June 2011 Long Weekend

[heenan]

Missing Tulum even though it is less than a week since we returned.
Best antidote is a trip report in pictorial and topical form.
We had four days in Tulum. Two with sun, one with rain in the morning and clouds in the afternoon, and one with rain throughout the day.
The rain dissipated the effects of the sand gravity, however, leading us to a bit more exploring of the pueblo and further inland.

But to start this report, we need a few pics of everyone's favorite - the sand and sea in the sun -

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5078/5865494262_6373d29acc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865494262/) Betulum beach looking south

DSC06735

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865494082/][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/5865494082_61e32495b6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865485738/) Betulum beach bed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/5865505852_1b5ec726bd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865505852/) Beach in Sian Ka'an

And on video of the drive down the Boca Paila Road to Betulum - love that drive (click the link)


http://youtu.be/Sp-5uhjSuGY

[tbpeaceful]

heenan ~ I'm pretty sure I love you!!!

My spirit needed that SOOOOO badly this morning. Thanks. :sun:

[heenan]

We stayed at Betulum. Our second time there. This time in Room O16, one of the two second floor rooms with a rooftop pool and deck. The roof was great, particularly on one afternoon when it was cloudy and windy. The water in the pool warmed up nicely during the day. The service at Betulum was excellent again. Whatever you asked for, they would provide. Never pushy, but always attentive. We had lunch on our beach bed, and room service one night when the sun tired us out. There is A/C in the rooms, with reminders to turn it off when you are out of the room. Wifi at the restaurant and on the beach worked well. On Wednesday night, Betulum had a pizza and movie on the beach special. We enjoyed that on our first night after traveling. The movie was set up with the ocean behind it, and chairs in front. We sat up on the dune at a table for our pizza dinner. The hotel was about half full while we were there, and it gave us a bit more room on their beach beds than last time when the hotel was full most nights.

Here are some pics of Betulum -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864951069/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/5864951069_99cbe7dc09_b.jpgBetulum - view of bar from roof of Room O16

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865488836/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/5865488836_2fcb06a1a8_b.jpgBetulum beach

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865482862/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5234/5865482862_0f8d5c347d_b.jpgBetulum beach beds

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864952927/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/5864952927_1b3090b529_b.jpgBetulum path between restaurant and pool

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864957727/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5116/5864957727_c2cf7de1cd_b.jpgBetulum path from entrance to rooms

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864942123/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/5864942123_6dd45441f0_b.jpgBetulum pool

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864959083/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5271/5864959083_b89980898a_b.jpgBetulum - view of beachbeds through palms

That last pic is one of my favorites because of the light on the water.

[heenan]

I mentioned the service at Betulum. One example was our yoga class. We missed their regular class on Thursday. It is Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. When we checked and found we had missed the class, they offered to try to schedule another class for Friday. That one did not make because they need at least 4 people. So they tried again for Saturday, and that one got set. Saturday a.m. arrived, and the other couple dropped out, but the instructor, Tomar, went ahead with us for essentially a private lesson that the group rate. Tomar was great, even if the yoga stretched some parts that I am still feeling.

Here are some pics of Room O16 -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865504178/]
Betulum Room 016 from the ground

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865495706/][img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2797/5865495706_0b12797486_b.jpg
Betulum Room O16 shower and outdoor spiral stairs to roof

To get to the stairs to the roof, you go through the shower essentially, or to one side of where the shower head is and through a glass door.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865489596/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/5865489596_d5a7db36e8_b.jpg
Betulum Room O16 looking down the spiral staircase from the roof

There are 19 steps to the roof, by the way.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865489106/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/5865489106_e75ce7f845_b.jpg
Betulum Room O16 rooftop plunge pool

The pic above is looking to the south.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864928137/]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/5864928137_f1c35b14a1_b.jpg
Betulum Room O16 beach bed on the roof deck

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864937389/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/5864937389_04134f0d5f_b.jpg
Betulum Room O16 rooftop outdoor shower

Quite a view.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864929779/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/5864929779_507e42027e_b.jpg
Betulum view of Room O16 from the bar

To get the view above, one has to walk off the path and stand on the jungle side of the bar at the beach.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865490762/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5239/5865490762_cb1e947e82_b.jpg
Betulum View from Roof of Room O16

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5869643525/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5314/5869643525_5a0e09d503_b.jpg
view out the windows to the beach

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865339660/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5865339660_87cde53d38_b.jpg
O16 rooftop pool view

Video of the walk up the spiral stairs and from the rooftop deck (sorry for the poor quality of the video)


http://youtu.be/3LpLIk5JlCQ?hd=1

[FITZ]

We Be talkin' some serious Tulum here.
Keep it coming!

