This is the story of two girls making memories in Tulum, Mexico. They embarked on their second tropical trip together and left a piece of their heart in yet another country beside their homeland. ⁠Needless to say, they made some major memories. Below are a couple of stops they made along the way and some travel tips they learned while there.

Stay

Kore Tulum Retreat and Spa Resort –  absolutely stunning. A bounty of plush day beds are scattered throughout the grounds. We were there in September which is low season, so it was very private due to the lack of people. We lounged on the best day bed in the house. Right by the sea. The murky, brown sea. Tulum’s worst nightmare: sargassum.

Sargassum is buoyant brown seaweed that floats on the surface of the water. Not only does it look unpleasant, but it has a strong sulfuric odor when it washes up on the shoreline. It’s quite unpleasant, even walking by it.

As you can imagine, this environmental issue has deterred visitors, so luxury hotels such as Rosewood, Andaz, Fairmont and Banyan Tree have installed a barrier in the ocean that keeps the sargassum from washing up ashore.

Something to keep in mind when you’re visiting Tulum and you don’t have the budget for those hotels: you’re not going to swim in the ocean, but you’ll enjoy it’s culture and beach/party vibes..which leads me into my next sub headers.

Beach

Playa Paraiso – a short bike ride from our hotel and the beach we spent most of our time. On our first day, we borrowed the hotel bikes and rode along a narrow street while taking videos and sharing lots of laughs. The distance between my bikes and the cars driving by was questionable. We rented two day beds for a nominal fee, enjoyed some Micheladas and laid out staring at the deep b…rown sea.

Eat

Gitano Tulum – an outdoor Tulum-bougie dining establishment by evening and upbeat Tulum-bougie dance club by night. We visited on a Sunday, so there was no dance club sadly. Friday is the night to go. Noted for next time. It rained on us that evening while we were sitting on the patio and we had to move indoors. We sat under the “I still love you” sign and the vibes were pleasurable. Honestly, the service wasn’t great when I went, but I’d still recommend it. The drinks were on point.

Adventure

Isla Mujeres – an island off Cancun easily commutable by ferry. This is where we found the clear blue waters we were waiting for. We stayed one night. One night too short. It was quite charming and very different from Tulum. Small and town-like, quiet and with no nightlife, but the beaches are stunning. We had heard you can get around the island in a golf cart within 30 minutes. Damn right we tested it out.

I can’t wait until we can travel again and go back to making memories. I absolutely want to go back to Tulum.