Tulum, Mexico is one of the dreamiest destinations I’ve been to throughout my travels and it offers the BEST boutique experiences.

In all honesty, I cannot believe it has taken me 28 years to make it to my neighboring country, south of the border!

From the moment I arrived in Tulum, to the second I left; I was 100 percent in my element. There were dreamy cafés and restaurants, stringed lights everywhere, amazing Mexican food, friendly locals, beautiful homemade dream catchers, magical beach bars, bright blue waters, bohemian vibes and delicious fruity cocktails.

For those of you who are unaware of what Tulum is or where it is located, it is a town on the Caribbean coastline (Riviera Maya) of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

Tulum is known for its beaches, well-preserved ancient Mayan ruins, cenotes (natural limestone sinkholes) and beautiful, luxury and boutique hotels, resorts and restaurants.

Most people in Tulum speak Spanish. Locals also speak Mayan and many people know English as well.

I spent three amazing days in Tulum and wish I would’ve stayed longer because I really fell in love with everything about it.

To top it off, my trip to Tulum wouldn’t have been the same if I didn’t stay at Casa Pueblo Hotel in the heart of the city. This sustainable boutique hotel is a breath of fresh air in the heart of Tulum and there is so much to do just within the casa itself.

In this blog post, discover the best boutique experiences in Tulum, Mexico and read all about my time staying at Casa Pueblo Tulum.

From all the amazing foodie spots to the dreamy beachfront locations and the mystical cenotes to the breathtaking ruins, there is so much to fall in love with in this area of Mexico.

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. During my trip to Tulum, Mexico, Casa Pueblo Hotels hosted me for a few nights.

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Traveling Solo to Mexico:

One thing I would like to address before I go into this blog post is that traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico (where Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancún are situated in) is extremely safe and makes for a great solo trip.

In all honesty, a lot of my loved ones were concerned about me traveling to Mexico on my own and tried to talk me out of it. (I’m glad I didn’t listen to them.)

I understand that the media covers a lot of the bad things that happen around the world, but I didn’t find Mexico to be unsafe at all during my solo travels there, so PLEASE don’t let that determine if you should travel to Tulum or not.

Of course, bad things happen everywhere (hey, it even happens in your own backyard).

Some great safety tips I could provide for all travelers is to always be aware of your surroundings; do not put yourself in sketchy situations; watch your alcohol intake (margaritas are delicious and all, but one too many could be dangerous); DON’T DO DRUGS EVER; do your research and book a hotel/Airbnb/hostel in a safe area (I like to stay in hotels that are close to the heart of the city); negotiate the price of a cab before you hop in; learn how to say NO; don’t walk around by yourself late at night; bring a lock for your luggage; don’t carry valuable items on you and don’t be afraid to ask a staff member from your hotel to assist you somewhere (thankfully Casa Pueblo gave me a lot of great advice, recommendations and even booked a half day trip to Chichén Itzá for me).

Travel to and From Tulum:

My boutique trip to Tulum was an addition onto my Belize trip. Since I was traveling in the area and had Tulum on my bucket list, I booked a short flight from Belize City to Cancún. On my way home, I flew from Cancún straight to Newark, NJ.

One thing to note is that Tulum is around an hour and a half south from the airport in Cancún.

If you are looking to save money, I recommend taking the ADO bus that goes around the Riviera Maya. A lot of my fellow travel friends have taken the bus before and they say it is safe and also cheap to get around.

One thing to note is that if you are traveling from Cancún to Tulum with the ADO, you will need to transfer in Playa del Carmen.

I was very thankful that my friends Kristina and Chris from Black and Blush Travel recommended USA Transfers – a private car service that will transfer travelers from the airport in Cancún to their final destination/hotel.

Overall, I loved how professional they were! I will admit that it was a little on the pricier side, $175 USD round trip (without tip), but as a solo female traveler who was arriving in Tulum in the evening, I felt more comfortable with the private transfer to Casa Pueblo boutique hotel.

USA Transfers will track your flight, offers an airport meet and greet, is fully insured, includes fees and parking and the drivers always ensure you are comfortable. When you arrive at the airport, drivers wear a USA Transfers uniform and they hold a sign with their logo on it.

Please note that they do not display your name for safety reasons. You will receive an email prior to your arrival with specific directions on where to find USA Transfers.