[Westybchbum]

What Fitz said.... I am just sitting here saying Wow, wow, wow!

[TortillayTortuga]

Wow, Wow, Wow. That place is definitely on the short list!!!!!

[sparklegem]

I loved getting to see all of your photos of Be Tulum! That roof top pool deck is a dream come true!!

[heenan]

Dining: We tried one new place for dinner - Hartwood, and it was excellent. Don't usually take food pics, but did for Hartwood because the presentation was different. Most dishes were served in cast iron skillets of different sizes, including the pineapple crumb cake with fresh whipped creme for desert. One word of warning, the habanero infused margarita at Hartwoods is hot - too hot for us. They kindly replaced it with a more regular margarita.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5871537168/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5277/5871537168_d0304e8d81_b.jpg
hartwood sign

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5871537870/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5313/5871537870_be39e7188c_b.jpg
hartwood ovens

Cannot sit too close on a warm night. Can feel the heat of the ovens.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5871537654/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5871537654_9da6164276_b.jpg
hartwood skillets

Grouper with new potatoes in the big skillet; cauliflower in the small skillet. The cauliflower was great.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5870980607/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/5870980607_8f88c18827_b.jpg
hartwood bar

We also dined at Posado Margerita, a favorite, Don Cafetos, another favorite, and Betulum twice - once for the pizza and movie night, and once in our room. All were good. The manager at Posado Margerita cracks me up. When we go there now and tell him we visit every trip, he says, "Everything the same. Same menu. Same waiter. All the same."

Also had lunch at La Zebra, in addition to Betulum. Had to have a mohito on a rainy day.

[Westybchbum]

It is so interesting to hear you had such a different experience at Hartwood. Obviously they didn't have an issue with you taking photos. I am curious about the camera you used. Perhaps Tyt's looked intimidating to them because we were quite literally accosted upon walking in and scolded that no pics were allowed, before T even tried!!!

It looks like they have a successful business going there despite the mixed reviews! There is no denying it is a neat place.

[FITZ]

That's alot of spuds!

[heenan]

Westy: I recalled your report of your experience, and had some trepidation about taking pics. I was only using an iphone at the restaurant. I waited until I saw another person take some pics. She got up and walked around to get her pics. We also talked to the owner who waits on guests about how they ended up in Tulum. It was after vacationing there last year - everybody's dream. If only I had a transferable skill! Heenan

[Mojito!!!]

I'm always amazed how everyone's photos look like postcards. I've been in the area before and know it really does look like that, yet still amazed. =D

[heenan]

Tulum Pueblo: Since it rained a couple of the days we were in Tulum, we were forced to consider other activities than the beach. This led to an exploration by car of the pueblo in search of the elusive Flor de Michoacan and paletas. I say elusive because we had looked for this particular paletas place on two previous trips. We did not do a grid search on prior trips. I thought I had an idea of where it was, and we asked our waiters where we could get paletas. That was the wrong question as we learned. Driving around the pueblo in the day, we saw at least half a dozen convenience stores and other places advertising paletas. Turns out Flor de Michoacan is directly across from the ADO bus station on the main road. If you are wondering why we wanted paletas so bad, then you haven't had a Mexican popsicle. They are made with real fruit, including chunks of fruit in many of them, or milk if it is a milk based paleta, e.g. chocolate or maybe coconut. I did not get a picture of the paletas we had, but here are a some pics of Flor de Michoacan -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864955707/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5864955707_72f03370cb_b.jpg
Flor de Michoacan

Front of the store on the main street. Hard to believe we had missed it before.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865507246/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/5865507246_7bf3b4d9fc_b.jpgFlor de Michoacan

Courtyard in the back of the store where you can enjoy your paletas.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865507394/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/5865507394_7ec58a5a29_b.jpgFlor de Michoacan

More of the courtyard. One more fun fact about Flor de Michoacan - the owner was Miss Quintana Roo of 1994. Her dress from the pageant, a seashell dress, is in a case in the store with a photo of her wearing it. The manager of the store was quite fun to visit with.

[heenan]

More of our pueblo exploration: We came across a cemetery with above ground crypts that was interesting -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865506584/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/5865506584_02d49f85ca_b.jpgTulum cemetery

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865506754/]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/5865506754_8bc49844a4_b.jpgTulum cemetery

We encountered a tree in the road - always a favorite in Mexican towns -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865506918/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5865506918_e4768f7662_b.jpgTree in the road in Tulum

We drove the wrong way on a one way street - no pics of that.

