Home ยป Tulum, Mexico Part 1: Playa Del Carmen & Akumal Beach (Turtle Beach)

Tulum, Mexico Part 1: Playa Del Carmen & Akumal Beach (Turtle Beach)

Blogger Nihan looking out of her balcony in Las Villas Akumal in Akumal, Tulum Mexico

Main Beach in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Playa Del Carmen main beach

Nihan Gorkem showing her outfit of the night, an ocean printed dress, in Tulum Mexico

 This was my first trip to Tulum and I will definitely go back one day. White beaches, turquoise water, unreal clouds, amazing food and a stylish & hippie beach destination. I’ve got a lot to share so I’ll separate this trip diary into two parts.  
Day 1 : Our flight was from Tijuana at 1:30 a.m. and we landed in Cancun at 8 a.m. It was a direct flight and took 4.5 hr to get there. There’s no airport in Tulum so the only option is flying to Cancun and driving from there. The drive takes around 2 hours if you don’t stop on the way. I definitely recommend stopping by at Playa Del Carmen. Tulum is on the southern tip of the Riviera Maya. 

Tulum, Mexico map that shows Tulum's location in Mexico

We stopped in Playa Del Carmen to grab a bite and also to see the area. Playa Del Carmen is another very popular tourist destination in Quintana Roo. I will probably spend 1-2 nights in Playa Del Carmen on my next trip to Tulum. You can also go to Cozumel with a ferry from Playa Del Carmen, which is also another thing I have to do next time I’m there. What did we eat in this short stop? Of course ceviche and margaritas. Duhh!

View from our villa in Las Villas Akumal in Akumal, Mexico

Gorgeous Beach and Turquoise Waters of Caribbean Sea in Akumal, Tulum, Mexico

Gorgeous Akumal Beach right in front of our villa

Mexican Chicken Lime Soup and salad at La Vista Azul Restaurant in Las Villas Akumal - Akumal, Mexico

Mexican Chicken Lime Soup and salad at La Vista Azul Restaurant

After filling our stomachs, we got back on the road and after about an hour later we made it to our villa in Akumal. We stayed at Las Villas Akumal. Akumal is a 20 minute drive to downtown Tulum (Boca Paila). I’m glad we stayed there because the villas are very private and they are right at Turtle Beach. We didn’t even know that before we got there. Our hotel was full of iguanas and they were very friendly and adorable. Who doesn’t like iguanas, right? We spent the day relaxing on the beach and by the pool.  We had dinner at the hotel and planned our adventures for the next days.

3 Margaritas on the beach in Akumal, Tulum, Mexico

Margaritas on the beach

Ceviche, Chips and margaritas on the beach in Akumal, Tulum, Mexico

Best ceviche ever!

Gorgeous Beach and Turquoise Waters of Caribbean Sea in Tulum, Mexico

In the balcony of our villa in Tulum, Mexico - Gorgeous Beach and Turquoise Waters of Caribbean Sea
Puppy at the beach in Tulum
 Day 2: Our second day was my boyfriend’s birthday so of course we did what he wanted to do ๐Ÿ™‚ We relaxed, chilled under the sun, got margaritas on the beach and got massages at our hotel. 
Chillin on the beach in Tulum, Mexico
Sipping margaritas Chillin on the beach in Tulum, Mexico

Sippin margaritas

Coconut tree in Tulum Mexico

Chillin on the beach eating ceviches drinking margaritas on the beach in Tulum Mexico

Bird on a coconut tree in Tulum Mexico

Nihan Gorkem and boyfriend at a restaurant in Tulum Mexico

 For dinner, we went to the cute little village in Tulum and found a nice Argentinean restaurant called La Parillada Tulum. We had Argentinean steak and it was delicious. They had live music and a Spanish dance performance so we had a great time there.

Dinner at a cute Argentinian Restaurant in Tulum Mexico

Dinner at a cute Argentinian Restaurant in Tulum Mexico

Argentinian Steak

Turtle mural in downtown Tulum Mexico

     Turtle mural in downtown Tulum

 Stay tuned for part 2 where we go to the Mayan Ruins in Coba Archaeological Site and see a turtle giving birth to 100 babies and many more!

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