PLEASE BE AWARE: USA Transfers informed me that there are pirates that will say they are from the company or encourage you to call using their phone while they dial the number, so please be mindful and don’t allow others to call on your behalf!

Overall, I had a smooth and relaxing journey to Tulum and couldn’t recommend USA Transfers more. In addition, Casa Pueblo could also arrange a private transfer to the hotel as well.

You could also rent a car to get around too! I highly recommend getting your own vehicle if you plan to venture beyond Tulum and around the Yucatán.

Casa Pueblo Hotel – a Boutique Hotel in Tulum:

There are two Casa Pueblo Hotels on the Riviera Maya– one in the city of Tulum (which is where I stayed) and the other in Boca Paila, which is a little south of Tulum.

Like I mention above, staying at Casa Pueblo Hotel was definitely a highlight during my time in Tulum. As Casa Pueblo’s saying goes “Our Casa is Your Casa”, this hacienda-inspired boutique hotel in Tulum is a breath of fresh air as it features a tropical vibrancy with a clean, urban design all throughout.

One of the top reasons why I loved staying at Casa Pueblo is because it is also sustainable. The hotel only uses biodegradable products and are 99% plastic free!

The Rooms at Casa Pueblo Hotel:

Casa Pueblo boutique hotel in Tulum offers 16 serene, bright and modern suites, featuring hand-sculpted sconces by artist Justin James.

There are also plastered walls creating that Adobe look and floor-to-ceiling windows with slatted wooden shutters. I loved the architecture at Casa Pueblo and what I adored most about the rooms were that you could shower with the windows open, but not have to worry about anyone seeing you because of the slatted wooden shutters. It is great!

In addition, the queen bed was very comfortable and I definitely got a great night’s sleep. (You could also choose a room with a king sized bed.) I also liked how the hotel provides you with two bottles of fresh water. (Please note that you cannot drink the tap water in Mexico.)

What I did was bring an insulated refillable water bottle and used the glass bottles in the room to fill them up. Mexico is very hot, so I recommend having as much water on you as possible.

The rooms at Casa Pueblo are spacious and provide AC/heat. There are also hangers and shelving for your belongings.

Everything in the room is carefully designed and produced in-house to meet a traveler’s basic needs. The en-suite bathrooms also provide a lot of space and are light-filled and include polished concrete sinks, walk-in rain showers, natural amenities and luxurious linen bedding by Parachute Home (I LOVED the bedding).

The bathrooms also include 100% natural and organic amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, lotion and more.

Amenities at Casa Pueblo Boutique Hotel in Tulum:

Casa Pueblo focuses on providing unique experiences for the modern traveler like myself. I love how they blend modern with ancient design along with warmth and comfort. I truly felt like I was in mystical Mexico here and seriously didn’t want to leave.

What I also enjoyed was that they create a home away from home vibe, allowing their guests to relax, enjoy delicious meals, get work done in a peaceful environment, connect with others and also have fun!

Lovely’s: Casa Pueblo’s in-house restaurant serves crafted dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all featuring local ingredients.

I absolutely loved the dining area in Casa Pueblo because you get beautiful pool views; are surrounded by stringed lights and stunning tropical plants and you also get to sit at beautiful and comfortable tables, nooks, lounges and benches (depending on your preference).

There is always music playing to suit the vibe of Casa Pueblo and Tulum in general and you feel like you are out in nature no matter where you go in this beautiful boutique hotel.

The open kitchen at Lovely’s is at the center of Casa Pueblo in Tulum. It is a place where both guests and locals could enjoy wood fired pizzas, fresh salads, authentic Mexican food, delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes, great sandwiches and awesome desserts.

In addition, Lovely’s also serves brunch every morning where you could savor traditional breakfast items such as pancakes, eggs along with avocado toast, Casa Green Pancakes (which includes poached eggs, avocado, snow peas, zucchini and mint salad) along with fresh fruit smoothie bowls.

During my first night at Casa Pueblo, I ate a delicious Pizza Burrata that included Casa-made tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, arugula, burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and Serrano ham. It was absolutely delicious!

I also savored breakfast at Casa Pueblo two mornings. During one of the mornings, I had poach eggs with Casa-made bread (which was incredible), hash browns and sautéed mushrooms with a smoothie. Another morning, I savored the pancakes with fresh maple syrup and fruit (it was also yummy).

