Certain places will hold a sense of fascination in your mind until you walk the streets and see them for yourself. Tulum was one of those places I?d seen pictures of and heard about but wanted to experience. In February I took a trip there with a good friend of mine who was also curious about the hype.
What impressed me the most during my visit was that most of the architecture reflected the natural surroundings. Unlike other parts of the Riviera Maya to the north and the overdeveloped shores of Cancun, I didn?t see any building in Tulum taller than its jungle treetops. It?s become a place to be seen as an influencer in the past few years, even in the middle of a pandemic where Mexico became an escape for travelers who were willing to risk Covid exposure in exchange for cocktails in the sand. Tulum struggles to keep seaweed off their beaches to avoid annoying the tourists, and their infrastructure isn?t up to speed in places, but development is full steam ahead in this part of the world, with the jungles being replaced with new residential communities.
The food was exceptionally good. We dined on fish caught fresh from the sea, grilled by local chefs, and ceviche in lime juice that was so fresh, we had to order a second serving. Down at the beach is where most travelers and tourists hang out. It?s also where influencers are posing with the backdrop of Tulum portraying life as a bohemian paradise.
Tulum is a popular beach vacation spot where you can sit with your toes in the...