Do you remember the Tulum of 10, 15 or 20 years ago? It was an almost deserted strip of brilliant white sand and shining turquoise water basking in the brilliant Caribbean sun. The accommodations were primitive: mainly small wooden cabañas with a palapa roof where you either slept on a hammock or on a mattress on a rustic wooden bed frame. The bathrooms were always communal… and you wanted to use them early because, on the one hand, hygiene was never the main concern and on the other, the water supply was somewhat limited.

Many of us remember this older Tulum with nostalgia and a little sadness. Despite the fact that the accommodations left a lot to be desired, they did bring you closer to your surroundings and provided direct contact with nature at its most stunning. The general atmosphere was one of relaxation, acceptance and camaraderie with a constant sharing of adventures, dreams and the simple pleasures of everyday life.

This is the atmosphere and surroundings that Coco Tulum has strived to recreate… and very successfully. Anyone who visited Tulum many years ago will quickly recognize the inspiration behind their beachfront cabañas. It is like greeting an old friend who you have sorely missed.

But fortunately the similarities are only on the surface. Unlike the earlier quaint but primitive hotels, in this slightly more modern world, Coco Tulum’s main concerns are to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and to leave the smallest carbon footprint possible. That is why their communal bathrooms are cleaned three times a day and why they use only renewable energy.

So if you long for the old Tulum, with its affordable, rustic accommodations, then come and visit us at its more comfortable and modern version!

Summer in the Mexican Caribbean can be very hot. Lying on the sparkling white sand in front of the brilliant turquoise ocean offers some relief, but there are times when we yearn for cool, fresh water.

Fortunately, the Yucatán  Peninsula has just what we need for those months. The entire peninsula is made up of limestone. Water seeps through the surface, forming an intricate system of underground rivers. Over the centuries, the land above the underground rivers and caverns weakened and collapsed in some places forming sinkholes or, as they are known around here, cenotes (from the Mayan “dzonot” or “ts’onot”, meaning “cavity containing life-giving water”).

For the Mayans these cenotes were sacred. They were their source of fresh water and were considered passageways to the underworld. Some were used for sacrificial offerings and all were believed to be sacred wells or gifts from the gods.

These incredible refreshing, cool (sometimes even cold) fresh water pools are found in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by exuberant vegetation. They are truly the closest thing to paradise on earth.

Tulum is fortunate to have a great number of cenotes very near Coco Tulum. There is even one along the coastal road itself. But there are many more just 15 – 30 minutes away. Some are large, some are small but all have that magical aura that they have preserved for centuries.

What more can you ask for from a vacation spot. Spend the day luxuriating in fresh, cool water in the middle of the jungle, come back in time to enjoy the sunset on a secluded, solitary beach and then maybe take a 3 minute walk to our sister hotel, Playa Azul, for a cool beer and delicious supper before going back to your cozy cabaña where nature is at your doorstep for you to enjoy.