Tulum Mexico vacation, February 2023
Adventure for Noel and Lionel Space, Nanaimo BC
Maya Tulum beach club, 2/22/2023
(Photos can be clicked on for a larger view)
One of the reasons to visit the coasts of Mexico was for the beautiful beaches.
So as we investigated where the beaches were, we were a bit shocked that there was only one access to the beach that was free.
It was the beach access where our boat ride was on the 12th.
No wonder we had observed hoards of walkers, bicycles, and taxis heading to it that day.
And once you get to that beach, if you wanted to rent a chair or lounge for a while, you also must purchase a minimum amount of food, resulting in fees of over $100 Cdn per person.
All the other beaches are controlled by hotels.
The other alternative is to visit a "beach club", which is making a reservation online to use a hotel's beach.
We chose the Maya Tulum as the lowest cost option for $79 Cdn for Noel and I, which includes parking, pool, and chairs from 11 am to 6 pm.
It was interesting that the online charges were done in U.S. dollars, charged to our Canadian Visa.
A common sight on the roads in Mexico are National Guard patrols on the streets with automatic rifles,
to scare away gang activity
and protect the reserves.
On our drive to the beach, we were behind the usual pickup with several armed soldiers and two big truck loads ahead of them.
They turned down Coba toward the beach and fortunately turned left at the circle where we turned right;
Maybe there was some festival activity occurring down there
or clearing out some illegal developement at the end of the road by the ruins.
Mexico is proactive in protecting it's tourism.
Map to Maya Tulum.
Military watchfulness seen many times a day.
Truck loads of soldiers heading for the beach.
Down this 6 km road from the traffic circle is where all the Tulum beach hotels are.
There is very little parking for the hotels, so most guests must be deposited for their stay.
Sprinkled in amongst them are small shops, many pharmacies (of course), a 7-11, several bars, restaurants,
and I even saw a shoulder width path between hotels that went to the beach, so lots to do via foot traffic.
About 1.5 km down this road, the beach comes right to the road.
Nobody was on the skinny beach between traffic and sargassum when we went down at 11:30 am,
but several people had ventured into the tangled water upon our return.
Our "beach club" parking was soon after that and even had a sign (although using one of the company names of AKNA),
where parking is on the non-shore side of the road.
Down the hotel row road.
Beach against the road.
Parking sign.
Entrance.
Reception desk.
There is a restaurant to the left of the reception desk.
After the hostess checked our reservation, she instructed us to go to the right and go all the way to the end.
This hotel is unlike any other we've seen.
Immediately we were walking in soft white sand and I changed my shoes.
We passed an area that has 3 fire-pits with lots of seating around each.
As we walked down the path, we saw huts that are unique rooms, some right on the ocean, several with there own spa size pool in front.
Even the meeting room is a large hut.
Immediately onto the sand.
Fire pits.
Hotel room.
Hotel rooms.
Hotel room.
Hotel room.
Hotel room.
Meeting room.
We continued down the path, passing several more rooms and then the area opened up to a majestic round pool overlooking the ocean.
At this time of day, there were very few guests in the area.
We thought that maybe the winds were deterring them (16 mph from the East), but they would start exiting their rooms over the next several hours.
The temperature was 84 degrees, so the wind wasn't a problem for temperature.
We tried out one of the double lounge chairs right down by the ocean, but after a while the wind was becoming a bit stinging.
We ventured a bit South to see what was down the coast and saw numerous kitesurfers.
Although this is the time of year where sargassum seaweed is not supposed to be prevalent, it was everywhere and the hotels continuously work to keep it at bay (it stinks when it rots).
More rooms down the path.
The community pool.
Looking North from the pool.
Testing out the double wide chairs.
Kitesurfers loved the winds.
Showers on the beach.
Raking the sargassum.
Clearing off the sargassum.
We tried out some regular lounge chairs a little farther from shore in hopes of having less wind.
I ordered Noel an iced coffee, but before it was delivered, she grew concerned she would be drinking sand,
so we moved up to more shelter by the bar (the coffee was very good, with several coffee beans in the froth, and only 80 pesos, $6 Cdn).
It was less windy there and there was a short infinity pool adjacent to the bar.
An even more sheltered area was available just a few steps away.
Bar.
View from our table.
View from the pool.
More shelter was available if needed.
Eventually we settled in to lounge chairs by the pool directly looking over the ocean.
The wind was much more tolerable and the bushes and pool reduced the sand in the wind.
We still would need to clean our glasses from the accumulated salt from the ocean spray.
There was another bar very close where they could bring drinks and food.
Noel had a couple very nice drinks and later we shared some perfectly cooked french fries.
During our time there, we were entertained by several kitesurfers, some taking off from the beach directly in front of us.
We also had pelicans and frigate birds gliding just above us, 30 to 40 feet directly above.
After a while I could feel the heat on my skin and moved over to a shadier chair while Noel tested the water in the pool.
All of the other patrons were about 3 decades younger than us, but they were very friendly and happy.
My view for the next couple hours.
Bar right next to pool.
Kitesurfer.
Pelicans.
Frigate.
Shadier seating.
Checking the water in the pool.
This kite surfer took off at our beach, then lost his board in the rocks.
He was seen later with another go, but disappeared downwind never to be seen again.
We spent 4 hours at the beach and had a wonderful time.
It took us 45 minutes to return home with the heavier traffic in the late afternoon.
Tulum main page