Ahau Tulum Sculpture Park
Tulum has grown significantly in recent years, but its hoteliers have managed to keep things low-key and low-impact. This approach is taken to a higher level at Ahau Tulum, which is named after the Mayan sun god Kinich Ahau, who represents universal consciousness. Needless to say, it goes to great lengths to reduce its environmental impact, as does nearly every small hotel in this part of the world. Where it excels, however, is in the related goal of getting out of the way and allowing its guests to have the closest communion with nature possible (short of sleeping outside under the stars).
Suites, freestanding cabañas, palapas, and even Balinese-style huts are available, all of which are rustic in style but modern in construction and full of modern comforts. Many of them have large windows that look directly out to sea, and they are all as open to the air as you want them to be. Ahau’s restaurant, which serves a hybrid Mexican-Caribbean cuisine, is also open to the public. For lighter fare, there’s the Raw Love Café, which serves an entirely vegan menu — an unusual choice for a Mexican hotel, even in Tulum.
On the 15th of October, a brand new sculpture park opened in Tulum, offering visitors impressive art installations displayed in the beautiful surroundings of the Ahau Tulum resort.
The sculpture park, located on Tulum’s famous beachfront, can be visited as a stand-alone attraction or as part of an overnight stay. Tulum is unquestionably a destination worth visiting.
Continue reading to find out how to get to Tulum’s newest cultural attraction, as well as what might keep you in Tulum a little longer.
The centerpiece of the Ahau Tulum Sculpture Park will be ‘Ven a la Luz,’ or ‘Come Into The Light,’ by South African artist Daniel Popper. That sculpture has been on display in Tulum since it was included in a major art festival in 2018, but it is now being permanently relocated to Ahau Tulum. Although the sculpture was supposed to go on display on October 15, transportation has been delayed, but the resort hoped to have it in place by Dia de los Muertos at the end of the month, according to its Facebook page.
The ten-meter-tall sculpture is a multimedia project made of wood, rope, steel, and natural plant life. The sculpture, which shows a woman with her eyes closed and her chest apart, was created to represent man’s delicate relationship with nature.
Other works of art have a similar, undeniably Tulum aesthetic. In addition to exploring the sculptures, visitors will be able to take advantage of the site’s dedicated food and beverage service. Entry to the park is a steal at only $3 per person, with proceeds going toward the upkeep of the stunning works of art.
Tulum is about an hour and a half drive from Cancun International Airport; add another fifteen minutes if driving from Cancun’s Hotel Zone. It’s a simple route; just take Highway 307 south. It takes ten minutes from Tulum Centro to Ahau Tulum’s beautiful beachfront location.
You can, of course, arrange for a private transfer from Cancun to Tulum, which would cost around $70 each way for standard service and more than $100 for VIP service.
The Ahau Tulum resort, where the sculpture park is located, is a wellness and relaxation haven. It’s essentially an eco-resort, but for people who also want to be pampered. This resort is a tempting prospect for visitors, having recently undergone a major renovation that included the addition of additional suites. It has a completely different vibe than resorts in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, which is ideal if you want to try something new.
Guests can stay in Beach Cabanas, Garden Palapas, or Bali Huts, all of which offer spacious and comfortable quarters with a natural feel thanks to the extensive use of wood, palapa roofs, and rustic decor. A newly renovated restaurant serves delicious food and drinks, and two pools are available for guests to use.
Tulum has a lot to offer visitors besides the beach. Not only does it have one of the Mexican Riviera’s most photographed Mayan ruins, set on a clifftop overlooking the ocean, but it also has a fully developed gourmet dining scene, ideal for foodies.
Tulum has evolved from its reputation as a hippie haven to a destination with something for everyone. Tulum has some of the most luxurious spa resorts in Mexico, as well as numerous cenotes to explore, so consider spending some time there on your next vacation.
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