Tulum is Where My Heart is

We rode our bikes along a newly paved path about 7km from our new home. I was bursting with anticipation as to what lay ahead. Rounding our final corner, my legs were aching from using the rusty bicycles our landlord had given us, but the taste of the salty air from the Caribbean waters pushed me on. And finally we arrived.

An empty beach. Turquoise waters lapping at the white sand. I was home!

Well, not exactly right at home. But it was the beach and the ocean which is good enough for me. It was a place we could rest our weary travelled bodies for a while and put our energy into travel plans for 2011.

So, where was I?

I had arrived at Tulum; small beachfront town on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. While it is definitely a place many tourists flock to, it still maintains a small town vibe – unlike its neighbours of Playa Del Carmen or Cancun, further north.

To be honest Tulum wasn't on our radar of places to visit, we hadn't heard anything about it until we met some friends outside of Orlando. When we mentioned we were considering travelling to Mexico they practically begged us, saying we just had to visit Tulum. To use their words, they had said it was ‘paradise on earth’. Now, while that phrase might be stretching it a little far, there is many a reason why foreigners from all over the world fall in love with the town of Tulum.

With high praises from our friends, we booked an apartment in the town for one month, which then slowly turned into four. We wondered if we were ever going to leave Tulum. There was just something about it that held us there for much longer than we planned. Maybe it was the relaxed atmosphere and chilled out temperament of the locals. It has a soothing effect on you as soon as you arrive. You won’t find any large-scale hotels or fast food joints in this town. The local municipal is working hard to sustain its future and make sure Tulum won’t become overbuilt like nearby towns of Playa De Carmen, even with the construction of the controversial airport over the coming years.

Things to do in Tulum

No one will judge you if all you plan on doing whilst in Tulum is lazing on the beach with a cold margarita in your hand. In fact, we did that a lot of the time! There are however, plenty of activities to keep you occupied on your next vacation. You might want to go kite boarding, give cave/cavern diving in the cenotes a go or head out to visit the Mayan ruins on the Tulum headland. Then at night, enjoy some more cold cocktails at a beachside bar, while you salsa the night away to a local live band.

Cenotes

The cenotes get a special mention, because they are quite unlike any other water environment. They are a large opening in the ground which is connected to underwater rivers, all flowing directly out into the ocean. There are literally hundreds of cenotes, with new cave systems still being discovered today.

During our time in Tulum, we went diving and snorkelling in a few different cenotes. Visibility can reach up to 30 metres here, although the marine life is not exactly extensive in the cenotes. There is, however, something else entirely that keeps you in awe for hours… the rock formations. Stalagmites and Stalactites formed underwater, give these cenotes the feeling like you are seeing another world.

I will always remember the first time I laid eyes on Grand Cenote. The iridescent colours reflecting back at me from the water’s surface was the clearest water I have ever seen in my life and I couldn’t believe it was located in the middle of nowhere off the side of the road.

The Ruins

Bus loads of tourists visit these ruins each day (so it’s best to get there in the morning) but there is a reason why so many visit these particular ruins. Not known so much for their stonework or craftsmanship, but rather for their breathtaking location right on top of the headland.

The ruins themselves are quite manicured; there are walkways to keep visitors from touching the ruins themselves. It is a positive, however, as this is to preserve these structures, keeping them standing for generations to come.

The Tulum ruins are magnificent in their own way. They stand tall on the headland, with the waters of the Caribbean down below. There is a small cove where you can take a refreshing dip after a hot walk around or take many pictures of the iguanas on the ground, acting a little like gatekeepers of these historical monuments. It was my first time seeing an iguana, so I took many a picture, loving the bold stripes on their back and their eyes always watching you as you walk past.

About the Author
Anthony is one half of the dynamic duo at Positive World Travel. He is travelling the world on an indefinite journey sharing his experiences through HD video, photos and articles. You can follow them on Facebook or Twitter for more of their travel experiences.

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