We drove through part of Aldea Zama, and the security guard did not stop us when I drove in the exit side of the divided road. There was one condominium project under construction -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864957249/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5864957249_0f68d11c62_b.jpg
Aldea Zama

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865508182/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5238/5865508182_5e1851fb79_b.jpg
Aldea Zama

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864956575/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5864956575_ea3258faf6_b.jpg
Aldea Zama construction

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864956753/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5864956753_1b44c82c3d_b.jpg
Aldea Zama construction

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865508322/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5865508322_f3b6f373b5_b.jpg
Aldea Zama

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5873218298/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5873218298_1fe2c72a69_z.jpg
pemex station next to aldea zama

Did not really like seeing the pemex station on the road to the beach road, but it is better than seeing it on the beach road itself.

We also drove one morning to Los Arboles Tulum. Sad to say no pics of that visit. We were too busy taking it all in. It is a really cool development, and being there gave us a better appreciation for what jungle life might be like - quiet and peaceful. The roads have no topes either. The natural rock construction does allow for high speed driving; more of a slower touring looking all around. We got to walk up to one huge house under construction, and walk around the community center site. Most of the other houses could not been seen from the road, except for a bit of color from an exterior wall as we drove by. The administrator who was there on a Sunday morning, Eneida, was great and very helpful. We were glad to see her after we drove up to the gate and tried to converse with the security guard. Our lack of much Spanish, especially for anything not having to do with food or drink, and his total lack of English would have made our visit impossible if not Enieda. Really have to work harder on my Spanish before our next visit.

Next post will be back to the beach, in anticipation of which here is a panorama from the sand outside La Via Laktea, which by the way has a chain link fence around it now -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5873218302/]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/5873218302_225d2c4f05_z.jpg
panorama

[mayaflya]

Heenan, sorry that you had the rainy day, but I am really enjoying the pics of the Pueblo!

[heenan]

Thanks, Maya. Better get my report done since your ticker says you're leaving in two days. Glad to read you're set up for real-time reporting!

[sparklegem]

It is great to see your rainy day photos! I have had Flor de Michoacan on my list of places to try for a long time. The courtyard looks lovely.

[beachreader]

I didn't know Flor de Michoacan had a courtyard back there, looks lovely!

A chainlink fence around LVL? I wonder why? I hope they're not closing down.

[heenan]

Back to the beach: We walked both north and south from Betulum, and ran in the mornings. North has other hotels and houses, and more people. South has the Sian Kaan and less people. Some of the sights -

The treehouse-like structure just north of Betulum called Shekinah - still under construction -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864931897/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/5864931897_cb944f6bf6_b.jpg
Beach - Shekinah

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865483540/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5271/5865483540_597763b27b_b.jpg
Beach - Shekinah sign

Other hotels as we walked -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864932189/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5316/5864932189_b6b8f6559d_b.jpg
Beach - north to Dos Ciebas and Las Ranitas

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864932337/]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/5864932337_9ff847bbb0_b.jpg
Beach - Las Ranitas

No one on the beach at Dos Ceibas and only a few people at Las Ranitas.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864934923/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/5864934923_11e9710c0f_b.jpg
Beach - Om beach chair

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865484224/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/5865484224_51073b9e7c_b.jpg
Beach - La Zebra - sign for Lina's Mexican Kitchen

More people at La Zebra on the beach and in Lina's.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865485266/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/5865485266_c40a009e48_b.jpg
Beach - La Zebra turtle marker

Saw lots of turtle tracks in the mornings.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864934759/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5864934759_53ea1af820_b.jpg
Beach - Nueva Vida de Ramiro

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865486234/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/5865486234_1b004f1984_b.jpg
Beach - Nueva Vida de Ramiro

One of the days, we headed up to Coqui Coqui to look for some "Tulum Bracelets." We had seen an article about the bracelets with an American actress wearing them in photos outside Coqui Coqui. One of the bracelets was beaded, and my wife does bead weaving and crocheting of bracelets. And we could stop at La Zebra for mojitos (coming and going).

Alas, we found no beaded bracelets at Coqui Coqui. It was an interesting set of boutique stores, however. We did meet a local guy there who told us he had lived in Chicago for several years. He wanted to talk about things in the states. He also told us about waterspouts that he said formed every August on the ocean at Tulum, and cause damage on the beach due to high winds. This was an interesting story about something we had never heard or read. Wonder if any Tulum locals can shed light on what this guy was describing.

