Tulum is the capital of eco-chic relaxation in the Riviera Maya. I must confess that I am not one to sit on the beach all day. I need movement throughout the day, especially in a place with such gorgeous nature. During our stay, we swam in a cenote (water filled sinkholes), kayaked along the coast, snorkeled with sea turtles, and explored Mayan ruins. I already shared about our eco-chic hotel stay, now I would like to share how you can make the best out of a short holiday to Tulum.


Tulum Ruins

 Tulum Ruins: There are many Mayan Ruins along the Yucatan peninsula. Given that the Mayans are a big part of the cultural history of the Americas, we wanted to do cultural exploration.  Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited by the Mayans and you can get a snapshot of the settlement by touring the ruins. We got there at 8 in the morning (it can get very crowded there) and paid 38 Pesos each (little less than $3). You also have the option to pay for a guide but we took the time to tour the ruins on our own. Tip: make sure to bring lots of mosquito repellent!  The views from from the ruins are just spectacular and you can also bring your bathing suit to swim on the beach.  We heard it can be quite busy in the afternoon, so we're glad we went early.

Snorkeling at Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Dos Ojos: This place was on our agenda before the trip thanks to the recommendation of friend and fellow blogger Mariella from Splendor Styling. We're thankful again for renting a car for our trip because we were able to see plenty without paying extra for tour guides or taxis. We also brought our own snorkeling equipment so we only had to pay the $150 pesos (11 USD) for the entrance. We got to explore on our own cenote dos ojos and the beauty of this unique natural phenomenon. Although there were not that many fish to see while snorkeling, it was great to delve into the underwater cave system and swim in fresh water. Tip: don't forget to bring your underwater camera. We have a basic Fuji underwater camera but this trip made me put a GoPro on my Christmas list!

Turtle at Akumal Beach

Akumal: At the recommendation of the staff at Hotel Amoreira, we took a 25-minute drive to Akumal beach where you can go snorkeling and see large sea turtles.  We first had lunch at the Turtle Bay Cafe, which was a really quaint and delicious place to have fish tacos and a beer. Then we headed to the beach where we went looking for turtles. Akumal beach is quite shallow so we had to swim out quite a bit to discover these lovely creatures. Got to see quite a few when we were snorkeling along with several schools of fish and even a stingray. We loved the quaint family vibe of Akumal. It was a fun afternoon and just a short ride from Tulum.

View from the Kayak at Tulum

Kayaking: The hotel provided kayaks and we decided to go paddling along the coast of Tulum. It was fun to see the beach from that vantage point. During our four day stay, the ocean had periods of calmness and others of fury. We took advantage of a calm day to do this. We loved how crystal clear the water was and the lovely Mayan style hotels along the coast. It's a great way to get your workout in while on holiday!

Easy to explore the hidden beaches of Tulum by bike

Bike: It you stay in Carretera Tulum (main hotel road) during your whole stay, you are looking to overspend on food and shopping.  Although there are some lovely places along the road, some disguise themselves as "boho-chic". A way to discover the town is by bike. There are some great restaurants in downtown Tulum that are much cheaper than on the hotel road. We had a great pizza at Sale e Pepe and taking a bike ride is the best way to to work those calories off! Our hotel had bikes but there are several shops in Carretera Tulum that rent bikes as well.


Our experience in Tulum was everything we expected and more. I love nature and having the opportunity to be so close to the earth was not only spectacular but very grounding as well after the intense days in Cancun. The main tips I recommend to make you trip to Tulum an amazing one is to: a. rent a car (very cheap from Cancun, avg $75 a week) b. explore beyond your hotel, Tulum is a really safe area c. talk to the locals and ask for restaurant recommendations. Have you been to Tulum? What is your favorite experience?

After the great yet busy three days at TBEX Travel Blogger Conference, we headed to Tulum for a few days of relaxation. We had our rental car from Cancun and we drove 90 minutes to this little slice of paradise in the Riviera Maya.  I spent some time looking at hotels to see which one would be the best fit for our schedule and budget.  I was looking through Booking and found a little 8 room hotel called Hotel Amoreira. On the site, it looked cute and charming and with great reviews. When it was time to book it, I was surprised I had a $50 credit from a promotion that Booking had called Booking Genius. Lucky me! 

