Probably one of the most famous and recognizable spaces in Tulum, Mexico, AZULIK is a unique and stylish eco-hotel that has been at the top of the “things to see” list for many travelers to Tulum. Unfortunately, the nightly rate for the most basic room at AZULIK starts at $520 USD a night. Naturally, this prices out most people from ever booking a stay there. Luckily, you don’t have to be an AZULIK guest to experience the beauty of the property. This blog covers what Abraham and I did to visit AZULIK without spending more than $100 USD (among the two of us)! Read on for more,

Tips for Visiting AZULIK on a Budget

+ Visit one of their 3 restaurants (I chose Kin Toh because it’s elevated).

+ Make a reservation. The reason why is because there’s no minimum spending for a reserved table. You can buy one drink & call it a day. But if you don’t have a reservation, you must spend a minimum of $50 USD per person.

+ I made our reservation the day of, but if you visit Tulum during busier times of year, reservations can get booked up quickly.

+ DSLRs & drones aren’t allowed without paying a high fee. So I just did some iPhonography.

+ Visit during sunset if you can. The views are incredible.

A Review of Kin Toh

Abraham and I rented a scooter while we were in Tulum, so we drove up to AZULIK and parked the scooter right across the street from the entrance. We went to the host stand for Kin Toh, checked in for our reservation (masks are required, fyi), and was led by the hostess through a jungle path and into the building. While walking up the spiral staircase to the upper level where the restaurant was located, the scent of incense and mosquito repellant (you know, the kind that you burn) wafted through the air and permeated every corner. In fact, the restaurant was quite smoky because of how much of it was burning. It sounds unpleasant, but it was actually really nice and made for a moody, sultry atmosphere.

We had a 5:30 pm reservation, which is the time the restaurant opens. I expected there to be more guests than there were, so we were able to choose our table. We opted for a large table in front of a window. The sun was setting and the bright rays were shining right on us. It was uncomfortable at first, but became more tolerable as the sun’s rays grew weaker as dusk arrived. Our server was amiable and professional. We were serviced quickly and attentively throughout our dinner. I even spilled by cocktail just a few minutes after receiving it, and the staff quickly replaced it free of charge.

Dinner is served with complimentary bread and spread — super delicious! We were both happy with our cocktails. I didn’t order an entreé because I wasn’t hungry, but Abraham ordered the roast and said it was delectable. The portion looked small, but he ended up feeling satiated shortly after finishing the meal. If I were hungry, I would’ve gotten their pumpkin vegan entreé.

My birthday took place three weeks before our visit, but Abraham told our server that we were there celebrating my birthday. The server brought out a plate with some chocolate truffles and chocolate syrup that read, '“Happy Birthday Romie.”

Here’s my ratings:

• Service: 5 stars

• Atmosphere: 5 stars

• Drinks: 5 stars

• Food (according to Abraham): 5 stars

Kin Toh will probably be the most money you spend on food in Tulum, but it is worth it.

Have you visited Kin Toh or any parts of AZULIK? Tell me about your experience in the comments!