TULUM WITH BABY
Tulum is probably Mexico's hottest travel destination right now. From Instagram-worthy hotels to gourmet restaurants and Mayan ruins, Tulum has a lot to offer. That's why it didn't remain an insider tip for long. Nevertheless, Tulum and the surrounding area have a lot to offer for a great family vacation. We spent two weeks there during the second part of our parental leave when Levi was about 11 months old.
Getting to Tulum
From Frankfurt, you can fly directly to Cancun in about 12 hours, making the journey quite comfortable. Condor often offers the best prices on this route. From Cancun Airport, you can then take a taxi to Tulum. This takes about 1.5 hours and costs about 100 USD.
The perfect time to travel to Tulum
The best time to visit Tulum is from November to March. However, keep in mind that March also marks the beginning of spring break season, and the Yucatan Peninsula, where Tulum is located, transforms into a party paradise. You should avoid this time for a relaxing family vacation.
Hotels and Airbnbs in Tulum
Hotel prices in Tulum Beach can quickly become exorbitant if you want to stay at one of the trendy beach hotels like Nomade, Casa Malca, or Papaya Playa Project. That's why we opted for an Airbnb in Aldea Zama . I wouldn't recommend this particular Airbnb. While it was very nice and stylish, it was very dirty and musty. However, we loved the apartment complex and the Aldea Zama area. There are plenty of Airbnbs there, it's relatively quiet, and you can reach the beach by bike in 20 minutes. You can reach a lot of places in Tulum by bike, so be sure to bring a helmet for your child.
Hotels that I also like:
The best restaurants in Tulum Beach
Charlie's Vegan Tacos – Tacos to die for and all in VEGAN
Nomade Tulum – the perfect beach location in boho style
Posada Margerita – great Italian cuisine with a sea view.
Matcha Mama – Acai bowls at their best. While swinging. It's not for nothing that this is one of Tulum's top spots.
ARCA – one of the mega-hyped gourmet restaurants. But hey, you only get to visit Tulum once, right?
The best restaurants in Aldea Zama
Chacabar – cozy, relaxed restaurant with delicious, affordable food
La Colifata – Argentinian restaurant. We still sometimes rave about the appetizer platter.
The 5 best things to do in Tulum
Beaches and beach clubs
Tulum has beautiful beaches. We were lucky that our Airbnb included a free Papaya Playa Project Each Club card. I have no idea why, but it said so in the description and was one of the reasons we chose this Airbnb. In fact, the most beautiful stretches of beach are often part of a hotel. However, we've found that it's no problem at all to simply ask the hotel if you can use the beach club for a day. If you eat and drink there, the hotels usually don't mind. We thought the beach club at Nomade Tulum was sensational. The one at the Posada Margerita Restaurant is also great.
Cenotes
Cenotes. One of the most beautiful natural wonders our planet has to offer. They are holes in the ground that were created thousands of years ago by a meteorite impact. They are filled with crystal-clear, deep water and often have a cave system. There are numerous beautiful cenotes around Tulum. Rule number one: get there early. It can get very crowded later in the day. We found the Grand Cenote wonderful. We were also lucky enough to be able to spend a day at a private cenote with our Airbnb host. The trip was a bit adventurous, as we first had to walk a kilometer cross-country through the jungle, but it was definitely worth it.
Mayan ruins
A bit of culture is a must. The Mayan ruins make it really easy on the Yucatan Peninsula. They are all beautiful. We actually skipped the most famous of all, Chichen Itza, because we heard it was incredibly crowded. Instead we went to the ruins in Coba . Rule number 2: You should also set off early for the ruins. We were there at 8 a.m. and were practically the only ones there. We had Levi in a baby carrier there all day. And then of course there are the Tulum ruins, located right on the sea, they offer a beautiful panorama and even access to a small stretch of beach. On this trip we also had Levi in a baby carrier. However, it was so hot and sunny there that we couldn't stay long. We're not particularly sensitive to the sun, but there is literally ZERO shade at the Tulum ruins.
Bacalar Lagoon
The Bacalar Lagoon was recommended to us by locals. It's about a 2-3 hour drive south of Tulum, near the border with Belize. We rented a car in Tulum. We really enjoyed the drive to the lagoon itself. The further you drive, the less touristy it becomes, and the more you see locals along the street selling pineapples and coconuts. Once you arrive at the lagoon, it feels like you're in the Maldives. The water is turquoise blue. There are even swings in the water in some places. What we particularly liked about Bacalar is that, compared to Tulum, it's still very untouristy. We spent the day at a small campsite, surrounded almost entirely by locals and with a small kiosk with plastic chairs, but with the best shrimp ceviche of my life.
Colonial city of Valladolid
In Mexico, visiting a colonial city is a must. The most famous on the Yucatan Peninsula is probably Merida. However, since Merida is a three-hour drive from Tulum, we didn't visit Merida. Instead, we took a trip to Valladolid. The best way to admire Valladolid's beautiful, colorful architecture is to take a long walk through the city.
budget
Levi was 11 months old at the time of the trip. Children under 2 years old don't need to book a seat on the plane and are entitled to a baby bassinet. We booked that, so we only paid for two plane tickets. A direct flight from Frankfurt to Cancun with Condor costs about €750. Our Airbnb, at €120 per night, was super affordable by Tulum standards! It didn't include meals, but it did include free bike rentals.
Total budget: 3,300 EUR
(2 flight tickets with Condor at 750 EUR each, 15 nights in an Airbnb at 120 EUR each) plus on-site meals, transfers, and a rental car.)