Room with a view

 We arrived to the hotel late at night from our day trip at Isla Mujeres.  We arrived into our cabana room which was rustic and simple with beautiful hand paintings at the wall. Every little detail of the hotel is ecologically minded: limited electricity, water, and no AC.  If you are the resort type of person, this is not the place for you.  We fell asleep with the sound of the ocean and we woke up to a gorgeous view of the ocean.

Room at Hotel Amoreira Photo courtesy of the Hotel

The hotel does not have a restaurant but it serves a breakfast with fresh fruit, cereals, and homemade cakes and breads.  It also has a kitchen open for the guests to make their own meals as well.  The staff also is very warm and welcoming. It makes you feel as if you're staying at the summer home of a very cool relative.  The manager, Anika, shared a great story how on a rainy night, a guest made a huge pasta dinner and shared with the staff.  Anika, a native of Hungary says that "I love the quality of the people that run into the hotel, this is a place to unplug".  It is completely true but the hotel does have a good wi-fi connection if you truly need to connect back home or in my case share some lovely pictures on Instagram.

Beach at Hotel Amoreira

Here are a few tips for your stay at the hotel:  Take advantage of the free parking:  the drive from Cancun to Tulum is very safe and the roads are in superb condition. A car rental from Hertz for a week cost us $75.  Also, the road on the hotel has some lovely restaurants and shops but you will find better food and shopping deals in Avenue Coba Sur such as the lovely lunch at Restaurate el Azadero with amazing BBQ made in house (at the recommendation of the receptionist). Go on a road trip to all the lovely cenotes (water caves) along the route 307 between Tulum and Cancun. Hotel Amoreira also offers some kayaks, so we took the opportunity to go on a nice kayak ride along the beach, it was spectacular to take in the view of the beach from that angle. 

Taking a ride with the hotel's kayaks

This is not the Four Seasons but a lovely place to relax and return to nature.  It has a comfortable bed and a lovely view that will make you realize that nature is one of the biggest luxuries in life. Given the efforts you see the hotel makes to be ecologically sound, it also makes you more aware to conserve at home. After four days, we felt completely rested and ready to tackle our routine back home. 

The path to the beach at Hotel Amoreira

Hotel Amoreira Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila Seccion 3, Km 8, 5, 77780 Tulum, Mexico Rooms from $90

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Recently, we headed to Cancun for the TBEX Travel Blogger Conference. As exotic as it sounds, we spent most of the time working in this tropical paradise as we participated in the conference. My passion for traveling internationally began when traveling for work. Sometimes it's sad to go to a lovely destination and not have the time to explore. Although the conference was at the Moon Palace Resort, we chose to stay at the Westin Cancun Hotel & Spa. We're not crazy about the all-inclusive concept and the Westin Cancun worked better with our budget. 

Pool at the Westin Cancun Resort and Spa

 I called the Westin before my arrival and asked about driving in Cancún and they informed me it was safe to do so. I also looked at forums on Trip Advisor which reassured me as well. It was one of best decisions made on the trip. I rented via Hertz and got an economical rate of $75 weekly rental. Cheapest car rental ever! (Note: my USAA credit card covers the insurance when I book with the card) Also, we were impressed that both the Westin and Moon Palace did not charge for parking. Furthermore, the conditions of the main roads in Cancún are superb,  much better than Washington, DC.

Breakfast at the Westin Cancun Resort and Spa

At first, we were concerned about not being able to connect with other conference members by staying at a different hotel. However, it just so happened there were a few other attendees staying at the Westin Cancun. We also enjoyed that staying at a different hotel allowed us to experiment a different side of Cancun. The hotel is located at the end of the Zona Hotelera of Cancun, secluded from the rows of mega resorts yet in reach of the main attractions. I love that the hotel, although a Westin, had a boutique hotel feel to it. We enjoyed chatting with our waiters during breakfast and the happy hour by the pool. (Tip: ask to stay in the South Tower, it has a more intimate feel). Business travel tip: when possible take an extra day to explore. We had a lovely cultural experience at Xcaret Park as the welcome party of the conference. The day after the conference, we took a day trip to Isla Mujeres, where we swam with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery followed by the afternoon at Garrafon park where our experiences ranged from zip lining over the Caribbean to a traditional Mayan temazcal (sweat lodge) with a shaman.

