Travel Colorfully – A Day in Tulum

Earlier this week I talked about my travel diaries from the first stop on me and Tiffany’s Western Caribbean girl’s getaway cruise with Princess Cruiseline in beautiful Costa Maya, and today I’m back with a peek at what was my personal favorite adventure during the cruise – our day in Tulum, Mexico. From exploring the Mayan Ruins to indulging in delicious Mayan food in an authentic Mayan village, Tiffany and I got to fully immerse ourselves in the incredible history and culture of the Mayans.

Click through to learn about our day of adventure in beautiful Tulum.

Our day began as the ship docked at the island of Cozumel. Because the island is just off the coast of Playa Del Carmen and just a short 45 minute drive to historical Tulum, there was a wealth of options when it came to picking out our excursion for the day. We simply couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see and explore ruins from the ancient Mayan civilization, so we knew that we wanted to find an excursion that included a tour of the ruins. When we found an excursion that included a tour of the Tulum Mayan ruins, swimming in a cenote and an authentic Mayan lunch, we were sold! We met for the excursion in a high speed ferry just off the dock and we were on our way!

TIP – if you do any excursion that will take you away from Cozumel via the high speed ferry, be sure to eat breakfast first or bring it on board. Tiffany and I didn’t fit time in for breakfast and we were a little sick on the extremely fast ride!

We were absolutely blown away by the incredible structures the Mayans had built so many years ago, but we were even more impressed to find that they’d built it just off a cliff with the most incredible ocean views.

 

After we saw the ocean and the beach, Tiffany and I decided to make a little extra time before we had to meet back at the buss to enjoy a little sand between our toes. Just behind the ruins, you’ll find a winding staircase that leads to a white sand beach with the most turquoise of waters. If you have time to stop even if it’s just to dip your feet in and take some photos, I definitely recommend it!

TIP – be sure to wear your swimsuit underneath your clothes for the Tulum Mayan Ruins tour so you can take a dip if you choose!

 

After spending a couple of hours touring the incredible ruins, it was time to meet back at the bus so we could venture off to the next part of the tour. This wasn’t included on the excursion description, but I was so excited to find we even got to fit a canoe ride in on our way to the cenote for our swim. I was so shocked at how clear the water was in the first cenote that we canoed through. You could see straight down to the bottom and take in every fish and animal. It was incredible and so beautiful!

 

After we canoed across the first cenote, we arrived at the swimming cenote. A gorgeous little swimming pole where you could jump in right from the dock or from a much higher cliff if you really wanted a thrill. Tiffany and I even tried to get some underwater GoPro footage so I could share how clear the water was, but it was mostly a huge fail. I did attempt to edit one of the photos above to show you anyway though!

TIP – make sure you bring a little bit of cash for renting snorkeling gear. Tiffany and I hadn’t thought of that and were so bummed that we couldn’t snorkel in the stunning, crystal clear waters. You’ll also need it to tip the bus driver.

 

Our day full of adventure in Tulum ended with an amazing meal prepared by the people living in the authentic Mayan village. From the delicious Mayan corn tortillas to the fresh guacamole, we enjoyed every delicious bite. They even treated us to fresh coffee grown there after our meal. YUM!

 

Fair-well xx,

**Thanks so much to Princess Cruises for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.