Tulum Mexico has become a must-do on many people’s travel lists and it’s clear to see why. A turquoise gem of a  spot south of Cancun full of fresh water  Cenotes bursting with life, yoga retreats, white sandy beaches and more juice bars than one person could ever dream of.

The selection of boutique beach accommodations such as the Instagram famous Azulik, jungle restaurants and bare-foot living attracts people from all over the world with a more boho crowd than those in Cancun. There are many reasons why Tulum should be on everyone’s bucket list but with increasing interest comes the danger of over-development so the time to sample this slice of paradise for yourself is now with this small yet handy guide.

Kitchen Table – This restaurant is slightly hidden, has a very small menu and is only open in the evenings. It is not on the main strip and is set back slightly on the way to the Tulum Ruins. It specialises in beef, pork and seafood cooked on a log fire with some seriously spicy cocktails.

Arca – A beautiful outside restaurant that serves great cocktails late into the starry night from a mosaic-coved bar. A great choice for dinner and offers a small selection of seafood, meats and desserts. The decor is gorgeous with a casual and relaxed vibe.

Zamas – It has shabby chic brightly painted wooden chairs that face out onto the ocean. This is the perfect casual and cost-effective lunch spot for a beer and some fish tacos.

I would also check out Matcha Mama, Raw Love and The Papaya Playa Project.

These areas are all reachable by car but are tricky to find as there are no clear signposts indicating when to turn off the main road. We asked for specific directions from our hotel and still managed to get lost so to erase this problem completely use a local taxi service. There is a fee to access all of the Cenotes which ranges from £5-£9 so make sure you have cash. Snorkel gear and lockers are available to rent and I recommend going as early as possible as people tend to turn up around lunchtime. A little further afield but perfect for a day trip would be to head to Cenote Xkeken, Cenote Choo-Ha and Cenote Ik Kil.

Be Tulum Spa - With a picture-perfect piece of cost line and dense jungle to explore it’s hard to pull yourself away from the nature that surrounds Tulum. I would however make one exception and allow yourself some time for a treat at Be Tulum spa. The Sanctuary offers a variety of pre-hispanic traditional Mayan rituals and treatments as well as having a sauna, steam room and pool which is complimentary for every guest. The spa's rooftop garden grows sacred herbs and medicinal plants used in traditional energy and body treatments, and complimentary tea elixirs. I went for the Yäan Balancing Massage followed by the ‘sensual and relax’ bath. The facilities, staff and energy of this place are absolutely outstanding and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Go for a snorkel - A favourite of mine when in any tropical destination is a snorkel trip. We opted for a local tour that takes you off the coast of Tulum and we were able to spot a number of colourful fish and turtles. If travelling at the right time of year and you want a full day activity I would go for a day trip to Cancun to swim with whale sharks. It’s a very early start but a bucket list activity.

There is no denying that Tulum has been built solely for tourism and acts as a ‘front of house’ in showcasing Mayan culture. With the increasing demand and interest on social media, the area has expanded rapidly bringing with it a mixed bag of reviews, inflating prices and more commercial places. While this stretch of coast does offer something for everyone if your intent to stay here is for the photos alone, rushing around from place to place or ‘to be seen’ then you will be missing the magic that Tulum has to offer. So sit back, relax and enjoy that spicy margarita.

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