Hello from Tulum!
In February 2026 we spent 3 full weeks with our partners Infinity2Diving, hosting 3 different groups of divers.
We did 2 group trips, and a retreat with our dive school. Throughout the month we got to see what Tulum really has to offer and were reminded why we love to bring our guests there every year.
On paper, the group trips had the same plan, same itinerary. But as we know with diving, the elements have other plans!
In reality, the trips operated completely differently, and that’s why we love Tulum.
Why Tulum is the Perfect Winter Dive Base
The weather in the Caribbean can be unpredictable in the winter, and this year was no exception. The port in Tulum & Cozumel was closed much of the month due to high winds.
Enter – cenotes. These magical sink holes scattered around the Riviera Maya are a perfect shelter from windy days. Learn more about cenotes & how they were formed here.
In Tulum, our options are:
- Ocean reef diving along the Riviera Maya
- World-famous cenote cavern dives
- Cozumel’s drift diving
- The Playa del Carmen bull shark experience (seasonal)
- Mayan ruins, jungle adventures, and cultural excursions
When you travel with MAR Hosted Trips, that flexibility becomes your superpower. If weather shifts, we shift. If ports close, we pivot. If the ocean isn’t cooperating, the jungle always is.
No matter what, we dive.
Trip 1: All According to Plan
February 6-11, 2026
The first group got the “classic” itinerary.
Day 1
One cenote dive and one Tulum reef dive. Freshwater caverns in the morning, Caribbean blue in the afternoon.
Day 2
Two dives in Dos Ojos cenote. Cathedral-like caverns, haloclines, and sunbeams cutting through crystal-clear water.
Day 3
Two dives in Cozumel. Legendary drift diving, healthy reefs, and that effortless glide that Cozumel is known for.
Day 4 – Choose Your Own Adventure
This is where Tulum shines. Divers chose their own path:
- More ocean dives
- More cenotes
- The Playa del Carmen shark dive
- Or exploring inland
One group visited Coba, climbing ancient Mayan ruins and swimming in a jungle cenote. Others opted for more underwater time. Every choice felt like the right one.
Trip 2: When the Port Closed
February 18-23, 2026
The second trip started with strong north winds. The port closed. Ocean diving was off the table. We were reminded why we come to Tulum in the first place!
For many dive destinations, that would mean cancelled dives and frustrated guests.
For us, it meant: more cenotes.
This group dove five different cenotes in three days. Each one unique. Different entrances, different cavern layouts, different rock composition and formations, different light effects.
Instead of coral reefs, we got:
- Massive rock formations
- Long cavern swim-throughs
- Crystal-clear freshwater
- Zero surge
- No sea-sickness
On the extra day, the port reopened just long enough for the shark divers to head out. The rest of the group chose to explore two additional cenotes.
Same itinerary. Totally different experience. No one felt like they “missed out.”
Beyond the Dives
A Mar Hosted Trip is about more than just the dives though, it about everything in between! Like any MHT experience, our non-diving time was packed with local experiences, amazing food, and connecting with other travelers.
Mini Food Tour
Palma Central is a collection of local food trucks in Tulum. We used it as an opportunity to create our own food tour. Everyone pitched in some pesos, and we shared:
- Argentinian Empanadas
- Venezuelan Arepas
- Mexican Tacos (rib & pork)
- Birria with an Asian twist
…and churros & ice cream for dessert!
We also went to a local square for street food, had a fried food Superbowl fiesta, and ordered pizza & burritos after our night dives. We never go hungry on an Mar Hosted Trip!
Cobá Day Trip
A group of MAR Maids got together to rent a car for the day and explore some Mayan ruins near Tulum.
We spent the morning at Cobá, riding bicycles, climbing pyramids, and learning about ancient Mayan life.
After lunch at a local taco place, we visited cenote Tankach-Ha to cool down in a beautiful underground swimming hole before heading back to Tulum.
Goodbye for Now
That’s it for our trips to Tulum in 2026, but we will be back in 2027!
What makes our adventures here so special is that they start with the exact same plan yet always end with a different adventure.
If all goes to plan, you’ll get the perfect tasting platter of reef dives, Cozumel drift diving, and step your toe into the cenotes.
And if it doesn’t, our consolation prize is exploring caverns that have millions of years of stories to share, and that very few people have seen.
That is the beauty of Tulum.
You could return here again and again and never have the same trip twice. Weather shifts. Light in the cenotes changes. Marine life comes and goes. New cenotes are explored. Different add-ons call your name.
There is always something new to see.
When you travel with MAR Hosted Trips, that flexibility becomes part of the adventure. We do not just run a fixed schedule. We adapt. We adjust. We make sure every group gets the best possible experience with the conditions we are given.
This is Tulum.
More MAR Hosted Trips
Tulum is a great introduction to cenotes. After this trip & your Advanced Open Water certification, you’ll be ready for our Merida trip!
Trips to Increase Your Skills
Bonaire – the diving in Bonaire is beautiful, easy, Caribbean conditions but the skills you need are different!
Bonaire is famous for it’s shore diving, you will learn to be independent and not rely on a divemaster for monitoring your depth, navigation, air use, and gear set up!
