Viva Mexico 2019 - Tulum

Isla Mujeres was great as a start. Nevertheless, after 2 days we felt like we needed to move on and see more. We took the ferry back to Cancun and booked a car for the rest of our stay. The ferry worked great for us and we bought the double ticket for Isla Mujeres and Cozumel.

From Cancun, we drove down to Tulum. We heard mixed things about Tulum and were excited to see what it was all about. I only booked 2 nights at the Posada Yum Kin and looking back an additional day would have been nice to have. For us, Tulum had 2 faces, the touristy side with the beach hotels and all new fancy restaurants and the native side people building their lives and houses step by step. Our hotel was more off the beaten path and we weren't really sure where we did ended up, but it gave us a glimpse into life in Mexico. The street vendors, who announced their presence by ringing bells. Unfinished streets and housing, generations living together under one roof and we learned that a scooter can drive up to 4 people around :). In fact, having a family of 3 on one scooter is a very usual sight and mostly everyone is driving in flip flops and a loosely fitting half helmet is the only safety feature.

Having a small kitchen has its advantages. Dinner time at the Posada Yum Kin.

Posada Yum Kin - small oasis.

View from the roof of the hotel.

Waiting for the tour guide to arrive.

From home I had already booked a tour with the Sian Ka'an Community Tours. Sian Ka'an is a huge nature preserve just south of Tulum and I booked the tour with this local company because they work with the Mayan community in Sian Ka'an and in fact, one of the highlights is the traditionally prepared food at the start and finish of the tour. We got a tour through the Muyil ruins and a short nature walk through the surrounding jungle. Pepe our guide was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed learning about the flora and fauna. After the jungle, we went on a boat which took us across a lagoon and through Mayan canals and we got to float about 40 min through a channel. That was so awesome, and since it was off season, we almost had the entire float to ourselves. 

Climbing the mirador.

Nice view from the top - you can spot the lagoon and miles and miles of jungle.

Jungle view from the mirador.

Trees with thorns. 

Mr. K smelling some plant.

Lagoon.

In the Mayan built canal.

Some of the Muyil Ruins.

Some refreshing Jamaica and Tikin Xi fish baked in a banana leaf.