Cozumel and Tulum.
So, we’ve covered the ABC Islands— now, let’s go to Mexico!
Cozumel was a last minute trip, but we had some time off for 4th of July and wanted to go somewhere new. We noticed the Westin Cozumel had just opened and the pictures on their website made visiting this slice of paradise an easy decision.
There is not a bad view in the entire hotel. As soon as you walk into the lobby, all you can see are ocean views. They have windows from floor to ceiling and all hotel rooms are ocean facing, too!
The check in staff was very friendly and helpful. Throughout the week, the service was great and everyone went above and beyond to make sure we were happy.
In the lobby, they offered a bar with comfortable seating and large doors leading to the outdoor pool. Next to the pool, was a poolside bar and restaurant. [We ate there quite a few times and the food was really good!]
Other hotel amenities consisted of a 24 hour fitness center, a spa, water sports facilities, and a kids’ club. You can go swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and kayaking without having to leave the resort.
The Sky Lounge and pool can be found on the rooftop– [we spent a lot of time up there!] We have to say, the top of the Westin Cozumel is breathtaking and is on the top of our “Incredible Views” list. There’s also an ocean-front restaurant [feature photo] that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Although we spent a lot of our time at the resort, we took a short taxi ride into the city to explore a few nights. We enjoyed dinner at Palmeras, wore crazy balloon hats and sipped on a few cocktails at Señor Frogs, shopped around the Plaza and took a complimentary tequila tour at Mi Mexico Lindo. Downtown Cozumel makes you feel safe and is a lot of fun!
One day, we went out on a day trip with Fury Catamarans. They offer a few options, but we chose the sailing and snorkeling trip. There were less than 20 people on the catamaran [so it wasn’t too crowded] and we visited three different snorkeling locations. It was a 5 hour excursion with lunch included and they provided unlimited drinks. [We even had a chance to catch the sunset on our way back to shore!]
On the last day of our trip, we decided to visit Tulum. [If you have the time, we highly recommend going!] It’s a short 45 minute ferry to Playa del Carmen, and a one hour bus ride into the city. We left Cozumel early in the morning and took the last bus ride out of Tulum back to Playa del Carmen/Cozumel. There was plenty of time to explore, but we would love to revisit Tulum again on a separate vacation.
The bus from Playa del Carmen takes you straight to the Mayan ruins in Tulum. We explored for a couple hours and walked down the wooden stairs to Tulum’s hidden beach. Iguanas, palm trees and flowers surround the archaeological site.
Before we left Tulum, we visited Cenote Dos Ojos. It is a winding underwater cave, perfect for snorkeling and diving, and is one of the most famous cenotes in Mexico. When we plan our next trip to Tulum, we would love to visit more of them. [There are over 6,000 cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, so plenty of options to choose from!]
We eat a predominately plant based diet which makes eating a little tricky in some cities, but finding restaurants in Tulum was a breeze! Yelp is extremely helpful while traveling. We use it for restaurants, shopping, and city tours or adventures.
Things to Do in Cozumel:
Restaurants:
» Palmeras – [We ended up eating here a couple nights in a row – great location and the food was delicious!]
» Three Amigos
» Fat Tuesday – [Frozen Daiquiris]
» La Choza – [Mexican]
» Señor Frogs – [Even if you’ve been to a Señor Frogs before, you should still go! Always fun.]
» Guido’s – [Italian]
» Pancho’s Backyard – [Local]
Sightseeing + Adventure:
» Cozumel Sign at the Plaza
» San Martin Beach
» Botanical Gardens
» Museo de la Isla [Museum of Cozumel]
» Fury Catamaran Tours
» Tequila Tasting – [There are a few companies that offer tequila tasting. We had a great time at Mi Mexico Lindo, but Casa Mission and HA Hacienda Antigua offer tours, as well.]
» Kaokao Chocolate Tours
» Snorkeling + Paddleboarding
Things to Do in Tulum:
Restaurants:
» Antojitos La Chiapaneca – [Rated number 1 restaurant on Yelp.]
» Charly’s Vegan Tacos
» Raw Love – [Raw Vegan.]
» Mezzanine Restaurant – [Thai food with ocean views.]
» Burrito Amor – [Delicious and great atmosphere.]
Sightseeing + Adventure:
» Cenotes Dos Ojos
» Playa Paraiso – [Beach just south of the Tulum ruins.]
» Punta Laguna Nature Reserve
If you are planning your next vacation, we highly recommend Cozumel and Tulum! The beautiful views and adventures will leave you with amazing experiences and moments you won’t forget.
Cheers,
Kayla + Logan
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Plan your trip with Lonely Planet.