Also at Coqui, we also saw the most frightening sight we had ever seen in Tulum - a crowd on the beach -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865486112/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5154/5865486112_18e3fb1e2e_b.jpg
Beach - Coqui Coqui with crowds in background

It was so scary we turned around and headed straight back south away from this unusual and unsightly crowded beach. The pic may not look like Playa del Carmen, but for Tulum, that is a definitely crowded beach. Don't know what beach club that was, and did not want to know. We only wanted to get back to our uncrowded beach at Betulum.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865487692/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5865487692_84c9b788f5_b.jpg
Betulum beach

And our peacful beach bed -


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om15ZmmSdu8

[heenan]

I didn't know Flor de Michoacan had a courtyard back there, looks lovely!

A chainlink fence around LVL? I wonder why? I hope they're not closing down.

Don't know what is up with LVL. We happened to by sitting on the sand outside the fence late one afternoon when a couple and another woman walked up from the beach and a security guard unlocked the gate and let them in. We did not see them come out while we were there.

[JunkyBurrittos]

Wow, Heenan, thanks for the awesome pics.

Every time I read a TR, I see how much I DIDN'T do and realize I gotta come back!

Keep em coming! Thanks.

[minniemex]

Thanks for the great pictures & report Heenan.

I too am curious about the "chain link" fence around LVL.

[beachreader]

Hey, great to see this is moving along, and now has a name, Shekinah! This is the place Margo said is going to be like a holistic/artistic sanctuary of sorts, from what I could gather. Practioners of healing arts and artists, and living on site. Something like that. Looking forward to finding out more, I think it's a very cool building.



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/5864931897_cb944f6bf6_b.jpg

[beachreader]

And that crowd north of Coqui is really odd. I thought the only thing in that area was Casa Behla (and its two new casitas) and Azucar. Ak'iin is the nearest beach club and it's several properties north. I wonder if just a large group rented out the Behla properties? But that would only be a dozen or so people.

[minniemex]

And that crowd north of Coqui is really odd. I thought the only thing in that area was Casa Behla (and its two new casitas) and Azucar. Ak'iin is the nearest beach club and it's several properties north. I wonder if just a large group rented out the Behla properties? But that would only be a dozen or so people.

My guess would be Ak'iin ~ Fred & I saw a group there our last trip from a cruise ship or maybe it was in February? Not sure, but I think they are just a little spread out is all. They look like cruise ship people. :o

[beachreader]

Oh, I also meant to ask about this picture. When did La Zebra add the name "Lina's Kitchen" to their restaurant?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/5865484224_51073b9e7c_b.jpg


And thanks for driving back into the Aldea Zama area, looks like they're moving right along. No golf course, though, right? I'd heard that was killed, but not sure if it was "kill" or "delay". A taxi driver told me for sure it was under construction, then I heard no.

[Westybchbum]

We noticed that new La Zebra sign when we were there in March/April..... Don't think it was there in Feb. Not sure what its all about since then menu has not changed in the 18 months we have been going. Pretty sign, though. There is also on on the road.

[heenan]

Oh, I also meant to ask about this picture. When did La Zebra add the name "Lina's Kitchen" to their restaurant?

And thanks for driving back into the Aldea Zama area, looks like they're moving right along. No golf course, though, right? I'd heard that was killed, but not sure if it was "kill" or "delay". A taxi driver told me for sure it was under construction, then I heard no.

Not sure when name of restaurant at La Zebra was changed. Westy noted it from March or April. Menu looked to be the same.

We did not see evidence of a golf course being constructed yet. Just the one set of condos. But there are roads that go for quite aways.

[heenan]

One more pic of the top floor of Shekinah -

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5865502756/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/5865502756_e6ae7c4c1e_b.jpg

[beachreader]

Isn't that amazing? I think I heard it's being constructed of found wood, no trips to Home Depot. Not sure how that will work for the floors, but the driftwood being used sure looks cool!

Hoping it'll be completed by September so I can really get a good look around.

[heenan]

Few more pics of our beach walks south: On one afternoon, there were actually quite a few people on the beach from Rancho San Eric south, probably a dozen in different groups. But most days there were only a couple here or there.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864953529/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5864953529_836e860588_b.jpgSian Ka'an beach

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864954149/]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/5864954149_b91a460ddc_b.jpgSian Ka'an house and beach bed

Folks were staying at this house, as the nice spread on the beach bed and towels on the loungers show. One day several workers were cleaning the beach at this house. We never actually saw the guests of the house on the beach though.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23872398@N03/5864953975/]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/5864953975_4ea2c0f251_b.jpg
Sian Ka'an house and beach bed from distance

Same house from a bit north on the beach with the sun out. Great set up!