There is also an amazing bar that serves refreshing fruity cocktails, tropical smoothies and smoothie bowls, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages such as soda, juice and coffee/tea.

When I first arrived at Casa Pueblo in Tulum, I was greeted with a delicious mezcal, which is a Mexican distilled drink that is made from any type of agave. The mezcal that was made for me had raspberries in it and it was absolutely amazing! I actually think I found my new favorite cocktail.

The bar has a great happy hour from 4-6pm and you could enjoy your beverage anywhere in the hotel.

*Casa Pueblo also has a room service menu where you could order food and drinks straight to your room.

Pool: The pool at Casa Pueblo is absolutely enchanting! I love how it is surrounded by nature and the water resembles what you usually see at a Mexican cenote.

During my time at Casa Pueblo, I would walk downstairs from my room to the bar, grab a delicious tropical smoothie, relax in the warm pool and savor the enchanting ambiance around me.

The pool is a lap pool, but it is perfect to also relax in as well. Around the pool are lounge chairs where you could take a nap or read, get work done or enjoy your drink while you sunbathe. It is absolutely perfect!

Right next to the pool are picnic tables to enjoy drinks with friends, bring your laptop and get work done and even enjoy a meal!

Lounge Areas: Casa Pueblo boutique hotel encourages guests to take advantage of its holistic space and to disconnect, but with Tulum’s large digital nomad community, they understand that people need to check in and get work done, so there are beautiful lounge areas. There is also complimentary high-speed WiFi connection throughout the entire property!

Rooftop Bar: In addition to all of the amazing amenities that Casa Pueblo features, they also have a dreamy rooftop bar that is open every Tuesday evening from sunset.

There is a bar, lounge areas, a bathroom, lush palm trees and tropical plants, great views of Tulum and stringed lights everywhere on the rooftop. Since I wasn’t at Casa Pueblo on a Tuesday, I brought my drink up to the rooftop bar and enjoyed the sunset on my own. It was amazing!

Events: Casa Pueblo also hosts private events such as parties, yoga retreats, live local band nights and more!

Visit their Instagram to check out what is going on at the Casa.

Best Boutique Experiences Around Tulum:

Whether you are wandering through the city or meandering around the Beach Road in Tulum, you will find dreamy and “Instagrammable” cafés, restaurants, bars, boutique stores and hotels.

No matter where I was in Tulum, every place suited my vibe and style and I wanted to go everywhere.

(Ps. I want to thank Madeline Lenore for providing me with an amazing photography experience around Tulum. She showed me so many wonderful hidden gems in the city that I wouldn’t think to go to otherwise. If you make your way to Tulum, I couldn’t recommend Madeline’s services more.)

Wander through Tulum Town:

The town of Tulum offers so much for a boutique traveler. From artisanal shops to sustainable restaurants and cafés, you could easily get lost in all of the magical places.

Below is everywhere I went in Tulum Town:

Side Note: You will find many articles and blog posts talking about the most popular and “Instagrammable” spots in Tulum (most of them are luxury hotels and resorts on the Beach Road).

As cool as it is to see these places, and I will admit that I enjoyed visiting some of them as well, I recommend making your way to more off-the-grid spots that are authentic to Tulum and run by locals as compared to those run by celebrities and rich businessmen.

If you are looking to support local businesses while you take photos, here are the best Tulum Instagram Spots off the Beach Road.

Ki’Bok Café: My absolute favorite coffee shop and breakfast spot in Tulum was Ki’bok Café. This down-to-earth and hip spot is the perfect place to grab an iced chai with a friend and enjoy a lovely ambiance.

What was awesome about Ki’Bok Café is that it was right around the corner from Casa Pueblo! It makes for the perfect boutique experience in Tulum.

Matcha Mama: With two locations (one in Tulum Town and one on the Tulum Beach Road), this super cute spot is the perfect place to grab a refreshing smoothie bowl or coco frio (coconut with water).

During my time in Tulum, I went to the location in town and it was such a cheery place with cute walls, swings and signs. You can’t go to Tulum without making your way to Matcha Mama!

Tulum Sign: One of the best places to see and take photos in front of is the colorful Tulum sign in the heart of town. Around this area is a little park and you could even find food trucks here as well. (It is the perfect area in Tulum to support local businesses.)

