We have been taking it very easy ever since we arrived in Tulum and only have ventured out for a few adventures. The sticky, hot weather and travel fatigue have put a wrench in our usual momentum. Many days consist of sleeping in and taking a long hot walk into town to eat a late lunch (there is no shortage of excellent Mexican restaurants here!). By the time we walk back, we are wiped out! Our stamina is a quarter of what it was when we were in Europe, walking many miles every day in cooler weather.
The vibe in Tulum is quite different from what we were expecting. Wow, do we feel old! Most of the tourists are 20-30-something Americans (two categories we haven't seen much of during our travels) and, this group didn't travel with kids. They like to PARTY and they get fiesty when they drink! On the night we arrived, as we were trying to find our condo complex in the dark, we came around a corner and saw a bare butt illuminated by a streetlight. This was the first person we saw in our new neighborhood and she was bent over and puking on the sidewalk in her thong. Little did we know, this was just a taste of the debauchery that was yet to come daily. And, never have we seen so many cosmetically-enhanced women posing for their Instagram photoshoots... everywhere.
Our condo—It's quite peaceful and vacant during the day, but wait until the bars close!
So on to our family-friendly adventures this past week... First, we went to the Tulum Ruins—a picturesque place I'd been wanting to visit for decades. The ruins are smaller than I envisioned but very cool and definitely a must-see while in Tulum. The Mayans picked this sweet spot perched high on a bluff overlooking the beautiful Caribbean for its trading and sacred center because it faced the rising sun. Our visit also became a game of "Where's the Iguana?" for we found these mighty creatures hiding in nooks and crannies all over the ancient structures. After touring the ruins, we walked to one of the many eco-chic beach resorts to cool off and have lunch. I was surprised by how low-profile Tulum's luxurious, small beach resorts are along the coastline. They are well-designed to blend in with their natural surroundings. The views of the Caribbean Sea from them are spectacular. The highlight of my day (or week) was seeing three flamingos flying in perfect line formation over the water right in front of us as we were sipping fresh juice on a resort's patio. The kids had an a-ha moment when they found out flamingos could fly! We'd never seen flamingos in the wild—so cool!!
Tulum ruins along the sparkling Caribbean Sea
Today, we explored our first cenote—a permanent natural sinkhole where a cave has collapsed. Though cenotes can be found worldwide, the Yucatan Peninsula is quite a unique place. There are over 6000 of these refreshing natural wonders scattered all over the region. Many are open to the public for a nominal fee and with a mandatory shower before entering. The water at the Gran Cenote was crystal clear and filled with a dozen turtles. This particular cenote has a limestone overhang you swim under, which was just the right dose of thrill for us. And, to get our adrenaline pumping even more, the ceiling was lined with hundreds of sleeping bats. After today, we are hooked and plan to hunt for several more cenotes in the next couple of weeks.
Decending down into the Gran Cenote
Crystal clear waters in the Gran Cenote. Austin isn't too sure of it.
A glimpse of the bat cave we swam through.
Arriving early morning to tour the Tulum ruins.
Note the height of the arched pass throughs. The average height of the Mayan people was 5 feet tall. You can still see evidence of the paint on the structures from centuries ago.
The Mayan population was killed off by the Spaniards when they introduced Old World diseases upon their arrival. Tulum remained inhabited about 70 years after the Conquest, when it was finally abandoned.
Can you spot the iguana?
My favorite spot in Tulum. Eating lunch at a nice, small hotel and spotting flamingos flying above.
My date afternoon with Austin. Our bikes rentals have been a fun way to get around town.