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Outside Magazine, March 2005

Dispatches: Spring Break
Ménage à Quatre
Tulum, Mexico

By Michael Behar

Crested Butte | Joshua Tree National Park | Tulum | Cabarete

Tulum, Mexico
The un-Cancún (courtesy, Mexico Tourism Board)

Why It Beats Cancún » Escape the sweaty crush of spring break farther north and head 90 minutes south of Cancún to Tulum, a sleepy pueblo on the Yucatán's east coast. Tulum's virtually deserted beaches make it a far better spot to soak up the tropical vibe and take in the surrounding Maya ruins.

Where the Action Is » Action isn't exactly the operative word here. Since electricity is limited, guests spend evenings tiki-bar-hopping between the handful of resorts along the beach.

There's More » Have your hotel arrange a bike excursion to the ruins and then take an afternoon plunge in one of Tulum's cenotes, or freshwater swimming holes. Or sea-kayak through the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve (011-52-998-884-9580, www.ecotravelmexico.com), 1.5 million acres of mangrove swamps, coastal dunes, savannas, and freshwater lagoons to the south.

Where to Stay » The two-year-old Amansala Eco-Chic Resort & Spa ($1,075 per person for three nights; 011-52-984-1000-717, www.amansala.com) features "bohemian chic" beach cabanas stocked with candles and incense. It also offers yoga classes, surf-side massages, and a session in a temezcal, or Maya sweat lodge.


Next Page: Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Crested Butte | Joshua Tree National Park | Tulum | Cabarete



MICHAEL BEHAR, a former editor at Wired and National Geographic, wrote about the Seychelles Islands in December.

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