Visiting Tulum, Mexico During Global Pandemic
If you know me, you know that I loveeeee to travel. When the global pandemic was declared at the end of March 2020, I knew I would not be able to travel for a while but I had noooo idea that that “while” would be six months (lol). I had planned a trip to Morocco for my 26th birthday on May 6th, 2020 which got cancelled due to the global pandemic. After that, I was unsure of when my next trip would be. For me, traveling is an outlet that I use to relieve stress and to truly get away! It is always so refreshing to visit new places and learn about different cultures while interacting with their people.
I also made a promise to myself at the beginning of 2020 to travel at least once a month to ensure that I always have a refreshed mindset and for more and better sources of inspiration. So when my friend, Kerrisha, proposed the idea of planning a trip to Tulum, Mexico I was here for it. At first, I was hesitant because of the possibility of being exposed to the virus while traveling and being in another country. However, I came to the reasoning that we’re exposed to the virus everywhere that we go - the bank, Target, a friends house. So, why not take a trip? So we ended up traveling to Tulum from Friday, August 21, 2020 to Monday, August 24, 2020. Here are all of the details about our trip:
Why Tulum, Mexico?
Right now, as an American citizens, we have limited options of where we can travel to. We’re even more limited of where we can travel to that does not have a running list of requirements to enter.
In order to enter Mexico right now, they do not require American citizens to present any testing prior to visiting their county.
Tulum’s aesthetic definitely gives luxury but at a budget price. To me, I think that Tulum low key gives Bali vibes on a cheaper budget - especially since travel expenses cost less. Mexico also a four hour direct plane ride from New York City (JFK) compared to the 20+ hour travel to Bali.
This was also my first time visiting Mexico. As someone who is always traveling, people always get surprised when I tell them that I never visited Miami or Mexico. Sidebar - I still have not visited Miami.
Tulum has been on my list of places that I would like to visit for the longest but I never got around to actually planning the trip.
Traveling to Tulum, Mexico
The closest airport to Tulum, Mexico is Cancun International Airport (CUN). We booked our flights from JFK to CUN on July 21, 2020 - exactly one month before our trip via American Airlines. We paid $280 round trip and our flight was originally direct both ways. However, a week before our flight, American Airlines cancelled the direct flight and added a layover in Charlotte Douglas International Airport in both directions. We didn’t mind because each layover was about an hour. While traveling with American Airlines, I noted that the airline was strictly enforcing their one personal item & one carry on allowance. I traveled with my Prada Crossbody bag (in picture on the right), my Supreme backpack and my Samsonite carry on luggage. Before boarding each flight, the gate attendant required me to consolidate my bags so I threw my Prada bag in my Supreme backpack. Upon boarding the plane, a flight attendant gave each passenger a bag with a sanitizing wipe, a small bottle of water & a snack. When I arrived to my seat, I wiped my seat, seatbelt & everything that I could possibly touch during the flight, down with personal wipes that I carried with me and sprayed everything down with some sanitizing spray. American Airlines also required every passenger to wear their face masks the entire duration of the flight. During each flight, I didn’t use the rest room on the airplane because I always had a “phobia” using restrooms on the plane. I used the restroom in the airport before I boarded each flight.
I would recommend to travel with your sanitizing materials (hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, sanitizing spray & disposable seat covers -if you are that extra).
Before getting off the plane, the American Airline flight attendants provided us with an immigration form for Mexico. We had to complete the upper half of the form before going through immigration upon arrival & we had to keep the bottom half (departure card) of the form to present when departing from Mexico. They noted that if you lost the departure card before your departure, you would have to pay a fine.
Where We Stayed in Tulum, Mexico
I thought it would be best to stay in an Airbnb while visiting Tulum, Mexico to stick to our budget. We stayed in Tulum for a total of three nights and we wanted to stay at a place that would be picture-friendly for us to be able to shoot content. Our Airbnb totaled $380 and we split the cost between everyone (there were three of us) - so we each paid about $128. The Airbnb had great reviews highlighting that the hosts were super nice and helpful with their accommodations during their trip. The Airbnb host assisted us with reserving a personal driver to transport us from Cancun International Airport to the Airbnb in Tulum - which is a two hour drive. They also had bikes available for rental to use within the Tulum area. The Airbnb was very secure which was another requirement that we had when searching for somewhere to stay. The place has 24 hour security on site. There is also a code on the front gate, a gate in front of the personal penthouse which requires a key and a lock on the actual door to enter the apartment.
