I want to share my experience traveling to Tulum, Mexico, where we stayed at a beachfront hotel called Maxanab, located in the hotel zone along Tulum Beach.Unlike many other hotels in the hotel zone, Maxanab is designed to be quiet and relaxing, and it also has many great reviews. Other hotels in the area are geared toward younger crowds who enjoy partying.
Hotel Maxanab
We booked an ocean-view room on the second floor, and it exceeded our expectations. The room felt incredibly spacious, and I loved the bungalow-style design with its high ceilings. Every detail felt intentional and thoughtfully curated. The room was even stocked with a Nespresso machine and pods, which was a nice touch.
The bathroom was luxurious, featuring double rain shower heads as well as a private outdoor shower—perfect for rinsing off after a day at the beach.
This was the view from our patio.
Breakfast the following morning was wonderful and included with our stay. Everything we tried was delicious, and since we were visiting during the off-season, we were able to enjoy a peaceful, quiet morning by the ocean.
By 9:00 a.m., we were at the beach, and the temperature had climbed to 89°F in early December. We decided to walk to Escultura Ven a la Luz, as it was listed as an 18-minute walk from our hotel. While I’m accustomed to hot climates, even I found the walk extremely uncomfortable under the intense sun after just a few minutes. By the time we finished the walk, I was drenched in sweat. It was unfortunate because I was looking forward to taking photos in front of the sculpture, but I was sweaty and red.
It means “Come Into the Light” and was created by Daniel Popper, a very talented South African multidisciplinary artist and sculptor. You can check out his work here.
I know it looks very familiar from all the social media posts. The sculpture itself was absolutely wonderful—hats off to the sculptor. It is located right along the roadside. Although I was initially excited to see it, the experience was disappointing, as it felt more like a tourist trap than an art installation. It used to be free and easily viewable from the road—it’s not a museum or gallery. Now, it becomes extremely crowded with visitors lining up to take photos.
Recently, a box was added inside the sculpture where visitors can place written “intentions,” with a suggested donation. Unfortunately, this setup creates chaos, with people waiting to take photos while others are trying to participate in the intention ritual. The result is a cluttered, rushed experience that detracts from the art itself.
I couldn’t help but feel sad for the artist. What was once a powerful and creative art piece has become heavily commercialized, making it difficult to truly appreciate the craftsmanship and meaning behind it.
Kanan Rooftop Restaurant
That evening, we had dinner at the Kanan rooftop restaurant. The restaurant is located inside the Kanan Tulum hotel. The general consensus about Kanan hotel is that it’s a visually stunning, lively property with a fantastic beach club and unique “tree nest” architecture. It’s often praised for its attentive staff, great location, and chic ambiance, but it comes with a few caveats: it can be noisy due to constant music and DJs, and it’s expensive.
The restaurant offers a stunning 360-degree view, with the ocean on one side and the jungle on the other.
That said, I do want to warn you that everything in Tulum is very expensive. This rooftop dining experience costs approximately $147.35 USD to book, which can be applied toward food and drinks. A 50% deposit is required at the time of reservation.They do have two other more affordable options in, though they don’t come with views quite as spectacular.
The food was excellent, and my favorite dish was a Mayan-style fish cooked in tomato sauce and wrapped in a banana leaf. The service was also outstanding—friendly, attentive, and welcoming.
One of our favorite things about our time in Tulum, as with much of the Yucatán Peninsula, was how genuinely kind and warm the people were.
Travel Tips: The busiest season in Tulum is between December and April. If you’re like me—an introvert—and want to avoid crowds, I highly recommend skipping peak season, as I read numerous reviews about how crowded and unpleasant tourist attractions can get.
We only stayed in Tulum for two nights, and I was honestly hesitant to stay any longer than that.
However, despite the beautiful setting and wonderful hospitality, I don’t recommend staying in Tulum. You can read more about the reasons why in my other very honest posts, Tulum the Bad and Tulum the Ugly — covering things other influencers don’t tell you.