One thing we really love about our lives as beach club reviewers is that we get to try a wide variety of awesome beach clubs. But Vesica Tulum is not quite a beach club.
It’s a Cenote Sanctuary, and it may be the only club of its kind in Tulum. What is a Cenote Sanctuary? Well, a Cenote is a source of freshwater (often combined with a cave), and there are lots of these Cenotes around the geography of Tulum.
What it means for Vesica Tulum is that while they don’t have beach access, they do have access to a huge natural freshwater pool instead.
So, intrigued, our team went off to find out more about this fascinating place, and this is what they learned while they were there.
Introduction – Getting To Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)
Where Is Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)? PARCELA No. 198Z-2P-1 EJIDO, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., México
Online: Vesica
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
What’s Available At Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)?
There are a pair of cenotes where you can swim (or float); at one, you can also listen to music while the other offers a “sanctuary” without music.
They have lounge zones of comfortable seating by the water of the cenotes, and on-site showers and changing rooms.
You can enjoy their on-site restaurant and bar facilities with a “farm-to-table” kitchen. They also provide a wellness hub (ice baths, yoga, sound healing and more) as well as access to mystical offerings such as on-site ancestral ritual ceremonies.
Finally, there’s an open-air pavilion which hosts day parties, resident DJs and occasionally, sensory-focused cultural events.
Our Detailed Review Of Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)
We review all beach clubs with the same consistent method. This provides fair evaluations of owners, managers, and staff and delivers reviews in a uniform way that makes comparison easier.
Process:
- A team is chosen to review the club.
- Each visits separately and on different days.
- Scorecards are filled with ratings from 1 (least outstanding) to 5 (most outstanding).
- The team meets to discuss and agree on scores.
- One member writes the review for publication.
Reservation and Booking Process
The folks at Vesica Tulum need congratulating because, at least, they’ve made some kind of effort to build a booking system that works as part of their website.
It’s not perfect; you can choose “zones” to sit in, but can’t pick the exact seats, for example, but it’s leaps and bounds ahead of most of the competition in Tulum.
We found it relatively straightforward to make a booking, pay for a day pass and get moving without too much hassle.
Ambience and Atmosphere
There are two sides to the Cenote Sanctuary, one where music is played (at a reasonable rather than deafening volume) and the other where music is not allowed at all.
That means you have more of an opportunity to tailor your experience at Vesica to your personal taste than you do at the beach clubs in Tulum.
However, the wellness vibe, while very welcome, does tend to put a damper on the social side of things, and we’d recommend that you visit with a friend.
Location And Accessibility
Tulum is pretty easy to get to from most of the Americas, though flights might be long and you may need to change planes a few times. However, it’s not as easy to reach from the rest of the world.
Vesica Tulum is much closer to the town of Tulum than the beach clubs and it’s not in the usual strip of hotels that run along the coast. We would still recommend that you organise transport to and from the club, but the area itself is safer than the hotel strip.
Aesthetic And Design
While there’s no doubt that every beach club (and cenote sanctuary) gets their inspiration in the same place when it comes to design, Vesica Tulum’s unique placement makes it rather more interesting to look at than many of the beach clubs.
The design accentuates the appeal of the cenotes as features, and we like the emphasis on biophilic aesthetics combined with the creation of sensory spaces.
It all looks great in your Instagram feed, too.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
The staff at this cenote sanctuary are a massive highlight of the experience; they are warm, welcoming and kind. They’re also very knowledgeable about the facility, the menu, the offerings and Tulum in general.
We really like that, in keeping with the “no stress” ethos that they promote, that there’s never a moment where you feel hurried in an interaction with the staff here.
Service Speed and Efficiency
The service is very much unhurried at Vesica Tulum, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not efficient; we certainly didn’t find ourselves waiting around for our orders or searching for staff.
In fact, we found that they are quick to ensure that towels, seats, etc. are provided and that food and drink are brought to you without delay.
Food Quality and Variety
Overall, we found the food to be very good at Vesica Tulum, though they seem to handle the simpler items on the menu (like their excellent burgers) better than some of the more complicated stuff like the ceviches and shrimp taco plates.
The ingredients are fresh and tasty, and there are fabulous vegan and vegetarian options for those who prefer a plant-based dinner.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
The drink selection is fantastic, and we loved that they focus on craft drinks with regional heritage. When in Mexico, we want to experience the flavours of the nation.
The spicy habanero-infused mescalita is a particular treat. And while there’s no doubt that the drinks are on the pricey side for Tulum, the quality is there and so is the upmarket setting; we found overall that this represents excellent value for money.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
One of the nice things about a Cenote Sanctuary is that it doesn’t have to battle with the seaweed that plagues Tulum’s shores for 8 months of the year.
The water in the cenotes is wonderfully clean and crystal clear, and the rest of the club is similarly well maintained. We also found the open-air bathrooms to be super attractive to look at as well as very hygienic.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
The seating is very similar to the seating found at any beach club in Tulum; it’s nicely designed, blends into the setting and is more than comfortable enough.
It’s not the sort of seating that is memorably amazing, but you won’t be spending the day by the cenote wishing that you could swap seats regularly either.
Music and Entertainment
One side of this club is strictly no music, but the other half is all about jungle house, minimal deep tech and analog vibes. If this is your cup of tea, you’ll be very happy, and the club releases some of its sets as full recordings.
They also have a YouTube Channel and official streaming playlists on Spotify. It’s not a full-on party, but it’s certainly more upbeat than at some of the other day clubs.