How We Get Around Tulum, Mexico
When heading home from dinner on the first night, we hailed down a taxi on Avenue Tulum who drove us back to our Airbnb. At the end of the ride he (Armando) gave us his business card and expressed that he wouldn’t mind transporting us around during our time in Tulum. He was so nice to us and started giving us advice and recommendations as soon as we got in his car. We ended up using his services for the remainder of our trip and he also drove us back to Cancun International Airport on Monday morning. Every time we scheduled a ride with him he was very punctual and patient. If you are visiting Tulum, I would highly recommend to book Armando for taxi services. If you would like Armando’s contact information. please email me and I would not mind sharing it!
What We Did In Tulum, Mexico
Dinner at “Antojitos” on Avenue Tulum
On Friday when we arrived, we showered and settled in and walked to Avenue Tulum to find a restaurant to have dinner. Our Airbnb was walking distance (8 minutes) from Avenue Tulum. We searched on Yelp and found Antojitos which had 4.5 stars. When we arrived to the restaurant they took our temperatures before entry and sanitized our table and chairs in front of us - which I appreciated. Their menu was posted on the wall and consisted of tacos, empanadas and drinks. Each taco and empanada was about seventy cents USD. This was my first time visiting Mexico & I always heard that the food was super cheap so I didn’t think anything of the low price of food. I ordered two chicken tacos and two chicken empanadas and a bottle of water. The food came out super quick and wasn’t really aesthetically pleasing. However, sometimes things taste better than they look. I tried the chicken taco and the chicken meat was barely seasoned and super oily. I didn’t finish the remainder of my food because I didn’t want to ruin my stomach on the first night. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend dining at Antojitos - even though they somehow have 4.5 stars on Yelp.
Dinner at Burrito Amour on Avenue Tulum
After leaving Antojitos, we walked to Burrito Amour which was one block away. We were still hungry and wanted to find a restaurant with better menu options. Upon being seated at our table, we were presented with a QR code to scan in order to view the menu. Burrito Amour focuses on clean eating and has menu options that compliment different diets - vegan, pescatarian, vegetarian, etc. They also make their burritos on gluten-free handmade coconut tortillas. This was a huge deal to me because I usually struggle with finding menu options that compliment my complicated diet (dairy-free, no red meat, no seafood). I ordered their Chicken Breast Burrito and a fresh pineapple juice. The burrito came out wrapped in bamboo leaves. This meal ended up being sooooo good - that we ate here three times during our three night stay (lol). I also ended up trying the Vegetarian Burrito - which was also very delicious and their fresh orange juice - which was probably the best fresh juice I’ve had in a while. The restaurant also doesn’t use plastic straws - which I also appreciated and provides agave biodegradable straws. The food was also reasonably priced - about $5 USD for a burrito. Their customer service was also very welcoming and caring. I would highly recommend to eat at Burrito Amour while in Tulum, Mexico!
Casa Malca
On Saturday, after having brunch at Burrito Amour, we ended up going to visit Casa Malca, which is a hotel where Pablo Escobar’s mansion is located. Casa Malca was about a 20 minute drive from Burrito Amour and we used our personal taxi driver, Armando, to transport us around during the remainder of our stay in Tulum. Upon entry, they required us to put on a mask and performed a temperature check. We had to pay upon entry. The price for entry was $91 USD. We were presented with the option to pay with pesos, US dollars or debit/credit card. I paid with my debit card so that I would have enough pesos to last me the remainder of the trip. The cost of entry included a stipend to eat at one of three restaurants and the remainder was for the entry to Casa Malca for the day. Upon entry we went to Pablo Escobar mansion and took some pictures. We didn’t know that Casa Malca was “an all day activity”. They have a beach, pools, and so many other places to take pictures and relax for the day! If you are planning to visit Casa Malca, I would recommend to pack multiple outfits (including a bathing suit or two) - especially if you are interested in getting content while at Casa Malca. I would also recommend to plan to stay there for the full day to get your money’s worth and to arrive at around 11am-noon before the crowd starts to arrive.
