Tulum, An Escape to Tranquility

Traveling south out of Cancun, on what is now known as the Rivera Maya, one parallels the beautiful Mexican Caribbean, and one and a half hours later, enters the town of Tulum. This enchanted town, formerly known as Zama (city of dawn) was used by the Mayans as a commercial port for Coba and surrounding areas.

Tulum can be divided into the town itself, the archaeological site and the beachfront area, dotted with rustic boutique hotels, with the turquoise waters as their front door and mangrove swamps and shrub jungle to their rear. Its location is now an easy drive from Cancun on a four lane well maintained highway. Continuing on the main highway (Carretera Federal), heading south, one enters the bioreserve called Sian Ka’an, with its own ruins, beautiful lagoons and jungle.

Sian Ka’an is now dedicated to preserving its inherent beauty and biodiversity, limiting tourist access to minimize environmental impact. Tours are operated daily by different groups, of which we used “Community Tours, Sian Ka’an”, a group of local Mayans, bilingual and historically knowledgeable, especially dedicated to this area. Small boats shuttle tourists across the lagoons into water canals, dug out over a thousand years ago, where one can float with life preservers down these twenty foot wide canals, where Mayan commerce was once was at its height. A gentle current carries you for approximately one hour, along this ancient, warm watered swim back into Mayan history. After the tour everyone returns to shore for a beautifully prepared Mayan lunch, with a most hospitable staff.

Returning to Tulum (20 minute drive), you enter the town proper along the main highway, and a right hand turn leads to the bucolic and bohemian boutique hotels that dot the pristine coast. There are around forty hotels, the majority with solar and wind generated electricity, again limiting environmental impact to this ancient area. The drive along this narrow, two lane road, parallels the Caribbean, with palms and shrub jungle on both sides, as you weave your way down what was once a dirt and pot holed path. Once you step out of your car, the shoes come off, the shirt unbuttons, and your nostrils open to the pure and warm salty air, that bathes your body and sends all pent up energy downward to the fine white grained sand, where stood an advanced culture more than a thousand years ago. Your first walk along the soft sanded, white beaches, with the turquoise waters lapping at your feet, transports you to another world, inhabited by the gentle sounds of water, vast open skies, warm nurturing sun and a tranquility of mind that one rarely encounters. Your have arrived at a destination designed for calming body, mind and soul.

Tulum beaches have a tendency to draw an extraordinary eclectic group of people, not only tourists, but hotel owners, conservationists, Jimmy Buffet types, naturists, alternative healers, nudists and occasionally infamous ones, like the late Pablo Escobar, whose fortress like home with its many rooms, sits overlooking the Mexican Caribbean. This is a “melting pot”, where all types are welcome, with the only precondition being, that one blend peacefully with the locals and the environment. “ One of the many interesting types is Senor Oscar Carreno, the proprietor of the boutique hotel, “The New Life of Ramiro “, and an ardent caretaker of several different types of turtles, who nest on these beaches. His hotel and grounds are immaculately groomed, reflecting his deep love for this area and its nature. He is one of many who hope to see this area retain its pristineness, and limit its development. Walking through the sandy interior of his property and then heading down the beach, whether going North or South, the eye is welcomed to various pole and palapa type constructions, set back 30 meters or so from the shoreline, and all with their own special flavor, beckoning the beach comber for further inspection.

Nationalities from all over the world have made this their home, North Americans, Argentineans, Chileans, Spaniards, Italians and Germans, all seeking a more relaxed and less polluted life style. Many of these have opened businesses and combined efforts with the locals in an effort to keep this tranquil life style intact. Continuing down the beach, we find the Zebra bar, with its large beachside wooden platform, where salsa sounds, rhythmically float over the white sands and jungle fauna. Every late afternoon, the band gets cranking, and locals along with tourists are seen moving to the beat, whether on the platform or in the sand, where even the shy start gyrating after a couple of cold cervezas or margaritas.

Stepping back twenty-eight years, the dream of Ana and Jose, was fulfilled with the building of their boutique hotel “Charming Hotel & Spa Ana y Jose”. Their love of nature and the surroundings is reflected in their warmness and hospitality towards their guests. Few days there will ensure one of a completely relaxed nervous system and memories that will beckon a quick return. Surrounded by lush, tropical vegetation amid the Mayan jungle, this is one of the legendary lodging treats in Tulum, where you can indulge yourself with a calmer pace of vacation, relax on white sandy beaches, swim in warm turquoise waters, and enjoy a friendly ambience. All of their 23 magnificent and cozy suites and cottages, are with air conditioning. Their Om Spa offers extensive treatments, among others, Deep Massage and Reiki, Maya Massage, Stone Massage with Wine, Tropical Papaya Hydrating Treatment, and others.

A trip to Tulum will eliminate stresses and revitalize your soul, sending one home in a state of tranquility. Taking advantage of the wonders this destination beholds, will ensure nostalgic memories and a quick return to this ancient enchanted village.