Yucatan by Day Yucatan by Night
6/8/2010 by Ron Burdine
Part 1 in a series of 4 articles
People that visit the Yucatan Peninsula and the Mexican Caribbean have come to expect a variety of activity and entertainment choices for maximum fun on vacation. The Yucatan delivers in a big way by the light of the sun and moon. We’ll cover a few day-night scenarios and see if you agree. We will focus on the areas around Playa del Carmen and Tulum since they are more central to most of these activities though we may reserve the right to a night out in Cancun or a day trip to Chichen Itza!
Lazy Beach Days and Romantic Tulum Nights
If you are looking for the ultimate beaches found on the Yucatan then look no further than Tulum. The beaches south of the world famous Tulum Ruins are some of the best found in the world. When you go there you will see why. Travel south on the beach road as you pass the rows of classic beachfront Tulum hotels and eco-chic resorts, pick one that looks fun or has a restaurant or bar; virtually all the hotels along the beach will welcome you to their chairs, beach beds and powder white beaches if you are going to have a bite to eat or something to drink. Several favorites you may want to check out are Los Lirios, OM Tulum and Playa Azul.
If you are looking to really get away and find that ultimate secluded piece of paradise, continue south into the Sian Kaan Biosphere and take your pick of wide open rarely occupied untouched beaches! There is a nice intermediate option here at Cesiak, which is a lovely spot overlooking both the lagoon and Caribbean Sea with very little beach traffic-also a great spot for sunset dinners. Don’t forget your cooler, camera and something to eat if you head further south; there are few services when you get out in it!
Tulum by night offers a number of romantic options starting with moonlit walks on the beach. If you travel to the area in the months of May through August you have a good chance of seeing nesting Sea Turtles on your walk, this is truly an awe inspiring sight and certainly qualifies as a once in a lifetime experience. This is a great option after dinner at one of a number of great beachfront restaurants or other fine eateries found in Tulum Town. A few of our favorites on the beach include Posada Margarita (Italian), Cesiak (Mayan and Mexican), OM Tulum (wood fired pizza and continental) and in high season December through April, Hechizo (continental) at Rancho San Eric is a must. In town, try Le Bistro (French)in the back garden, La Naïve (Italian) or The Oasis for great local seafood.
In our next installment we will get into Playa del Carmen hotels and some of the great options they offer. It’s a far cry from the still sleepy town of Tulum, but it’s the variety and range of options in this area that make it such a diverse and attractive vacation destination!