We ended up having lunch at Philosophy which is a restaurant that combines traditional Mexican dishes with contemporary interpretations of world cuisines. I ordered the vegan burger which was served with a side of “waffle fries” and a passionfruit lemonade. The burger and lemonade were good but I could’ve done without the fries.
We stayed at Casa Malca for about two hours and had a good time but we wished we prepared to spend more time there.
Tattoos at Latin Ink Tulum
After leaving Casa Malca, we stopped at Latin Ink Tulum to get tattoos. Before traveling to Tulum, Mexico we knew that we wanted to get tattoos while in Tulum but we had no idea we would get them done on Saturday evening. We had initially planned to get them done the day before we left since we wouldn’t be able to get in the pool after getting them done. However, we realized that we wouldn’t have much time to chill in the pool with the packed agenda that we had. The starting price of tattoos at Latin Ink Tattoo was $50 USD and they only accept cash. You can pay by cash with pesos or USD. I ended up getting three small tattoos - a small heart behind my left ear, “faith” on my right wrist and a small cross on my right pointer finger. I found all of my tattoo inspiration on Pinterest and they were able to print it directly from Pinterest to convert to the stencil for my tattoo. I ended up paying $75 USD for all three of my tattoos and was very satisfied with my results. The artist who did my tattoos was Alessandro. I would highly recommend to visit Latin Ink Tattoo Tulum if you want to get tattoos done while in Tulum, Mexico.
Souvenir Shopping on Avenue Tulum
After getting our tattoos done, we went souvenir shopping on Avenue Tulum to get some goodies for ourselves and our friends and family. There are so many shops on Avenue Tulum to purchase almost anything you would like to get! Our taxi driver also told us that shopping for souvenirs on Avenue Tulum is way cheaper than shopping for souvenirs along the beach front (especially if you are staying at a hotel on the beach). I ended up purchasing a bracelet (pictured on the left) from a shop for $5 USD.
While souvenir shopping, you can use your negotiation skills to purchase items at a lower price - especially if you’re purchasing several items from one vendor.
Dinner at El Pescador
We then went to El Pescador for dinner which is the restaurant of our taxi driver. The atmosphere of the restaurant was such a vibe with the lit up bulbs hanging and the bamboo structure of the bar. I ordered the chicken tacos and a pineapple lemonade and chef kiss both were on point. While we were eating at the restaurant, they also gave our table the iPad to control the music that was playing in the restaurant. We ended up sitting around and chilling at the restaurant even after we finished eating. I would definitely recommend to dine at El Pescador while in Tulum!
Hotel Ahau Tulum
On Sunday, we started off our day by visiting Hotel Ahau Tulum to take a photo at this site (photo on left). Our personal driver, Armando, suggested that we take a photo here since it is considered a popular photo location in Tulum. When we arrived there was a line of people waiting to take photos at this site. We had to wait in line for about 15 minutes until it was our turn to take photos. We took these photos on our iPhones using the .5x feature in order to capture the whole scenery without requiring the photographer to stand in the middle of traffic.
If you are planning to visit this site to take photos, I would recommend to arrive to the site as early as possible so you can avoid having to wait in line or the possibility of a crowd to be in the background of your photos.
