I hesitated for a long time about the type of honeymoon I wanted. For the longest time, I thought I wanted to do an amazing trip— a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip. The first thing that came to mind was Africa. Doing a safari would have been a blast. Unfortunately, we ended up not choosing it. Having family traveling all the way from Australia meant needed to spend some time with them after the wedding. So we knew we wouldn’t have a long honeymoon as I would have loved. We could have done it later, but let’s be honest— there is something special about going on a honeymoon right after the wedding. One thing I was sure of, is that I did not want to have a honeymoon in Europe. And then it clicked… MEXICO.
We knew we wanted something that balanced relaxation and adventure. Tulum, Mexico, ended up being the perfect destination. We stayed the entire nine days at the stunning boutique hotel TAGO Tulum. The staff was incredibly welcoming and made sure we felt comfortable throughout our stay. They also helped organize our activities and ensured we had bikes available to travel around. We’ve never been treated so well anywhere else. I guess we were lucky, too—we came during the low season. While the weekends were busier, the weekdays were pretty calm. The staff had time to chat with us and spend time making our experience extra special, which we truly appreciated. We’ll forever cherish the signature cocktail the bartender created just for us.
Tulum is not very big but has done an excellent job of attracting tourists with its laid-back, festival-like vibe. From what the employees at the hotel have told us, most people visiting Tulum rarely stay longer than 3-4 days. We hoped to be able to do some day trips to explore the highlights of the Yucatan area. Which for your information is the area where the Mayans are from—a region rich in Mayan history and culture. We filled our days with a mix of activities that gave us a true taste of the local culture, history, and natural beauty.
Here is what we did:
- Mayan Ruins:
We started by visiting the Tulum ruins, which were close to the city. From the city, we took a colectivo (shared van) that brought us right to the entrance of the archaeological site. The site was beautiful and, in my opinion, very well preserved. The ruins are on a hill with a stunning view of the Caribbean Sea. The view definitely reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean. We were lucky to visit the site in between two rainfalls, which worked out perfectly.
The second archaeological site we visited was a dream come true: Chichén Itzá! As this site is a couple of hours away from Tulum, we organized a driver and a guide. Best decision ever—and it turned out to be perfect timing, too. The area was under a Level 1 hurricane alert. Apparently, lots of tourists had canceled their guides because of it. Tom and I weren’t too worried. We had had worse in El Salvador and we trusted the locals when they said it would mainly be rain. We took our chances. The driver (Edgar) and the guide (David), were incredible. they taught us so much about the Mayan culture, history and food. Which made arriving at the ruins even more special. We spent a couple of hours on-site walking around and listening to all the fascinating stories about the area. The best part? We got to explore Chichén Itzá with minimal crowds, allowing us to truly take our time. I didn’t want to leave. - Cenotes:
After visiting Chichén Itzá, we explored Cenote Saamal and Cenote Suytun. These are natural sinkholes and incredibly Instagrammable, too. To be honest, we were worried that we might be disappointed or surrounded by crowds of people trying to capture the perfect picture. But que néni! We had both cenotes entirely to ourselves. At that moment, I felt very grateful for the hurricane alert. We swam in those breathtaking cenotes without a care in the world. Even our guide was surprised and told us how lucky we were. Side note: There are plenty of cenotes near Tulum as well, but these two were closer to Chichén Itzá. - Snorkeling at Playa Las Palmas:
The goal was to see turtles swimming in their natural habitat. We booked a catamaran tour that would take us farther into the Caribbean Sea, hoping to spot some turtles. Unfortunately, due to the hurricane, it took a couple of days before we were able to go on the catamaran. Once we finally got the green light, we were unlucky—no turtles when we went. Apparently, they had been there earlier in the morning. That said, we didn’t complain. We got to snorkel in crystal-clear water and beautiful marine life. Did you know that Tulum has the second-largest reef in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia? Yeah, me neither. The only hiccup was when I accidentally stumbled upon an eel sleeping among the rocks near the corals. That gave me a minor panic attack and the fun was over for me after that. - Massages on the Beach:
Along the beach, you could find plenty of little massage huts. Although we didn’t enjoy the stomach massage part, we still enjoyed the experience— especially being on the beach with the soothing sound of the waves. I would absolutely recommend trying one; they are also much cheaper compared to the ones in Amsterdam. - Lina’s Kitchen (Cooking Class):
One of our favorite experiences! We learned how to make authentic Mexican dishes with local ingredients and techniques. The food was delicious, and the class was so much fun. Once again, we ended up being the only ones who had signed up for the class. So we got to spend a lot of quality time with the local and that was priceless. We truly got to learn from her and see her culture and history through her eyes. Also the food was soooooo good! - Ven a la Luz sculpture:
This iconic sculpture is probably the most famous attraction in Tulum. From what we were told, it used to be on the side of the road, but the tourists made it a challenge for traffic and safety. Eventually, it was moved to the back of a hotel, and now you have to pay to see it. It was nice, but honestly, it’s not worth waiting in line just for a couple of pictures. They do have other sculptures around, but none were big or impressive enough for me to recommend. I’m glad we saved it for the last day..
Lets talk food!
We all probably know Mexican food. If we’re lucky, we get the chance to eat authentic dishes that go beyond Tex-Mex. I have to admit, I looked forward to the food every single day of our stay, and even now, it’s what I miss the most. And let me tell you—eating Mexican food in Mexico is a completely different experience. I didn’t have a single meal that wasn’t absolutely delicious!
From huevos rancheros to quesadillas, guacamole, mole, enchiladas, and tacos—everything was incredible. The food was full with flavor and offered so many different textures. I was mesmerized. Honestly, I have no other words for it. With David and Edgar, we also enjoyed a little tequila and mezcal tasting. We had so much fun trying all the different varieties! Let’s just say our credit card still remembers the splurge we made—but it was absolutely worth it! Mezcal became my new go to drink.
We wished we could have tried even more dishes, but the low season didn’t help. Many restaurants were either closed or closed early. Despite that, we always managed to find amazing food. I even kept a list of the places we went:
Breakfast:
- Fresco’s
- TAGO tulum
- Ziggy’s
- Holy Deer
- Olivia’s organic market
Lunch/Dinner:
- Pinches Tacos
- Taqueria Honorio
- Pacna Beach club
- Agave Restaurant
- Taco Papi
- TAGO tulum
- Sole cantina
- Selva Maya
When we weren’t exploring, eating, or waiting for the rain to pass, we spent our free time relaxing at the beach. Sipping cocktails, playing cards, swimming and reading books was the ultimate relaxation we needed. Trying to save baby turtles was also part of our activities. We did not manage to save baby Carlos but we definitely helped his sister Maria. She joined the water safe and sound.
Despite the weather hiccups, our honeymoon in Tulum was everything we could have dreamed of. It truly felt meant to be. If you’re considering Tulum for your honeymoon—or any getaway—I’d say go for it. Don’t let the rainy season stop you!
I never expected to connect so much with the Mexican culture. I can’t wait to go back and explore other regions. If you have any recommendations, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
With Love,
Brenda
Life with Brenda 