Indulging at Tacos Rigo

We enjoyed having a day trip that involved fun and culture at the same time. Business travel tip: If a day of leave is not possible, have a traditional food experience. Thanks to a recommendation from TW Anderson from the travel blog Marginal Boundaries (and speaker at TBEX), we took a 25 minute drive to Cancun city center to explore Tacos Rigo, a local institution. We sampled a variety of tacos of pork, chicken, and beef washing them down with Micheladas and local beer. The menu also offered a more exotic menu of beef eyes and tongue, but we stuck to the basics. The food was delicious and there were no tourists in sight. Although we had little time to see Cancún, we are happy that we had the chance to explore cultural details and enjoy the local food and a enjoy the beautiful beaches if even for a day. One of the things I took back with me was the warmth of the people in Cancún. From the manager to Xcaret to the parking attendant at Moon Palace, we got superb service. Hoping to return soon, but for pleasure!

Morning view from Cancun

After an intense two days at TBEX Cancun, we headed to Isla Mujeres for a tour of Dolphin Discovery and Garrafon Park. Isla Mujeres is a beautiful small island off the coast of Cancun. The day was gorgeous and we embarked on a boat on our way to the island.  It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and the boat was packed with locals as they take advantage of the low season to discover the Riviera Maya sans tourists.  

My new friends at Dolphin Discovery

As we disembarked the boat, we were welcomed by the dolphins swimming near the shore of Isla Mujeres.  I was hesitant about the tour when we were invited by Dolphin Discovery to join, especially after the discussion at TBEX Travel Blogger Conference. However, I think the best way to judge something is to see it for ourselves.  We were able to see that the dolphins were in large areas in their natural habitat.  We also had an opportunity to talk to the manager and trainer which shared with us that the dolphins are in a schedule which allows them "time off" between their human interactions.  

Dutchman Making New Friends

Before meeting the dolphins up close and personal, we had a 15 minute orientation on the program and the do's and don'ts of the demonstration. Once done with orientation, we hopped on the platform to meet our new friends, Merlin and Ramses.  The trainer quickly went through the basics again had had us greet the dolphins. We had the opportunity to rub their bellies, swim with them, and have them swim us to the platform.  The dolphin swim experience was 45 minutes. We enjoyed the experience and we got to learn a little bit about dolphins (such as they eat 10 kilos of fish a day!).


Living the Life!

After the tour, we were had the opportunity to see your pictures with the dolphins.  As my picture with the Koala in Australia, I think it's a fun memento to have from the experience.  The only downfall was how expensive it was ($40). After sticker shock, we went to have drinks and wait for a taxi to takes us to Garrafon Park, a five minute ride from Dolphin Discovery.  The park has a variety of things to do: swim, zip line, pool, all you cat eat buffet, snorkeling, bike rides, and even a temazcal (Mayan sweat lodge).

Windy Day at Garrafon

Unfortunately, the waters were too rough for snorkeling so we did the zip line, which had a beautiful view of the island and the ocean.  We also just sat by the ocean and had some margaritas and ended our day with the temazcal experience.  We did not know what to expect from the temazcal, given that I am also slightly claustrophobic.  The shaman put us at ease in the temazcal and explained to us the purpose of the lodge and the spiritual connection to nature of the Mayan culture.  I usually get really claustrophobic in a sauna, but I really felt at ease during the experience. After 30 minutes in the lodge, we left dripping in sweat but we both agreed that we felt cleansed and re-energized.

Dutchman ziplining over the Caribbean

Tired and suntanned we boarded the boat back to Cancun.  We truly enjoyed the day trip to Isla Mujeres. We felt that we did so much in one day: swim with dolphins, margaritas on the beach, zip line over the Caribbean, and even have a spiritual experience in just one day.  Thanks to Dolphin Discovery for such an amazing experience! * Disclaimer:  This experience was sponsored by Dolphin Discovery. Views are completely my own.