in town, so plan ahead and do it as soon as you land.
- Want to save time and money? Fly into Cancun the night before and book a budget-friendly hotel there. That way, you wake up in Mexico and can make the drive to Tulum fresh the next morning. We stayed at Hotel Emporio, which ended up being such a great surprise. It was clean, affordable, and well-located – and fun fact: I actually stayed there in 2015 with my family for summer vacation! They’ve made so many upgrades since then – more pools (including one with a swim-up bar), a restaurant with panoramic ocean views, and a brand new bar area. Highly recommend!
- Renting a car? If you’re comfortable driving in Mexico, renting a car wasn’t a bad idea at all. I was a little nervous at first, but my husband was super confident, and that helped ease my nerves. As always, use your best judgment and do what feels right for you.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide gives you a solid starting point for planning your own 3-day trip to Tulum – and if you’re staying longer, even better. Whether you’re heading there for relaxation, adventure, or just a change of scenery, I’m so excited for you.
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or insights, never hesitate to reach out. You can email me at sonia@mrsprofresh.com or send a DM on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Ps. If you’re planning other trips around Mexico, I also put together a guide to Puerto Vallarta that’s packed with tips for first-time visitors. You can check it out here.
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