Seasonality
Tulum’s seaweed season doesn’t bother you at Vesica Tulum; those cenotes are pure freshwater pools, which means there’s no chance of seaweed contamination.
However, there is still a small hurricane season, which may or may not see Tulum get extremely blowy for a few weeks. Otherwise, Vesica Tulum is open all year round, and the tropical weather is reasonably pleasant all of the time.
Pricing and Value for Money
There’s no escaping the fact that Tulum’s beach clubs are extremely pricey when compared to Tulum itself. This is Mexico, and it’s often a budget holiday destination.
And there’s no universe in which Vesica Tulum would be considered “budget,” but we felt that it was good value for money in the context of the beach club scene in the area, and we’d prefer to spend our money at this Cenote Sanctuary than in some of the other clubs around Tulum.
Beach Access and Quality
You can’t give points for something that a club doesn’t have, and sadly, a cenote sanctuary with no beach within 10 km is not able to give you any access to the beach.
The space itself is lovely, but it’s definitely more of a jungle than a coastline.
Sustainability Practices
Sustainability is a big deal in Tulum, with many visitors expecting a high degree of eco-friendliness as part of the price of admission.
Which is why it’s a surprise to us that Vesica is only OK in this respect. The locally sourced food, commitment to the Tulum Pledge (an agreement to protect the environment and water systems in the area) and jungle integration are nice enough, but there’s nothing particularly substantive about any of it.
And without full auditing, then all you can say is it’s a start, but there’s still a long way to go.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
You will be provided with a towel and access to the changing room along with the use of a daybed, as long as you have booked in advance and paid the daypass fee along with committing to a minimum spend.
However, this is really the bare minimum that you can expect anywhere in Tulum, and we think it’s a shame that they haven’t come up with an enhanced (paid) offering.
Safety and Security
Vesica Tulum is one of the safest and most secure clubs in Tulum; that it’s away from the main hotel strip seems to ensure that the most shifty local characters never stop by, and the CCTV and security presence here is lighter than in the beach clubs.
We’d also note that there are no complaints online regarding petty theft in this club, which is unusual.
Event Hosting Capabilities
They have a dedicated events team at Vesica, and they can host events of up to 200 people (with enough advance notice and a fairly substantial deposit).
That means they’re not going to be ideal for a major product launch or huge corporate annual meeting, but otherwise, they can handle almost anything you can throw at them.
Consistency of Experience
We felt that Vesica Tulum provided a very consistent experience, and this was reinforced by our conversations with regular guests as well as a thorough review of their online review profile.
We’d just like to see a little more effort put into evolving and becoming something even better, but overall, we think you’ll have a great time if you come to this club.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
They have a reasonable variety of amenities and facilities at Vesica, but if you need anything more than what’s on offer here, you’ll need to get transport into town.
Summary
It may be a Cenote Sanctuary rather than a beach club, but functionally, it’s very similar, and we think it’s one of the best and most unusual experiences in Tulum.
Sure, it’s not the cheapest day out, but you can say that of all the beach clubs in town, and the natural freshwater pools are amazing.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)?
Yes! While there is no swimming pool at Vesica Tulum, they provide access to two cenotes where you can both swim and float.
We should note that these natural pools are not huge and at certain times of the day, they will be too crowded for swimming laps, but they’re always pleasant places to cool off during the heat of the day.
There is no access to the beach at Vesica Tulum, so if swimming is your top priority for a day out, this might not be the perfect destination for you.
However, we would think that the chance to swim in a cenote is unusual enough that you might want to visit just to say you’ve tried. There aren’t many other places on Earth where you can.
What Is There To Do At Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)?
Vesica Tulum is very much a wellness and experience-centred cenote sanctuary, so in addition to being able to swim, eat and drink, you can also take part in yoga, reiki, tarot readings and many other activities.
We should note that entry to Vesica Tulum doesn’t include most of the services and you will need to pay for the services that you access.
Is Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary) A Child-Friendly Venue?
Sort of, while Vesica Tulum is most definitely not one of Tulum’s top party destinations, the vibe is generally relaxed. It has a more adult, chill vibe than many of the more family-friendly destinations in this area.
There are no child-specific amenities such as a kid’s pool or kids’ club and no tailored areas in the cenote to enable safe swimming for little ones.
Overall, unless your children tend to be very quiet and still, we’d recommend taking them elsewhere, not least because each child is required to buy a day pass and agree to a minimum spend (the same as for adults), which can make a trip here as a family a pricey day out.
Who Is The Owner Of Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)?
The founder and co-owner of Vesica Tulum is Ramon Fernandez Sanchez, who is also the chief operating officer of the FERSA Hospitality Collection.
What Is A Cenote?
A Cenote is a natural water-filled sinkhole found on the Mexican coastline. It’s caused by a limestone bedrock collapsing and allowing the groundwater to fill the gap.
The name “cenote” is derived from the Mayan language “ts’ono’ot”, which means “sacred well”.
The cenotes at Vesica Tulum are open cenotes in that they are pools under an open sky; there are also semi-open cenotes which have cave-like properties and underground/cave cenotes that are fully enclosed and popular with divers.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of Vesica Tulum (Cenote Sanctuary)
Vesica Tulum is a unique experience and one that you can only get in Tulum. We like that they’ve tried to create something that stands out, not just because of the cenotes, but because of the fine balance between wellness and relaxation.
We think that everyone ought to give it a go, at least, once if they spend time in this part of the world because there’s nothing quite like it elsewhere.
And we would certainly go back for another visit if we were back in the area.