Flor de Michoacan: Another great place to grab breakfast or to enjoy a cold snack such as smoothies, ice cream, fresh ice pops, tropical fruit, etc. is Flor de Michoacan.

Located in the back of the café is a gorgeous area for you to enjoy your snack. It is absolutely lovely!

Local Shops: There are so many artisan shops throughout Tulum that sell beautiful Mexican artwork and handicrafts, jewelry, home decór, clothing, dream catchers and other wonderful souvenir items for you to bring home to loved ones. The dream catchers were my favorite!

Visit a Mexican Cenote:

One of the top natural wonders the Yucatán Peninsula is known for are cenotes, which is a deep, water-filled limestone sinkhole that is formed when the roof of an underground cavern collapses.

This ends up creating a natural pool which is then filled with rain water and underground rivers. There are over 6,000 cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Prior to going to Tulum, I knew that I obviously wanted to visit a cenote, but I truly wanted to go to one that was more off the grid and didn’t have crowds. (Visiting a cenote should most definitely be on your list of boutique experiences in Tulum.)

As awesome and “Instagrammable” the Gran Cenote is, I wanted to go somewhere more authentic and hidden from the tourists. I was very thankful that my photographer Madeline found a stunning jewel called Cenote Angelita.

A local family owns this breathtaking cenote and for a few hundred Mexican pesos, you can park your car and walk down to the secluded and hidden cenote where you could enjoy scuba diving, swimming and relaxing in the beautiful sapphire blue waters.

Madeline and I were so happy she found this place. We had an awesome time swimming and we even got to see a baby crocodile! Yes, we saw a crocodile while we were swimming… In fact, a lot of Mexican cenotes located in the Yucatán Peninsula have crocodiles in them, but most of the time they don’t bother you.

I highly recommend visiting a cenote during your time in Mexico. Click here to discover more throughout the Yucatán Peninsula. A fun fact about the word cenote is that it comes from the Mayan word dzonot, which means well.

Eat Your Way Around Tulum:

Mexican cuisine is one of my top five favorites and I couldn’t wait to start indulging in some authentic food.

Between Madeline and the staff at Casa Pueblo, I was provided with some great foodie recommendations around the city, especially in the town!

Below is where I ate at during my time in Tulum:

El Capitán: Located in the heart of Tulum and a five-minute walk from Casa Pueblo is an authentic Mexican restaurant called El Capitán.

Here, you could savor the best of Mexican food such as tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas as well as cerveza (beer), mezcals, mojitos and margaritas. I savored the fish tacos for lunch one day and they were seriously the BEST I’ve ever had. I couldn’t recommend this place more!

Farm to Table: Another amazing restaurant in Tulum is Farm to Table. Just like the name, this wonderful restaurant offers seasonal farm-to-table food.

I loved how beautiful this restaurant was and in the back are little colorful houses that are actually available for rent through Airbnb. When I went to Farm to Table for dinner, I savored a refreshing craft cocktail with smoked pork tacos. I will admit that I am not the biggest pork person, but these were amazing!

Rincón Poblano: A great street side café that I visited with my friends Ashley and Cam of Life Outside the 9-5 was Rincón Poblano.

I love street food and the owners of this great café were super friendly and accommodating. I savored a Corona with chicken fajitas and they definitely hit the spot! (I also had an amazing time catching up with Ashley and Cam.)

See Chichén Itzá – One of the 7 Wonders of the World:

One of the top things I wanted to do during my time in Mexico was visit Chichén Itzá, which is one of the current 7 Wonders of the World.

This was the second Wonder of the World that I saw in 2019 and it was absolutely incredible. (The first one I saw was Machu Picchu in Peru. Click here to read about my journey on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu.)

Since I knew I wanted to visit Chichén Itzá, Casa Pueblo booked a private boutique tour for me to go there for a half day from Tulum.

Chichén Itzá is an hour and a half north west of Tulum and there are many cenotes you could visit in and around the area (there are different private tours you could do to perfectly fit your bucket list).

Because I was limited on time, I only did the half day tour to just Chichén Itzá and it was absolutely perfect!

Chichén Itzá means “at the mouth of the well of Itzá” and it is the 2^nd most visited archeological site of Mexico.

