Exploring Tulum on push bikes is said to be one of the best ways to get around town and see the sites, so that’s exactly what we did one delightful Tuesday afternoon in late January.
Our morning began with a stop at the Insta-famous Azulik.
Its sculptural wooden forms, woven and curved as if grown rather than built, rise from the jungle floor in perfect harmony with nature.
Walking through the installation felt peaceful and meditative, the kind of place that invites you to slow your breath and soften your thoughts.
From there, we continued our 40 minute cycle along the straight stretch of Tulum’s beach road.
Hotels peeked through palms and every so often, the Caribbean sea flashed between the trees in impossible shades of blue.
The ride itself was a long flat road cutting through the jungle canopy, but those fleeting glimpses of tropical coastline made it feel almost dreamlike.
We made it just in time for the final 3pm entry at the Tulum Mayan Ruins.
After a short walk along a neatly cleared jungle path, the ancient structures revealed themselves against the bright afternoon sky.
Dating back to the 13th century, the ruins carry a quiet strength with their weathered stone walls standing firm against centuries of sea breeze.
Iguanas seemed to rule the grounds, lounging confidently on rocks and darting through the grass, completely unbothered by passing visitors.
The most beautiful view was standing before El Castillo, the old castle perched on the cliff’s edge.
Below it, powder white sand met the endless turquoise of the Caribbean; history and horizon blending into one unforgettable view.
On our cycle back we stopped in at a lovely beachfront hotel restaurant called Mezzanine.
Serving Thai cuisine, it was exactly what we’d been craving in contrast to all of the Mexican food, and of course those beachfront views from the terrace were absolutely dreamy.
I ordered a spicy margarita because when on holiday, an afternoon cocktail is an essential!
We shared a creamy Penang chicken curry with coconut rice, fragrant and comforting in all the right ways.
A hearty curry and my favourite cocktail overlooking that picturesque beachfront, made for the perfect closing chapter to a day that felt both adventurous and beautifully unhurried all at once ❤
Dani Aneka 