Need help with Tulum por favor

[silvergirl]

Okay, so I want to take my friend to Tulum next week for a day. I think we'll splurge on a Taxi just one way and do the bus on return. I've only been to El Paraiso twice and nothing else in Tulum. Is the town and restaurants that are talked about right in the bus area? It looks like a busy little town, but not sure if Gringo Daves and Charlie's that I've read about are in this area? Is this "Tulum Pueblo"?
And what IS the "beach road"?? I recall going down I guess what is 307 and continuing into town. Then we turned left once in the busy area and headed down this long road for a way (name???) until we did a u-turn. Now, is this the beach road everyone refers to........or would that be the previous road?? We followed this road and saw what looked like a few places to stay on the right and then ended up at El Paraiso. While on the beach, we took a walk to the left as far as what I guess are the ruins? Couldn't walk any further. Backpacker and campers in this area up on the beach. Then walked back past El Paraiso and didn't see much at all. Where are all these restaurants? Someone mentioned La Zebra. Where is this? Not much in the way of choice at El Paraiso for lunch although I love the beach beds and the area, but maybe I should try something different? What do you Tulum experts think??

Here's some shots taken while at El Paraiso. Anyone know what's way out in the distance? Since we don't have a car, we'd have to walk to find out........

[Jessie James]

There are places to stay, eat, etc. in both directions... When you take the road to the beach there are Hotels and Restaurants to both the left and right when you arrive at the T intersection... I've never actually visited the places to the right. We like to be near the ruin and see it from the beach.
I believe La Zebra is to the right and way down the road. Tulum Hotel - La Zebra Beachfront Cabanas and Cantina - Riviera Maya, Mexico ... A lot of the good places to eat dinner are in town though. I don't think we've ever had dinner on the beach. We always spend the day on the beach and grab a cab into town at night to eat dinner...
You can also check out this site's sister site... tulum.info forum - Powered by vBulletin

[maureena5]

Here's a link to a Tulum Beach (Beach Road) restaurants & hotels. It's a bit dated.
google: www bill-in-tulsa com

On this same web page, click on the Black & White map. It includes Tulum Pueblo. This map can be enlarged for easier reading.

[Jessie James]

Nice map!

[Jimontheriver]

At the very end of my trip report (link below), Mapchick talks of a great new restaurant. We just need her to get us the name.

[gingele]

If you are going to take the ADO bus back to Playa, then you will be right near Charlies...and I do recommend popping in there, even if it is for a shot of tequila - although the food is supposed to be very good as well.

After your day on the beach, you'll take a taxi back to the ADO bus station in Tulum Pueblo and Charlies is just a few doors down from the station. It is to the south.

Here's us at Charlies in January after a day at paraiso

[Big Fish]

Mezzanine is a great place to eat (thai influenced)....its just a few hundred yds south of El Paraiso, so you could walk it - you will actually drive right past it to get to El Paraiso. They also have steps you can access it from the beach. It is located where the sandy beach ends and rocky part begins. They had triangular awnings over the deck area.

I read about The Mayan Grill which was meant to be good too - I think it is just south of Mezzanine - but not certain!

[Susie Q Roo]

Originally Posted by silvergirl

Okay, so I want to take my friend to Tulum next week for a day. I think we'll splurge on a Taxi just one way and do the bus on return. I'd be inclined to do it the other way around, I think. I've only been to El Paraiso twice and nothing else in Tulum. Is the town and restaurants that are talked about right in the bus area? Yep. It looks like a busy little town, but not sure if Gringo Daves and Charlie's that I've read about are in this area? Unless it's very recently reopened and I'm unaware of it, Gringo Dave's Tulum location has been out of business for years. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong... the one time I went there it was beautiful. And it was on the water. Is this "Tulum Pueblo"? Yes.
And what IS the "beach road"?? I recall going down I guess what is 307 and continuing into town. Then we turned left once in the busy area and headed down this long road for a way (name???) until we did a u-turn You mean you turned back north, right? There's a sharp left that turns up the beach but no u-turn there.. Now, is this the beach road everyone refers to........or would that be the previous road?? I think both are probably referred to that way as one takes you TO the beach and the other FOLLOWS the beach. There's not a lot of any significance on the road that goes between the highway and the beach though. We followed this road and saw what looked like a few places to stay on the right and then ended up at El Paraiso. While on the beach, we took a walk to the left as far as what I guess are the ruins? That would be them! Couldn't walk any further. Backpacker and campers in this area up on the beach. Then walked back past El Paraiso and didn't see much at all. Where are all these restaurants? Someone mentioned La Zebra. Where is this? Most of the beachside restaurants in Tulum are to the south. Not much in the way of choice at El Paraiso for lunch although I love the beach beds and the area, but maybe I should try something different? What do you Tulum experts think?? I would time your visit to eat either upon your arrival to Tulum pueblo or on your departure. I'd go to Pollo Bronco and buy un pollo entero which includes all the trimmings except the potato which you must order if they have any. Best chicken I've eaten in Mexico!

