ab1
13th March 2008, 02:48 PM
Hello all... been back a few weeks now, and have been sidetracked by work over and over, so I haven't been able to post a trip report. Finally got a little time, so let me try to get it going at least.
Overview
The basics. My wife and I traveled together (32 years old, the both of us). We left our son with my in-laws, our first time apart! I'll get back to that later on. We stayed at Cabanas La Conchita for 5 nights after flying into Cancun from Chicago.
La Conchita
La Conchita was a fabulous place. The Cabanas, from what I could tell from poking around different establishments, were among the nicer cabanas on the beach. We had private baths, running water (hot/cold), showers
and incredibly comfy beds. There are 8 total units, I believe 2 singles, and 3 cabanas split into 2 levels. We were in cabana #5, which is the lower level of the cabana facing directly out towards the ocean. You couldn't hear a peep from upstairs, no footsteps, nothing. I was a tad worried about that going in. We were around 25 yards from the water. The hammock on the "patio" was phenomenal for daytime naps and leisurely afternoon tequila drinking.
The people were all brilliantly accommodating, it felt very much like a home away from home immediately upon arrival. Of course, La Conchita does not have a bar, or lunch/dinner service, which is only a tad inconvenient, considering how many places near us had food/drinks. On the flip side, the breakfast was an enormous plus - fantastic, if simple, food every morning, at your leisure. The spread always started with fresh fruit, granola, honey, yogurt, fresh orange juice and good coffee. Then, the option of cook-to-order eggs, pancakes or french toast. Again, this was highlighted by great service and smiles, the staff was cheerful and genuinely good at their jobs.
Some photos of La Conchita (Unfortunately, shutterfly doesn't allow shared photos, so these are links to photos, I hope these work and they don't make you log-in, if not, I'll try to move these to a photo-friendly site):
notice the building to the right of the conchita wall - that's a small restaurant/bar, taking care of your booze needs during the day if you don't feel like stocking your cooler!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdecdbb0500000026101AYs2zJizYsU
The breakfast area
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdea7bb6f00000025111AYs2zJizYsU
The Beachfront
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdc7cbbb500000026101AYs2zJizYsU
Someone's very cool micro-rendition of the Tulum ruins on our beach
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdc153aec00000026101AYs2zJizYsU
entrance
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdc913a6800000026101AYs2zJizYsU
Food/Drinks
We did a lot of great eating - Tulum is definitely laid-back in terms of late-night enjoyment, but it makes up for it by having great day time drinking options all up and down the beach.
Our first night, we had a quick bite at Charlies, which was a solid joint, the food was middling for the trip (which is to say pretty darn good still), but its a jovial place where they play good tunes and the service is friendly. We checked-in then headed over to Copal for a few drinks. Copal had some of the better magaritas of the week, fresh juice and good tequila. The "swing" seats at the bar are fun, but a bit ridiculous, as you can't really reach the bar comfortably. Still a nice place with good drinks. We took off from there to hit Mezzanine. It was a Friday night, and we had heard it was a fun place on weekend nights. It's a quite chic, well-designed place, with a phenomenal vista of the ocean. It made for quite a striking appearance with all that upscale design right there on the rocky beach. There was a decent band playing some hippie/groove rhythms - and the bar pumped out drinks to a fairly young crowd. Still, this is a great place to go on the weekend nights. We left around 11, thinkin we could grab a drink somewhere else closer to home - no dice. Things certainly do close down early on the beach. I was told the Cuban bar in town stays open late (as did mezzanine on the beach), but never got the chance to head in for late-night drinks.
Second day - we had our first non-Conchita meal at Nachos (I'm forgetting the official name offhand). In retrospect, this was our best meal on the beach outside of Hechizo's. Brightly flavored ceviche was a standout. Quite a setting too (that seems to be the case everywhere in tulum, right?).
Some pics:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcd3227a4400000026101AYs2zJizYsU
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcd39ffbc900000025111AYs2zJizYsU
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcd0eb3a1400000025111AYs2zJizYsU
Another quick food note - just absolutely phenomenal habanero-based salsa in every establishment we visited. I think the salsa was the clear standout in terms of eye-opening cuisine across the area, just on a different level - everyone had a different take, but they all made me quite happy. I plan on trying to replicate a few after I grow some peppers this summer.
