LUX Travel: Take On Tulum!
Take us away to Tulum! Carved out of jungle less than 50 years ago, Tulum has become a fashionable yet low-key escape // where the jungle meets the sea! With a boho vibe that has evolved over the past decade and coco locos desiring your sip, stylish builders have teamed up with native craftsmen to build a cluster of chic yet authentic Mexican hotels!
So while you indulge on chips and fresh guac, adventurous chefs are ready for you to wine and dine on the exotic fire of habaneros infused with global cuisine including Italian, Asian and Middle Eastern accents. We are so IN!
Image via expedia.com
SPECIAL GEM: In Tulum, luxury and earthiness coexist, where wind chimes dance, spa music reigns and relaxation kisses the art of spirituality. More specifically, we are talking about a place known for on-site shamans, and the swankest hotel in town. Behold: Be Tulum // where the Argentinean-style rooms have limestone walls, freestanding tubs and air-conditioning. Everything about this place is oh-so-dreamy!
HOW TO GET THERE: Making your great escape to Tulum takes some investigating because it can be a wee bit tricky and we like that kind of game. Most major airlines, including Jet Blue, American and Virgin America, fly direct to Cancún, Mexico. But you will be skipping those mainstream beaches and heading onto a 75-mile drive south after renting a car. Once you arrive, your adventure to Tulum continues... the best way to navigate is exploration by bike!
YOUR STAY:
Hotels // Dream away and stay...
Ahau Tulum Km 7, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; ahautulum.com.
Amansala Km 5.5, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; amansalaresort.com.
Ana y José Km 7, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; anayjose.com.
Be Tulum Km 10, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; betulum.com.
Coqui Coqui Tulum Residence & Spa Km 7.5, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; coquicoquispa.com.
Encantada Km 8.7, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; encantadatulum.com.
Mezzanine Km 1.5, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; mezzaninetulum.com.
Papaya Playa Project Km 4.5, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; papayaplayaproject.com.
Food // Get down on grub at...
Casa Jaguar Km 7.5, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; casajaguartulum.com.
El Tábano Km 5, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; 52-1984/134-8725.
Hartwood Restaurant Km 7.6, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; hartwoodtulum.com.
Hechizo Km 10, Crta. Tulum-Punta Allen; hechizotulum.com.
Hemingway Km 5.5, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; hemingwaytulum.com.
Las Estrellas Km 8, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; cabanaslaluna.com.
Los Aguachiles Avda. Tulum at Avda. Palenque; losaguachiles.mx.
Mateo’s Mexican Grill Km 5.2, Crta. Tulum-Boca Paila; mateosmexicangrill.us.
Cave Diving // To the center of the earth...
Cenotes are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, which has revealed a secret subterranean world of groundwater pools. Most cave cenotes have fresh water that has been meticulously filtered by the earth, making them so clear and pure that you can see straight through to small fish frolicking in the plant life below. Open-air cenotes also have clear water, and often are home to vitamin- and mineral-rich algae that nourish and protect your skin.
The Mayans revered cenotes because they were a water source in dry times; the name cenote means 'sacred well'. Mayans settled villages around these spiritual wells and believed that they were a portal to speak with the gods. Today you can still see why cenotes held the Mayans in awe. Swimming in the pristine waters feels like stepping into prehistory, where giant tropical trees and vines form wild cathedral walls leading up to shafts of sunlight.
