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Snapshots from Three Weeks in Tulum

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The quintessential beach shot. Tulum does it right! Whether during the day or at night, there's always a quiet area to hang out and listen to the water lapping on the beach.

I spent last night shivering with a fever in a Mexican border town and can’t really think right now, so pictures will tell the stories from Tulum. I spent my days there learning Spanish, swimming in natural groundwater reservoirs called cenotes, hanging with new buddies, lounging on the beach, snorkeling, biking and running, eating fajitas and chile/pineapple popsicles, and generally just loving life, Mexico-style.

A half dozen people told me Tulum is their favorite place in the world. I’ll cast another vote for it as a special destination. If you get a chance to visit, make it happen!

Cheerio,

Dakota

Heading out on a boat ride in the lagoons near Tulum.

Heading out on a boat ride in the lagoons near Tulum.

A river dumps into the Caribbean.

A river dumps into the Caribbean.

Pink spoonbills and a pelican.

Pink spoonbills and a pelican.

The canals of Sian Kaan are lined with mangroves. Best part was a float (sans boat) for a kilometer through a tight canal with a ceiling of woven mangroves. Dead silence save for chirping birds.

The canals of Sian Kaan are lined with mangroves. Best part was a float (sans boat) for a kilometer through a tight canal with a ceiling of woven mangroves. Dead silence save for chirping birds.

A boat in the mangroves.

A boat in the mangroves.

Chelsea packing her brain with Spanish lessons.

Chelsea packing her brain with Spanish lessons. She joined up a couple weeks into my stay here.

When in Rome... Chelsea protects a Santa pinata enroute to a party. Not every day you see Santa wearing a Marmot rainjacket.

When in Rome… Chelsea protects a Santa pinata enroute to a party. Not every day you see Santa wearing a Marmot rainjacket. We got some laughs from locals who wondered what the crazy gringos were up to.

Buddies from the Spanish class.

Buddies (students and teachers) from our Spanish class at the Chac-Mool Institute.

Did you know a crocodile can jump almost 10 feet out of the water?

Did you know a crocodile can jump almost 10 feet out of the water?

An old ruin near Tulum.

A ruin near Tulum at Coba.

An empty beach halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

An empty beach halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

We explored a giant abandoned hotel complex. There were easily 20 buildings. Totally eerie.

We explored a giant abandoned resort complex. There were easily 20 buildings with hundreds of rooms. Totally eerie.

Another shot of the hotel. The world without us...

Another shot of the hotel. The world without us…

A cenote near Tulum. Limestone erodes away and leaves caves you can swim around in. So fun.

A cenote near Tulum. Limestone erodes away and leaves caves you can swim around in. So fun. My favorite was a completely underground cenote over 100′ across that was accessed by a long spiral staircase down into the cavern.

Acting tough in front of the main ruin in Coba. 150 feet tall!

Acting tough in front of the main ruin in Coba. (My compatriots missed the memo on a “blue steel” look.) The ruin behind us is 150 feet tall!