Have to go for today, I'll move on when I get some time tomorrow!
Overview
The basics. My wife and I traveled together (32 years old, the both of us). We left our son with my in-laws, our first time apart! I'll get back to that later on. We stayed at Cabanas La Conchita for 5 nights after flying into Cancun from Chicago.
La Conchita
La Conchita was a fabulous place. The Cabanas, from what I could tell from poking around different establishments, were among the nicer cabanas on the beach. We had private baths, running water (hot/cold), showers
and incredibly comfy beds. There are 8 total units, I believe 2 singles, and 3 cabanas split into 2 levels. We were in cabana #5, which is the lower level of the cabana facing directly out towards the ocean. You couldn't hear a peep from upstairs, no footsteps, nothing. I was a tad worried about that going in. We were around 25 yards from the water. The hammock on the "patio" was phenomenal for daytime naps and leisurely afternoon tequila drinking.
The people were all brilliantly accommodating, it felt very much like a home away from home immediately upon arrival. Of course, La Conchita does not have a bar, or lunch/dinner service, which is only a tad inconvenient, considering how many places near us had food/drinks. On the flip side, the breakfast was an enormous plus - fantastic, if simple, food every morning, at your leisure. The spread always started with fresh fruit, granola, honey, yogurt, fresh orange juice and good coffee. Then, the option of cook-to-order eggs, pancakes or french toast. Again, this was highlighted by great service and smiles, the staff was cheerful and genuinely good at their jobs.
Some photos of La Conchita (Unfortunately, shutterfly doesn't allow shared photos, so these are links to photos, I hope these work and they don't make you log-in, if not, I'll try to move these to a photo-friendly site):
notice the building to the right of the conchita wall - that's a small restaurant/bar, taking care of your booze needs during the day if you don't feel like stocking your cooler!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdecdbb0500000026101AYs2zJizYsU
The breakfast area
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdea7bb6f00000025111AYs2zJizYsU
The Beachfront
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdc7cbbb500000026101AYs2zJizYsU
Someone's very cool micro-rendition of the Tulum ruins on our beach
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdc153aec00000026101AYs2zJizYsU
entrance
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcdc913a6800000026101AYs2zJizYsU
Food/Drinks
We did a lot of great eating - Tulum is definitely laid-back in terms of late-night enjoyment, but it makes up for it by having great day time drinking options all up and down the beach.
Our first night, we had a quick bite at Charlies, which was a solid joint, the food was middling for the trip (which is to say pretty darn good still), but its a jovial place where they play good tunes and the service is friendly. We checked-in then headed over to Copal for a few drinks. Copal had some of the better magaritas of the week, fresh juice and good tequila. The "swing" seats at the bar are fun, but a bit ridiculous, as you can't really reach the bar comfortably. Still a nice place with good drinks. We took off from there to hit Mezzanine. It was a Friday night, and we had heard it was a fun place on weekend nights. It's a quite chic, well-designed place, with a phenomenal vista of the ocean. It made for quite a striking appearance with all that upscale design right there on the rocky beach. There was a decent band playing some hippie/groove rhythms - and the bar pumped out drinks to a fairly young crowd. Still, this is a great place to go on the weekend nights. We left around 11, thinkin we could grab a drink somewhere else closer to home - no dice. Things certainly do close down early on the beach. I was told the Cuban bar in town stays open late (as did mezzanine on the beach), but never got the chance to head in for late-night drinks.
Second day - we had our first non-Conchita meal at Nachos (I'm forgetting the official name offhand). In retrospect, this was our best meal on the beach outside of Hechizo's. Brightly flavored ceviche was a standout. Quite a setting too (that seems to be the case everywhere in tulum, right?).
Some pics:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcd3227a4400000026101AYs2zJizYsU
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcd39ffbc900000025111AYs2zJizYsU
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd25b3127cceb5bcd0eb3a1400000025111AYs2zJizYsU
Another quick food note - just absolutely phenomenal habanero-based salsa in every establishment we visited. I think the salsa was the clear standout in terms of eye-opening cuisine across the area, just on a different level - everyone had a different take, but they all made me quite happy. I plan on trying to replicate a few after I grow some peppers this summer.
Have to go for today, I'll move on when I get some time tomorrow!