Most people who come into Tulum do so on a tour bus, stopping only at the ruins for a few hours and then heading back to one of the bigger resort areas like Cancun or Playa del Carmen. For those who choose to stay in Tulum a few days, however, there’s plenty to do and a much more relaxed vibe than the bigger cities. In fact, during our two-week stay in Mexico, Tulum was the hands-down favorite. With the awe-inspiring ruins, picture perfect white sandy beaches, an abundance of delectable seafood, chilled out bars serving up tropical cocktails, and one of the best cenotes the Yucatan has to offer just a few minutes away, Tulum truly is a little slice of paradise on Earth.

Lovely Tulum beach.

After a big day of exploring the ruins, we got up nice and early and were greeted again by smiling faces and a tasty, hot breakfast at Mama’s Home. Bellies full of eggs, beans, and toast, with plenty of energy from a few cups of coffee, we headed out on bicycles again. Staying in the town instead of the hotel zone was much cheaper, and with quality bikes available for rent, we found ourselves cruising alongside the Caribbean in just about half an hour. All of Tulum is very accessible by bike, giving travelers a good opportunity to sneak in some exercise to counteract all of the eating, drinking, and laying around that is inevitable. A light rain cooled us off as we peddled along Tulum’s stunning beaches, searching for the perfect place to set up shop for the afternoon.

We eventually found a place to park our bikes and lay out in the sand. Even on a cloudy day, the beaches of Tulum are beautiful. For the next few hours, we alternated between swimming in the cool, crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, and laying out on our towels, catching the occasional ray of sun. When the rain clouds started to loom overhead again, we headed out in search of a good beach-side place to have lunch.

Laid back atmosphere at the Sandbar.

Coco-jito - the perfect vacation drink.

A few minutes up the road, we stopped at Sandbar, a welcoming bar/restaurant right on the beach. With the sun finally coming through the clouds, we opted for a table outside. We were treated to a lovely view of the sea, as well as refreshing cocktails such as their special Coco-jito – a Mojito with fresh coconut milk. As far as the grub goes, they did not disappoint. A BBQ pulled pork salad topped with avocado and some incredible fish tacos really hit the spot.

Best. Fish tacos. Ever.

The view of the sea, across the street.

It being late January, and us being Americans, we left the restaurant in search of a place to watch the NFL Playoffs. Not more than 10 minutes up the road, we noticed a big group of people gathered around a TV cheering – bingo! The remainder of the afternoon was spent hiding from the hot sun, enjoying cold beers and football. We even managed to make a few new friends who were also heading to the Mayan Holidaze music festival a few days later. Later that night, we all got dinner together in town, and enjoyed a few more drinks on the rooftop of their hotel. With music, conversation, and beer flowing, it turned into a long night.

The Gran Cenote outside of Tulum.

A great place to hide from the sun.

The next day, before heading out of Tulum, we got in a taxi and headed out to the Gran Cenote. In this underground swimming hole, we relaxed and did a little bit of snorkeling as well. These “sacred wells” of Mexico were important for the Mayas not only because they provided access to fresh water, but also because they represented the entrance to the underworld. We spent a few hours lounging in the shade and floating around with our snorkel masks, admiring the stalagmites, stalactites, and the occasional turtle.

Incredible shrimp lunch.

On our way back into town, our friendly driver did his best to chat with us. Despite our language barrier, we managed to have a decent conversation, and he actually recommended a nice restaurant on the edge of town for us to have lunch. The place, called El Camello Jr. was packed full of locals, which is always a good sign. We ordered up some chips and guacamole and a few cold cervesas to start with, and we sampled some of their fiery green hot sauce. After I accidentally chowed down an entire hot pepper, my face began to vibrate and my eyes began to water. Thank God for cold beer. We then moved on to some mouth-watering BBQ shrimp and the most delicious filet of fish I’ve ever had. Accompanied by the standard rice and beans, this was the best meal we had during our entire trip.

Just like that, it was time to head out to the bus station. Heading for Playa del Carmen, our suitcasing adventure rolled right along.