This Mayan city is located between Valladolid and Mérida and it was established before the period of Christopher Colombus and served as the religious center of the Yucatán for a long time.

At Chichén Itzá, you could see the Mayan and Toltec artistic works and stone monuments.

Also known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site the pyramid of El Castillo used to be open for visitors to climb the stairs. Due to over tourism, the monument has worn down and is now closed off for people to climb.

Also known as Kukulkan Pyramid, it was built for astronomical purposes and during the vernal equinox (first day of Spring) and the autumnal equinox (first day of Fall). At around 3pm, the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid’s main stairway. This causes seven triangles to form, imitating the body of a serpent that is around 37 yards long and creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent’s head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. How cool is that?!

Other cool places to see around Chichén Itzá is the Tzompantli, which is The Wall of Skulls, where the heads of sacrificial victims were placed; the Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguars, which is a beautifully-carved platform that is located on the central plain between the Temple of Venus and the Tzompantli; the Temple of the Warriors, which was a Mayan building big enough for large gatherings; the Thousand Columns, where there were great meeting halls and the Steam Bath, which is a Mayan version of a sauna.

Of course, there are many more ancient sites to check out at Chichén Itzá. In addition, I highly recommend looking through the markets and stands, it is a great way to practice your bargaining skills as well.

Overall, visiting the Mayan ruins in Mexico is one of the best boutique experiences to enjoy in Tulum.

Have Fun on the Beach Road of Tulum:

Just like in Tulum Town, the Beach Road of Tulum has some dreamy, boutique spots to check out.

Even though my time was limited, I loved all of the cute little swing bars, adorable clothing boutiques, food trucks with stringed lights, bamboo huts and so much more.

Below are some cool places to check out on the Beach Road:

• The magical oasis of Azulik.
• The bright beachfront swing bar at Coco Tulum.
• The dreamy and bohemian restaurants at Nômade.
• The wondrous Tulum Mayan Ruins.
• The “Follow that Dream” sign by The Lolita Shop.
• The cute I Scream Bar.
• The tropical Mur Mur swing bar.

A Girl’s Afternoon at Casa Malca – a Boutique Hotel on Tulum Beach Road:

During an afternoon in Tulum, I met up with Taylor of Taylor on a Trip to enjoy a lovely girls’ afternoon at Casa Malca and experience the beach in Tulum.

Known as the former mansion of Pablo Escobar – the billionaire criminal, Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist who founded and was the leader of the Medellín Cartel, Casa Malca is now a luxury, boutique resort located on the beachfront in Tulum.

When we first arrived at Casa Malca, we went straight to their gorgeous restaurant that features elegant couches, tables and chandeliers.

They also have outdoor seating on the beach, which is where we sat and enjoyed our mezcals and margaritas before it started to rain, bringing us back inside.

During our time at Casa Malca, I ordered lunch, which was squid ink croquettas and was also provided with fresh bread and olive oil. Everything was delicious!

After eating and drinking, we made our way onto the beach, which was absolutely beautiful. The water felt like a bathtub and the sand was nice and soft.

Casa Malca also has a really cool and picturesque pool that features an underground area with neon lights. Unfortunately, it started to rain hard when we were at the pool, but we still enjoyed everything else on the property.

There were hammocks everywhere, cool sculptures, walking paths, chandeliers hanging from the trees and a random bathtub.

Another cool area of Casa Malca is where the swinging couch is situated right before you enter into the hotel’s lobby. Since it was raining outside, they took the couch inside, but there were two cute swings surrounded by repurposed wedding gowns. It was such a cool art installation!

Overall, I had an amazing time in Tulum and honestly wish I could’ve stayed longer because I fell in love with it.

If you have any questions about my stay at Casa Pueblo Hotel or general inquiries about my time enjoying the best boutique experiences in Tulum, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

Traveling around Mexico? Click here to book a cooking class.

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Basic Facts of Mexico:

Currency: Mexican Peso (The United States Dollar is accepted everywhere!), Capital: Mexico City, Tulum Time Zone: Tulum does not follow Daylight Savings. During the summer months, Tulum is on Central Standard Time and then it is on Eastern Standard Time during the winter months.Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time

*Anything could happen during your travels. Always make sure you are insured in case there are unforeseen circumstances such as lost luggage/theft, natural disasters, personal liabilities and more. Click here to get insured for your next trip.

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