And one video from a cloudy windy morning -


http://youtu.be/C-zYAA2j9WQ?hd=1

Until next time in Tulum ...

Thanks for reading.

[minniemex]

Thanks for the morning walk Heenan! I love to walk the beach and your video gave me the pleasure of that this morning.

Mucho Gracias Amigo

[heenan]

My pleasure, Minnie. The long stretch of beach in Tulum is one of its best attributes.

[beachreader]

How far into the preserve is that little house? I don't suppose you saw a name or anything? Looks very cool.

[alfred_hybrid]

That restaruant sign at La Zebra wasn't there when we were there in early April. I have a pic of my wife posing with the lady statues. Or, they take it down at night.

They had a sign at the big yoga monstrosity offering yoga at 8AM each day. We didn't partake.

We spent lots of time at BeTulum's bar and loved the look of their rooms and their private upstairs decks and pools, but they're so expensive. Also, their guests looked a bit overdressed for our Tulum tastes.

I need to be there again soon. I think I want my ashes sprinkled on that beach. Hope that's not too creepy.

[heenan]

How far into the preserve is that little house? I don't suppose you saw a name or anything? Looks very cool.

Did not see any name. And I looked. The house is not far at all into the preserve - 5-10 minutes walking past the houses in Rancho San Eric. Also, we could not see any solar panels or wind turbine at the house, which makes one wonder about electricity. Still it has a nice beach spot.

[heenan]

That restaruant sign at La Zebra wasn't there when we were there in early April. I have a pic of my wife posing with the lady statues. Or, they take it down at night.

They had a sign at the big yoga monstrosity offering yoga at 8AM each day. We didn't partake.

We spent lots of time at BeTulum's bar and loved the look of their rooms and their private upstairs decks and pools, but they're so expensive. Also, their guests looked a bit overdressed for our Tulum tastes.

I need to be there again soon. I think I want my ashes sprinkled on that beach. Hope that's not too creepy.

Yoga sign is still up at the yoga house. We did not see any yoga occurring there this time, even though we walked by a couple of mornings at about 8 am. Last trip, we did see a yoga class on the beach there. Did see one guy from the yoga house swimming a couple of mornings.

Did not notice the other guests at Betulum being overdressed this trip. We had our standard Tulum attire - t-shirts, shorts and swim suits, and bare feet.

[utmck]

Wow, great looking place, especially with the private pool!!!!


On Wednesday night, Betulum had a pizza and movie on the beach special

Is that only for guests or is it open to others?

[beachreader]

Ooh, good thought, Chuck (or Lanie--you guys really need separate identities!). That might be a fun thing to do on a Wednesday night, just wander down the beach and see if there's a movie going.

[heenan]

Is that only or guests or is it open to other?

Open to anyone. I was amazed at how well we could hear the dialogue from the movie. It worked well.

[heenan]

Also, you can check during the afternoon to see what they are showing that night.

[utmck]

Ooh, good thought, Chuck (or Lanie--you guys really need separate identities!).

You can petty much bet on anything constructive coming from here is me (Chuck) and the smart ass is Lainie....

[TheWindyCity]

Nice report and beautiful photos, heenan. BeTulum looks awesome. I was wondering about the pool myself...I was hoping it was private, like a suite of something if you pay extra for it....always thinking of that lineless tan!

[utmck]

I was hoping it was private, like a suite of something if you pay extra for it....always thinking of that lineless tan!

We like the lineless tans ourselves, but it doesn't have to be completely private!!!!!

[TheWindyCity]

We like the lineless tans ourselves, but it doesn't have to be completely private!!!!!

no it doesnt, but just "allowed" !

[heenan]

Windy: The rooftop and rooftop pool is for the private use of the guests who rent the ocean suite. There are two ocean suites. As you can see from the pics, we had the one further back from the beach, 016. This one was more private than the other one in terms of not being directly viewable from the beach or the pool at the beach. The roof has an area behind the pool that cannot be seen from the ground or the other rooftop. The beach bed was there. When the sun was out in the afternoon, that spot was a bit hot. We moved the beach bed up next to the pool where we could get the breeze, and it was nice. Always had the pool for cooling off too. We did not see the guests of the other suite on their roof much. So our roof was as private as one would want.

[TheWindyCity]

Excellent! Thanks!