Tulum
Part 3
You’ve decided where to stay and made your dinner reservations, now its time to book excursions!
There is so much to see and do when in Tulum, and I can’t wait to share my favorites.
Say
Cheese!
But before we get started – take my advice – and buy a waterproof camera!
My personal favorite is the Fujifilm XP-140 Waterproof 4K camera with built-in WiFi.
Let’s be honest – no matter how great your phone camera is.. at the end of the day its your phone. Your lifeline to the world. The last thing you want to do in a foreign country, is drop your phone off the boat, have it slip into the pool, or take a tumble down the stairs of Mayan Ruins, just because you were trying to capture the perfect memory.
That being said, this camera is not only waterproof but shockproof too!
Your 4K pictures upload fast via the built in WiFi.
This makes posting to Instagram, and sharing in your group chats a breeze.
This camera has quickly become a travel staple any time I pack for a trip where water is involved.
The Beach
Ok, let’s start with the obvious. You’re in Tulum – you have to enjoy the white sandy beaches and crisp blue waters. As you know, I love the included water activities and private access beaches at Jashita.
 We loved taking the paddle boards and kayaks out in the ocean.
Whether we’re power paddling in competition, or just leisurely floating, we always love every second out on the ocean.
Cenotes
Had enough sun? But don’t want to leave the water?
I’ve got you covered.
There are numerous cenotes in Tulum and honestly, they are all spectacular in their own right.
We chose to take a tour through Cenotes Dos Ojos.
The briskly cold water of cenotes is shockingly refreshing in the Tulum heat.
First of all, it was super close to our hotel. But be prepared to take a super bumpy ride to the back half of the property where the entrances to the cenotes are.
Lifejackets and snorkels were provided with individually wrapped mouth pieces you get to keep (THANK GOD) but the goggle attachment you give back.
The goggles were sanitized with alcohol, which not only sanitized but also helped with fog prevention.
Once you have all your gear, the staff have you take a quick outdoor shower BEFORE entering the cenotes. You stay in your bathing suit and with your group so its not scary or anything. This is to make sure you rinse off all the sunscreen, lotions, fragrances, bug sprays etc. that are so harmful to the cenotes, and reefs just outside.
Of course I followed the rules and rinsed off as well, but I have to say, it felt great to know I wasn’t covered in harmful chemicals, because my favorite sunscreen is Reef Safe!
 As you can see – this place is another perfect spot to make the most of your new waterproof camera!
Under The Sea
Other honorable mentions for activities involving the ocean include snorkeling the reefs (you can easily book these excursions through Jashita or Azulik) and baby turtle watching on the beach.
I felt crazy lucky that right on site, the beaches of Jashita were home to several turtle nests!
The staff set up every precaution to make sure the turtle babies would mature fully in their eggs. Additionally, the staff kept clear paths to the beach ensuring the baby turtles made it off the shore.
Seriously look how clear the water is!!
This picture of the ocean floor was taken with my waterproof camera – have you ordered yours yet?!
Avenida
Tulum
You know I loved the little Tulum downtown area. From the food and drink, to the music and art, to the unique architecture you pass along the way.
I loved walking down Avenida Tulum.
We found a few watering holes during the day that we tried out later that night, and otherwise would have missed if we didn’t explore.
Definitely a lot of great photo ops as well, and honestly, I can’t believe we didn’t snag a single group photo here!
I guess we were just living in the moment – so I can’t be mad at that.
Laguna de
Kaan Luum
Now this place is honestly an experience I am still trying to figure out.
Laguna de Kaan Luum is “easy to find” if you know what you’re looking for.
Otherwise, you’ll be a little taken for a ride, QUITE LITERALLY, like we were.
Our pre-arranged Jashita driver took us about another 15-20 minutes past the city.
After passing the major cenotes, our driver just turned off onto a seemingly unmarked gravel/white dirt road and just kept going.
Somewhere on the 10 minute drive down this remote side street, we all lost cell service entirely.
*SO PLEASE TAKE NOTE AND ONLY TRAVEL HERE WITH YOUR FULL GROUP*
Do not plan to “meet up here later” like we did with 2 of our crew.
All of a sudden we came upon this large parking lot and finally saw signage putting us at ease that we were in the right place. Similar to the cenotes, you are discouraged from wearing sunscreen and taking all precautions to protect and not disturb the ecosystem as much as possible.
After walking about another 10 minutes down a sandy path through some jungle brush, it opens up to reveal a truly hidden gem.
This is when you really take it all in – the sites, and the smells.
If you have ever been to a marsh before, then this is nothing new to you. So I was definitely thankful for my years growing up in South Carolina and spending time in the marsh and the mud there.
This lagoon has a similar mud like flooring made of natural clay.
Spiritual
Oasis
In the waters, we saw people of all ages, races, and genders slathering as much of this mud on their bodies as possible. The scent of this “miracle mud” was a little too much to make it something I wanted to smear on my face, so I passed on that “experience”.
But there was something about watching these people apply the mud that was almost like a religious experience on its own.
The “are we lost” journey in and scent of “marsh mud” aside, its time to share what makes this truly its own wonder of the world.
The water here is truly unbelievable.
The lagoon water is a mixture of seafoam green, with deep a evergreen center – almost like a black hole.
This center is so dark because its actually another cenote of superior depths! You can explore it if you dare, but that requires diving equipment and a private guide.
There is a cute photo op station of natural wood and rope swings that feature the lagoon as the backdrop and a long pier like dock, where you can leave your beach bag and coverups while you explore the warm waters.
Please know, that while this is a hidden gem and secret oasis to us, the people of Tulum are well aware of its existence. You can expect to see a blend of tourists in the water, while groups of locals pass the time lounging in the shade on the beach, with coolers of snacks and beer.
Ancient Ruins
It wouldn’t be Tulum without mentioning the rich history of the Mayans who once ruled here.
Speaking of those who once ruled; Pablo Escobar actually had a mansion in Tulum that is now a hotel and living art gallery, called Casa Malca. Don’t worry – it kept some hidden charm from Pablo himself including secret underground passageways that still connect to other parts of the complex.
But its the Mayans past stomping grounds that really steal the show.
We toured the Mayan ruins of old temples and the grounds surrounding and its honestly hard to comprehend until they’re right in front of you.
 Ready to Book?
That’s a wrap on my 3 part guide to traveling Tulum!
Thank you for following along.
Have some questions I didn’t cover? Need a more specific recommendation?
Comment below!
Shop The Post
