Find Me: in Tulum

Two places, two moods and a very compelling case for staying a little longer.

There's a particular kind of luxury in finding somewhere that makes the rest of the world feel a little less urgent. Somewhere you can disappear for a few days, order another drink, watch the light change and convince yourself that checking your emails can wait until you're back home.

In Tulum, I found two places that offered exactly that, in their own very different ways.

Bacab Tulum

Some places announce themselves. Others let you discover them.

From the outside, Bacab Tulum is easy to overlook. You could walk right past without knowing that beyond its exterior is a world of considered architecture, art and beautifully tucked-away spaces. It's the kind of discovery that makes you feel like you've been let in on a little secret.

Each unit feels like its own private villa, and mine was a reminder that sometimes the best plans are no plans at all. A California king bed, a lower-level living room and kitchen, then a floor-to-ceiling glass wall opening onto a private pool, hammock and little pocket of jungle. Greenery just beyond the glass, water waiting outside and nowhere in particular you needed to be.

I spent five days here, and I have to say, I was very good at absolutely nothing.

The property has beautiful lookout points throughout, but the rooftop kept calling me back. Between the workout studio, rooftop pool and lounges made for stretching out under the sun, it was dangerously easy to lose track of time. And tucked away at the furthest point of the building is a stargazing lounge, because apparently even the night sky deserves a reservation in your itinerary.

What I loved most was how removed I felt from everyday life without actually being far from the heart of the city. Bacab offered privacy without isolation, luxury without the need to make a spectacle of it. The staff were genuinely pleasant, too, making the whole experience feel that much more welcoming.

Five days of waking up slowly, spending hours by the water and having absolutely nowhere I needed to be? I could get used to that kind of lifestyle. My bank account may have some follow-up questions, but that's a conversation for another day.

One thing to pack: mosquito repellent. The local hospitality does not extend to every species.

Panamera Tulum

If Bacab was my invitation to retreat, Panamera was my invitation to stay out a little longer.

A sister property to Bacab, Panamera has an entirely different energy. It's vibrant, playful and full of personality, the kind of place where the design alone makes you want to look around a little longer. The red-and-white checkered tiled pool is an obvious standout, bringing a bold, almost cinematic quality to the space. It's giving main character, and honestly, the pool knows it.

The restaurant opens out towards a stretch of beach, where the atmosphere shifts from poolside lounging to salty air and the sound of the ocean. It's the kind of setting that makes an afternoon feel wonderfully unstructured. No elaborate plans, no need to keep checking the time. Just good food, the water nearby and the increasingly questionable decision to order another drink because, well, you're already here.

I spent the day at Panamera rather than staying overnight, but the experience left an impression. The food was delicious, the staff were attentive and the hospitality felt genuinely personal. The hostess took time out of her day to check in with me and share insights about other parts of Mexico. I always appreciate when someone goes beyond simply doing their job to make you feel welcome. It's a small thing that somehow becomes one of the things you remember most.

And the drinks. Let me tell you something about being in the Tulum heat: a cold beverage stops being a beverage and starts becoming a necessity. Panamera had me convinced they were serving the coldest drinks in the entire city. I have no scientific evidence to support this claim, but I am prepared to stand by it.

What I appreciated was that Panamera didn't need to feel like an extension of Bacab to be memorable. It had its own character, its own rhythm and its own way of making a day feel well spent.

So, where should you find yourself?

The beauty of experiencing both is that you don't have to choose one kind of Tulum.

Bacab is for the days when you want to retreat into your own little world, when a private pool and a hammock sound more appealing than a packed itinerary. Panamera is for when you want a little more colour, a little more movement and a place to spend the afternoon eating well, cooling off and letting the day unfold.

One lets you disappear. The other gives you a reason to linger.

Both reminded me that sometimes travelling well has less to do with how much you manage to squeeze into a trip and more to do with finding spaces that make you feel like you have nowhere else to be.

And isn't that the point?

Find Me is reMARK's ongoing exploration of the people, places and experiences worth finding. Consider this your first breadcrumb.