Today I’m excited to share part two of our recent road trip around the Yucatán Peninsula. If you missed part one, read it here.
Day 4:
We woke up early, packed up our stuff, and made the three-hour drive to Tulum. I wasn’t sure if I’d like Tulum after some people said it isn’t as magical as it used to be; however, I loved it and wished we could have stayed longer. We headed straight to Antojitos La Chiapaneca for some tacos as soon as we arrived. They are known for their al pastor tacos which are a must-try especially given the price; it’s one of the best budget-friendly restaurants in Tulum.
After lunch, we went to Gran Cenote. We swam in caves with bats, and there were abundant fish and turtles. I’m glad we went to two cenotes because they’re magical in different ways.
Since we were already wet, we went and checked out the beach. We didn’t plan on staying long because we needed to freshen up for dinner back at the Airbnb, so we opted for free access rather than a beach club. Unfortunately, when we went (May 2021), the sargassum issue was pretty bad, so we just walked along the beach and did not go into the water.
For dinner, I originally planned to go to Kin Toh for drinks beforehand at the iconic Azulik resort. I read some negative reviews about the food, and people recommended going for drinks instead. We ultimately chose to skip it because we didn’t know what the wait would be, and I have no regrets because I had one of the best meals ever at Posada Margherita. The ambiance, the drinks, the food, the view — it was all phenomenal. Highly recommend the pasta with shrimp and zucchini.
Day 5:
The following morning we went to DelCielo for breakfast. Afterward, we strolled around the area, grabbed a strawberry smoothie, and browsed some of the shops.
From there, we drove to Playa del Carmen, and that’s when our day started to take a turn for the worse. We parked along the street and went to pay the meter down the road, and when we returned minutes later, two men were writing a ticket and preparing to boot our car. There was a language barrier, but we used a translation app to communicate. Brett explained that we just parked and went to pay, but they said we were supposed to tell an attendant first. To put things into perspective, they wanted 1200 pesos ($60), but parking only cost 10 pesos (50 cents) per hour. Ultimately, I negotiated it down to 500 pesos ($25). The entire situation left me frustrated and irritated, so we scrapped the rest of our plans in Playa del Carmen. I’m aware that I’m harshly judging a city after one interaction, but it was my least favorite destination during our trip.
Originally we were going to drive to Cancún after dinner, but we ended up having dinner in Cancún since we cut our time in Playa del Carmen short. We splurged and went to Harry’s for oysters and steak. The service was impeccable, and we joked that we felt like royalty. Also, the view of the lagoon was spectacular.
Day 6:
Before checking into our resort, we ferried to Isla Mujeres for our last day. It’s a small island, only 4 miles long, but a must-visit in my book. We rented a golf cart which was so much fun and, in my opinion, the best way to get around. When planning our trip, I read great reviews about Playa Norte, which certainly lived up to its reputation — the water was crystal clear, and there was no sargassum. We also drove to the opposite side of the island to visit Punta Sur.
Have you ever been to Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Isla Mujeres? I would love to hear about your experience, and if you have any additional recommendations or tips, please share them in the comments! xo
The views look incredible. Sounds like a great trip.
I have not been on a trip of any kind for about 5 years now – it was lovely to view a part of the world I have not been to yet and to dream about one day maybe …
This looks like a beautiful place! I have never been there.
Other than the parking issue it sounds like a great trip! Though I would not want anything to do with swimming in caves with bats. They really give me the creeps.
Bummer about the car situation, but that’s great you were able to get the cost down somewhat. Very frustrating for sure!
Sounds like a wonderful trip overall though. Swimming the caves seems like it would have been fun.
I love that you guys traveled a bit before checking into the resort!! So glad Tulum lived up to what you hoped for – it looked gorgeous! All of it!
Oh that was such a misfortune but it did happen to me as well in Mexico City. It was definitely a scam but luckily they are good people too. Seems you had a great time overall though. We have been to Cancun and Playa del Carmen and can’t wait to explore Tulum
I am jealous. I would like to have time and money to do this type of trip. Looks amazing.
This looks like such an amazing road trip. I love your daily breakdowns and the photos are amazing. That last one in particular. Thank you. Would love to visit!
I only passed through Tulum for the afternoon while on a cruise. It was lovely and the water was such an amazing blue. Thanks for the ideas.
Isla Mujeres looks stunning! I never made it there, but still on the bucket list!:)
I loved reading about your adventure! Aside from the parking situation (we had a similar issue in Vietnam with a taxi driver), sounds like it was an amazing trip. And…hope you enjoyed your resort stay at the end. Smart move I’d say to end the trip in a relaxing way!
Thanks for the recommendations! If I ever visit then I will look at these posts…they are so helpful!
Wow! I really love the Gran Cenote view. Thanks for sharing this Kelly ❤
All of your food photos and descriptions look so good! I would have been frustrated with the situation at Playa del Carmen too. Those sorts of interactions are definitely difficult for me, especially when you feel like you’re just trying to do your best but people have no sympathy at all.
This truly sounds like an incredible trip! I went to Playa del Carmen once on a cruise, and also had a bad experience. Our diving excursion got canceled, and we ended up at a cheesy beach party instead. But everything else about your trip sounds amazing!
This looks like a fabulous vacation: except, of course, for the parking mishap!
So pretty! That food looks SO good, and your outfits are so cute!
This looks like an amazing trip! Love the pictures!
Looks so beautiful! I would love to take a trip like this one day!
That must have been a special experience. I can’t wait for my next vacation!
Great ideas for a trip there! That breakfast on Day 5 looks scrumptious :-)!
Lovely getaway place to relax and enjoy some time off away from the busy city or work.
Oh I wish I could take a road trip anytime soon. Love your pictures bdw!!!
I am loving hearing about your beach trips right now! When I still can’t travel, it’s nice to get a taste of the ocean from someone else! This looks like such an amazing trip 🙂
I visited Tulum over 5 years ago. I thought it was a magical place. I do hope to go back one day. Your idea of staying at an Airbnb is brilliant. I never would have thought to do that in Mexico. I feel you can get a less touristy experience that way, which I would love.
This is giving me major vaca vibes! Looks like an amazing trip!
First of all, I love the pictures! I’ve never been to Mexico even though I live in a close-by country. I’ve heard about Tulum and Cancun but never about Isla las Mujeres. But I’ll definitely add it to the destinations on my bucket list. Thank you for sharing!
This place looks beautiful! The beaches, the food, your outfits (love the romper!), everything about it looks awesome. My husband and I are very ready to get back into traveling. It looks like you’re having so much fun!
Some ace views on that trip! fabulous !
Everything looks so lovely. Thank you for sharing your journey! I love all the pictures.
Sounds like a wonderful trip! These pictures are incredible!
xoxo
Lovely
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