Tulum vacation 2017

5 girlfriends, 5 days in Mexico

Everything in my suitcase still has that beachy, salt water and sunblock smell. My friends and I got back late Tuesday night from our highly anticipated trip to Tulum, Mexico. It's something we'd been planning for over a year, and something our other friends have applauded us for. Five high school girlfriends, 30 years old (or on the cusp), and we made time for something unforgettable. Excuse me while I pat us all on the back for turning dreams into reality. 

I hadn't heard of Tulum before our ringleader Rachelle proposed the up-and-coming town as a destination for our Year 30 trip. A quick google and the rest of us were totally on board — and Tulum didn't disappoint. I'll dive into the details in another post about where we ate, the sights we saw, and the things we loved, but here's an overview so that maybe you can start planning your next girlfriends vacation sooner rather than later. 

Start by renting an amazing airbnb located near a place called Holistika, a jungle retreat center with yoga and other mind-body programming. Our particular airbnb was outside of town by about five minutes, and about 15 minutes from the beach. You definitely need a car. Could you bike? Sure, but it's ungodly hot in the afternoon. I can't imagine biking being much fun, especially all the way to the beach. It was a trek, even in a car, and roads are narrow and not super friendly to novice bikers. 

Speaking of the beach: white sand, turquoise water. It's perfect. Though there's an entire road lined with beaches and beachside hotels, we didn't know which one to pick as a jumping-off point. Luckily a google search led us to a great one: Playa Paraiso. We lounged in the sand and swam in the surf before stopping at one of the shaded sit-down cafés to share apps and pina coladas. 

The eating and drinking in Tulum was, overall, an amazing experience. Of course don't drink the tap water! My friends and I were good about that and therefore avoided Montezuma's Revenge. Our favorite things we ate ranged from cheap street tacos to fresh-caught fish and jungle-foraged produce at the hippest restaurant in Tulum. 

Then there was the drinking – everything from coffee to fresh smoothies and lime juice stirred with stalks of sugar cane. Nighttime drinks were certainly beachy and beautifully presented. Whether sitting beachside under a thatched roof sipping rosé or nestled under a jungle canopy (complete with disco ball!), the atmosphere for nightlife in Tulum is unreal. 

As for major daytime attractions, we ventured to the ruins (did you know aliens helped build them?) and a gorgeous set of cenotes, where I actually swam (look at me!) and dunked myself under water for the first time in at least a decade. If it wasn't already obvious, swimming isn't my thing. But Jess brought an underwater camera, which led to lots of mermaid-y photo-ops and entertainment. 

More details to come on exactly where we ventured in Tulum. For now, adios amigos!