The small oceanfront town of Tulum, Mexico is perhaps most famous for its beaches, and none more so than El Paraiso Beach. The first thing I noticed about El Paraiso was its luxuriant swath of palm trees. Many of the beaches that stretch for miles on the Maya Riviera are all but devoid of shade, but at El Paraiso palms cluster thickly at the back of the beach and scatter toward the ocean, providing ample shade for the beach bar and restaurant, as well as for lounge chairs and mattresses that can be rented for the day.

Beach bars and shade palms back this lovely beach in Tulum

The next thing I noticed was the sand itself. Sugar fine, pure white, and always cool to the touch, it was the most gorgeous sand that I had ever seen. It was so perfect that I rubbed it all over my body several times that day. After rinsing off in the ocean my skin gleamed as if I’d paid for a pricey salt scrub exfoliation. And the ocean was pure bliss: gorgeous turquoise water so clear I could see every ripple on the bottom, gently lapping waves with an occasional larger wave that allowed me to body surfing back to shore, and a temperature just right – not warm like bathwater, but not the least bit chilly.

Magnificent white sand and turquoise water

Though I could have rented a lounge chair for about $5 per day; or a round vinyl-covered bed with a table, chairs and umbrella rent for about $15, I wanted to be near the shore and in touch with the sand, so I simply spread a beach towel and laid on the ground. Had I needed them, there were public showers and a bathroom in the restaurant behind the beach area. I opted not to eat at the restaurant because I’d had reports that it was not the best choice and the heavy beat music that blared from huge speakers at the bar would have intruded on my tranquility, but the music was enjoyable from my spot at the water’s edge and beach vendors kept me supplied with plastic glasses full of fresh peeled mangoes and pineapple.

El Paraiso Beach is also the site of Extreme Kite Boarding School. Located among the trees on the south end of the beach, this company offers lessons in kite boarding for those who crave more adventure than lounging on a beach for the entire day. As for me, I was content to watch fluffy clouds scud across the sky and seabirds glide gracefully on thermal updrafts while I munched on another strip of mango.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels