Family of 5 Mexico: Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Akumal
Caves at Aktun Chen
Brenda Fleming is the mother of three kids and loves all things New Mexico, including hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and camping. She is author/illustrator of the highly rated Short Front Legs: Observations of the Human Species from a Tired Mother(for sale locally at Indigo Baby and Collected Works) and is the illustrator of the popular children’s book Goodnight, Los Alamos that won Best Picture Book from the Arizona and New Mexico book awards. Brenda also sells New Mexico themed T-shirts and wildlife/landscape stickers at REI, PEEC Nature Center, and Valles Caldera Gift Shop.
Planning for a family of five isn’t always easy. You just barely fit into a rental car (which is great!) but rarely do hotels accommodate five (you have to get 2 rooms, or sneak people in.). So! Here is what we did, and we had a total blast. Below is the itinerary we did, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Budget: I’ve found the experiences with traveling–like beaches, tacos, and ruins can all be done at a low cost–trust me, I went to 12 countries when I was twenty with nothing but a part time English teaching job. But budgets go up dramatically when you pay for convenience, location, security, etc. For example you can take a bus for a few bucks, or rent a car for over $100/day (your buying convenience). And, the increase of cost goes up depending on the season–but for us, that the spring break was the time we could take off with our family. It’s all about your priorities! For me, I will never get a kitchen remodel, ha, but heck, we lived pretty well for this trip!
Tues:
Southwest 6:15 AM Depart ABQ
4:10 PM Arrive Cancun
Rent car from Hertz
Car rental ~$1200 for 9 days ($472 + insurance+ tax)
8:00 Arrive Zamas Hotel; Jungle Bungalow
KM 5 Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, Tulum, Q. Roo, Mexico 77780
Ate at hotel/ complimentary water in hotel /711 across street for snacks, etc.
Wed:
7:00 AM Breakfast at Hotel
Explored Tulum, grocery shoped, went to icecream played on beach
Thurs:
7:45: Drive to Ruinas Tulum Parking (14 min drive)
77760 Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Bring: Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, water bottles, protein bars/snacks
10:00 Drove to Cenote Tankah
Other options:
El Grande Cenote (4 minutes from town)
Dos Ojos Cenote-cool cave, bats
Best Dinner and Breakfast : Hotel
Best Dinner: Boccanera Pizzería y Cervecería
Fri:
7:00 am Breakfast hotel
Morning: Enjoy beach/hotel
Checkout 12:00 pm
Drive to Playa Del Carmen
Air BNB “Awe-inspiring views” by BRIC
Avenida CTM , Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Find Dinner spot 38th St, grab snacks/water
Sat:
Explore Playa Del Carmen , Play on beach
Dinner 38th Street
Best Breakfast: ARCANA (vegan, juices, smoothies, acia bowls) 38th. St
Best Dinner: Trujillos Cantina De Selva (Yukutan food, margaritas, live music) (38th st.
Best Lunch: YUM YUM
Best Icecream: Aldo’s Gelato (quince ave)
Sun:
7:45 Drive to Aktun Chen (underwater caves, ziplining, zoo: this was the highlight of our trip)
Mon –Thurs:
Checkout 12:00 pm; Head to Akumal
Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa All Inclusive