Tulum — Mexico
Azure water, white sands, octopus tacos, mayan ruins and fresh water cenotes. Tulum calls. If not now. When?
On the road to the beach the locals have placed some road signs reading “If not now when?”. I managed to snap this shot with a backpacker cycling past and only upon reviewing the photos did I notice all the flags on his backpack.
The message is about travel, freedom and adventure.
Compare that composition with a photo I took an earlier day when the police were pulling over cars and the message is totally different. The second photo wouldn’t look out of place in an anti-speeding ad campaign. 😂
The thing to do in Tulum is beach it up. Just a short bicycle ride from town you will find a paradise with some of the best sand and water you will ever see.
Another 5 minute cycle up the road is an ancient Mayan ruin which sits perched over a cliff, offering spectacular views of the ocean and beaches below.
The town is small and peaceful but buzzing with people eating at Taco stands or going about their daily business. Even the police seem really chill.
Being lovers of Mexican cuisine 🌮🌯 we decided to do a local cooking class. Lily from Rivera’s Kitchen Tulum showed us how to make Tacos from scratch as well as the secrets to cooking with different types of dried chillies. We made a delicious mushroom soup, salsa verde and learnt how to make the perfect Mexican rice (the secret is 🐷 fat). Finally a Mexican cooking class wouldn’t be complete without a taste of Mezcal.
The Yucatan region is famous for its fresh water caves called Cenotes. We decided to go see what all the fuss was about at the Dos Ojos (Two Eyes) Cenote just out side of town. If you have a PADI certificate you can dive, otherwise there is a snorkel tour which we did that was amazing. You can see thousands of fish swimming around while pointing your flashlight at the eerie dark corners of the deep.
Extras
Eating in Tulum was really affordable, the local supermarkets are packed with fresh ingredients. We lived off Guacamole and Salsa. If you are in Tulum you have to go to El Camillo (The Camel), its a bit past the main street but you’ll find unbelievable cheap food that both tourists and locals eat. Its so popular you usually have to wait at least 10 minutes for a seat. Try the Octopus Tacos for about 90 MXN — under 4 EUR.
Next Up
Havana — Cuba
Travel through time to a strange mix of 1950’s American cars and post apocalyptic Cold War ruins. Drink mojitos and experience a different perspective on the latin revolutionaries.
