Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa

Mexico is one of the world’s most famous vacation destinations, and it’s not hard to see why. With exquisite beaches, fabulous nightlife and delectable cuisine, there’s everything you could want in a fabulous escape.

Of all the locations in Mexico, there are few more loved – or more beautiful – than the Yucatan Peninsula. With its dense jungles, ancient ruins, sandy beaches and epic parties, it’s the place to be.

While exploring it, I was lucky enough to spend a truly fabulous week based in Tulum, the trendy and bohemian town. While staying at the amazing oasis of Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa, I discovered this gorgeous location not only lives up to its stellar reputation, but totally exceeds it.

Journey to Tulum

Like many visitors to Tulum, I arrived first in the party hotspot of Cancun, the largest city in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. To my surprise, when I stepped off the plane and into the town I was greeted by many large iguanas near the beach. Obviously used to visitors, they didn’t seem at all concerned with my presence and were rather friendly and photogenic.

After meeting some of the cute iguanas, I caught up with a friend to enjoy a delicious Italian meal while overlooking the Marina Puerto Cancun. Even at the marina, the famous blue water of Cancun was on full display. It was an amazing backdrop for a fabulous meal.

However, Cancun was of course not my final destination and I soon journeyed onwards to Tulum, which is around an hour and a half to two hours’ drive, depending on traffic.

While it is an increasingly popular route for tourists, the road between Cancun and Tulum was still a bit bumpy. I had to hold onto my belongings closely as we bumped along, until it was eventually announced that we had arrived.

First impressions

Arriving at the hotel, I was immediately impressed with its beautiful atmosphere. I had the chance to enjoy this as we were picked up from the entrance and driven via golf buggy to check in, which was fast and easy with our Preferred Club check in.

The grounds – a sprawling 44 acres – were abundant in green plant life, while the buildings were inspired by traditional Mexican decor. Despite the feeling that you are tucked away in a lush tropical oasis, you are actually only a short distance from the area’s best attractions such as the Tulum Ruins, cenotes and the ecological theme park of Xel-Ha.

With the beautiful orange hues and stark white highlights of the Mexican colonial architecture, I felt a sense of joy as soon as I looked across the grounds. This really is a place to escape your troubles and simply enjoy the finest things in life.

The room

My happiness only grew as I was introduced to our room. The room was spacious and modern, with abundant natural light streaming in through the windows. Keeping in theme with the resort, contemporary Mexican decor hints were throughout.

The large bed was comfy and inviting, while a sitting area near the door to the balcony was a delightful touch. Even better was the fresh local fruit and wine that was a welcome gift from the hotel!

The bathroom was also large and stylish, with a tempting bathtub for indulgent soaks.

Although the room itself was beautiful, the balcony was a clear favorite of mine and I could immediately picture myself sipping a coffee or cocktail while enjoying the view. From the balcony, there was a stunning view out over the pool and grounds.

The amenities

The stunning Dreams Tulum resort really is a heaven on earth – offering everything you could need for a blissful stay, all within easy reach of Tulum’s most intriguing attractions.

The pools and beach

The glistening swimming pools – not one, but two fabulous options – were certainly a highlight, and ideal for cooling off after a day of exploring the ruins in Tulum. The main pool is also the site of some great activities put on by the resort, including Taco Tuesday which was my first introduction to the deliciousness of locally prepared tacos.

Another feature of the pool (and beach) is that there are wait staff on hand to bring snacks and cocktails – the perfect addition to any vacation. I made sure to try plenty of the expertly mixed cocktails, and each was more delicious than the last – the Mango Tango being a particular favorite.

However, equally tempting as the pool was the beach that flanks the resort, complete with relaxing Bali beds right on the edge of the brilliant blue Caribbean sea. Simply relaxing in the sun was an absolute delight, but there were also additional activities available including morning yoga, beach volleyball, and even a sand sculpture competition!

Cabanas

For an extra dash of luxury to your stay, I highly recommend renting one of the gorgeous cabanas that can be found near the beach. As a ‘preferred’ guest, I had a day’s use of the cabana included in my package, and I loved the comfort and convenience.

Extra days can be added on for around $50 USD per day, and I would highly recommend indulging in this as it really adds to the beach experience.

The Dreams Spa by Pevonia

Of course, no luxury hotel is complete without an indulgent spa, and I was so excited to try what was on offer at the Dreams Tulum. I was absolutely not disappointed, and left my spa experience feeling refreshed, recharged and rejuvenated.

From the very first impression, I was delighted by the spa which includes beautiful Mayan architectural elements. Before my appointment, I was collected by golf buggy and driven through the lush grounds before arriving at the spa. After donning a comfy robe, it was time for my treatment to begin with a sauna experience.

After the sauna, I enjoyed a unique chlorophyll drink which is good for the immune system and rich in vitamins including potassium and magnesium. It wasn’t quite as delicious as the cocktails on the beach, but I still enjoyed it – and knew my health would thank me for it later.

Next, it was into the steam room where I could feel my skin and pores being cleansed. After the steam room, I enjoyed a hydroreflexology soak, and I could feel it relaxing and healing my joints and muscles – the perfect experience after days exploring the resort and Tulum.

Finally, a relaxing dip in the cool lagoon – and then some tea and snacks – finished off a fabulous spa experience.

Although I didn’t get to try it, I was also given a tour of the tranquil massage room – with some massage therapy definitely making it on my wish list for next time. There’s also the fascinating “spa pantry” where you can even learn to make your own products.

The dining

Dreams Tulum is an all-inclusive resort that is sure to impress even the most passionate food lover. The resort offers many different restaurants with all kinds of local and international cuisine – all of which is prepared to perfection.

While staying at the resort, I was able to sample a variety of the delicious buffet meals at the World Cafe. Featuring an amazing rotating selection including Italian, Brazilian, Asian and even a divinely fresh seafood smorgasbord, it was an ever-changing delight.

In addition to the buffet, Dreams Tulum also offers additional restaurants including the Seaside Grill which boasts exquisite views over the sea and El Patio Restaurant for informal local dining. Then there is El Portofino with its fabulous wine cellar and even Bordeaux, which serves up French-inspired dishes to impress even a Parisian!

As well as the restaurants, Dreams Tulum also offers room service. I was thrilled to take advantage of this and enjoy a delectable and relaxing breakfast on my beautiful balcony for my last day in Tulum.

Activities in Tulum

With such a beautiful home base for my stay in Tulum, it was tempting to simply stay at the resort, lazing by the pool and sampling the delicious food and cocktails of the day.

With so many amazing activities in Tulum, however, I was able to do plenty of exploring. Check out my article on things to do in Tulum here.

Entertainment and parties at Dreams Tulum

As well as things to do outside the resort, there are plenty of opportunities for fun at Dreams.

It’s no secret that one of the most beloved activities on the Yucatan Peninsula is letting your hair down and indulging in the world famous party scene. Dreams Tulum certainly knows this, and they host regular parties and events for guests to enjoy.

While I was staying at the resort, on the itinerary was a “Beach BBQ Party”. This had all the ingredients for a wonderful night – the exquisite beach was the backdrop for a delicious barbecue, free flowing cocktails and live music.

On another night, we also enjoyed a DJ dance party complete with an amazing show with acrobats in glow-in-the-dark outfits. It was such an incredible experience to enjoy the electric beats and dazzling lights all while being just metres from the gorgeous water’s edge.

There’s no doubt, the Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is a truly fabulous oasis.