Taboo Restaurant
After stopping at Hotel Ahau to take pictures, we went to Taboo Restaurant. The two locations were about a five minute drive apart. “Taboo” has a beach club and a restaurant. The beach club closes at 5pm and the restaurant closes at 11pm. Upon entry, they performed a temperature check at the host desk and we were immediately seated at our table. The music and vibes at Taboo restaurant were amazing! Our host came by and gave us physical menus - which was the first time a restaurant gave us physical menus. I ended up ordering chicken with roasted potato. This wasn’t on the menu but I already had an idea in mind of what I wanted to eat. The menu mainly had choices with seafood or dairy - which are two things that I don’t eat. The food ended up being so good! It was also the second most expensive meal while in Tulum (we each paid about $50-55 USD),
At Taboo restaurant the manager was out and about mingling with guests which I liked to see. You could tell he genuinely cared that guests were enjoying themselves. The hosts also had great customer service. They were all willing to help even if it wasn’t helping their assigned tables.
Taboo restaurant also gave me day party vibes. Almost everyone was lit, ordering bottles, dancing and having a great time. I would definitely recommend to dine at Taboo restaurant while in Tulum, Mexico.
Hotelito Azul
After having a late lunch at Taboo Restaurant, we went to watch the sunset at Hotelito Azul. Our taxi driver, Armando recommended it for one of the best sunsets in Tulum.
To get into the roodtop for Hotelito Azul, they required us to pay a cover fee of $35 USD but our taxi driver negotiated for us to have to buy at least one drink while on the rooftop.
On the rooftop, there is a bar, a small pool and tables to dine. They offer food, drinks and hookah.
The sunset view from Hotelito Azul was really amazing and great to watch - especially since the location wasn’t packed with people.
While visiting the hotel for sunset, I realized how amazing the hotel was and added it to my list of places I would stay the next time I visit Tulum.
BAK by Harry’s
For our last dinner in Tulum, Mexico we decided to dine at BAK by Harry’s per Armando’s recommendation. Before arriving, we made a reservation by calling the restaurant. Upon arrival, they performed a temperature check and let us scan the menu via QR code to review while we waited for our table at the bar.
BAK is definitely a more “dress up attire” restaurant. Therefore, if you are planning to dine for dinner, I would definitely recommend a dress and heels - I switched into my heels just for my photos though (lol).
I ordered their Beyond Burger with fries and a strawberry lemonade and it was honestly my best meal that I had while in Tulum, Mexico!
BAK is also a great recommendation if you are in Tulum for your birthday because they come out to sing you happy birthday and bring out a cute desert.
This was our most expensive meal while in Tulum, Mexico. We each ended up paying about $60 for dinner which I thought was appropriate due to the great customer service, atmosphere and amazing food.
Overall, I would definitely recommend dining at BAK for dinner while in Tulum!
Additional Recommendations
Since we were in Tulum, Mexico for only a weekend, we did not get to do everything that I had on my list. However, I still wanted to share additional places in Tulum that I found were cute based on my personal research. Since I didn’t get to visit these places, I can’t provide any thoughts or reviews, but these are the reasons they made it to my list:
Taboo Beach Club - A great day time activity and opportunity to chill on the beach while drinking, eating and having hookah.
Coco Tulum - There’s a restaurant and beach club to enjoy. The beach club has swinging chairs and is located on the beach front. Also a great place to go to for breakfast.
Azulik - If not staying as a guest, it is a great lunch spot. The hotel has a restaurant, Kin Toh which provides an experience of eating in a tree house with a great view. Also great for Instagram photos!
Matcha Mama - Great place to grab matcha, smoothies, kombucha, açai, and more. All of their menu options are plant based.
Cenotes - A mix of caves, caverns, and cool water swimming experiences.
Tulum Ruins - A historic site of the Mayan city on the coast, Tulum. It’s popular because of the elegant setting on sheer limestone cliffs sitting above turquoise waters.
Papaya Playa Project - Enjoy a day at their restaurant and beach club. It’s recommended to make a reservation before visiting.
Coba Mayan Ruins - Located by four natural lakes with multiple day activities.
Amansala - Great for a wellness experience with focus on the mind, body and soul. They offer yoga, massages, and healthy eating experiences.
I hope this helped if you are planning a trip to Tulum or looking to plan a trip somewhere - especially during the pandemic. Be sure to comment on this post with any thoughts or additional recommendations you may have! Also be sure to check out my complimentary Youtube video (linked below) for more details - including vlog clips of my trip to Tulum, Mexico!