Here's some shots taken while at El Paraiso. Anyone know what's way out in the distance? Since we don't have a car, we'd have to walk to find out........
Not sure, but there are some private properties in the area... perhaps that's one of them?

Or you could always just schedule the Big Red Hump.

[vieve]

Sorry! my post on the other thread about location of La Zebra was confusing!

Just re-read it (only made sense if you've driven in that area and knew where Hotel Las Ranitas was)...the official name of what you are calling the beach road, is Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila because that beach road runs from the ruins to Boca Paila and further south...Bill-in-Tulsa's map is a good one...La Zebra is down that road pretty far south of where Paraiso is- it's a right turn from that T- intersection Jesse James mentions, El Paraiso is a left... I think it'd be fun to go south on that road if you've never been! It's an incredible stretch of beach from Maya Tulum on down.

If you like to drive-and are fairly confident about it, I was wondering if it would be cheaper for you to rent a car for the day over a taxi??? I got a really good deal for a couple of days last year...even with insurance it worked out to be about $25 a day. I think I got the car at one of the bigger hotels.That way, I could do the beaches where you can see the ruins AND the beaches further south.

You and your friend also may want to get a massage someplace-easy to do with a car. I have had really good ones at different places in that area. Last year got a great one at Maya Tulum- Therapist was Italian and named Laura, I think.

But Susie's suggestion about taking bus there and cabbing it back makes good sense.There are alway taxis around. I'm also now putting Pollo Bronco on my list of places to go since Susie says they have the best chicken she's eaten in Mexico...(she introduced me to the shrimp cazuela(sp.?) at La Pesca and I dream about that dish it was so good -when is lunch time?)

I'd probably try to eat lunch(or at least drinks and apps) and dinner in Tulum that way you could do a meal in town and one on the beach.(Can you tell why I'm on a diet since my return from Playa?) I liked both Mezzanine and Posada Margherita, but they are kinda pricey.( Since you're doing a girl's trip: I stayed at Posada Margherita with 3 other women last year and we all had fun flirting with Alessandro when we ordered-great homemade lobster stuffed ravioli one time. He is Italian and plays up his sexy accent when he reads you the evening's selections.My friend still calls me from California and imitates him) I've also had some decent food at Zamas.
We had some good times going out at night in Tulum too- usually really different vibe from Playa.

[Phil in Ottawa]

Originally Posted by vieve

I think it'd be fun to go south on that road if you've never been! It's an incredible stretch of beach from Maya Tulum on down.

Just so you know, we were down that way about three weeks ago and parts of the road were in really bad shape due to damage from Hurricane Dean.

We were in a big pick-up truck and we had to go really slow. Not sure how a rental car would do (might bottom out).

The damage may have been repaired by now so this may be a moot point, but I thought I'd mention it regardless

[vieve]

Thanks Phil...forgot about how much of a hit that road took...(and yeah, that little rental car I had hardly made it into the parking lot at Don Cafeto's)
Might be better not to rent a car in that case. Unless it's jeep

[Sol]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

Or you could always just schedule the Big Red Hump.

Has Pollo Bronco reopened? They had closed for awhile.

[silvergirl]

Originally Posted by Jessie James

There are places to stay, eat, etc. in both directions... When you take the road to the beach there are Hotels and Restaurants to both the left and right when you arrive at the T intersection... I've never actually visited the places to the right. We like to be near the ruin and see it from the beach.
I believe La Zebra is to the right and way down the road. Tulum Hotel - La Zebra Beachfront Cabanas and Cantina - Riviera Maya, Mexico ... A lot of the good places to eat dinner are in town though. I don't think we've ever had dinner on the beach. We always spend the day on the beach and grab a cab into town at night to eat dinner...
You can also check out this site's sister site... tulum.info forum - Powered by vBulletin

Thanks for the links. I had forgotten about tulum.info!

[silvergirl]

Originally Posted by maureena5

Here's a link to a Tulum Beach (Beach Road) restaurants & hotels. It's a bit dated.
google: www bill-in-tulsa com

On this same web page, click on the Black & White map. It includes Tulum Pueblo. This map can be enlarged for easier reading.

Awesome map, Maureen! Thanks a bunch!

[silvergirl]

Originally Posted by gingele

If you are going to take the ADO bus back to Playa, then you will be right near Charlies...and I do recommend popping in there, even if it is for a shot of tequila - although the food is supposed to be very good as well.

After your day on the beach, you'll take a taxi back to the ADO bus station in Tulum Pueblo and Charlies is just a few doors down from the station. It is to the south.

Thanks Amy! I'm glad to hear its so close to the bus station. Rachel Ray did her traveling special at Charlie's. She had the Pablano and it looked delicious.
Really nice pic, by the way!