April 29 – May 6, 2026
Brad’s 35th in Tulum
Let’s go! I’m so glad you are all coming to spend time with me, we’re going to have a blast. Here’s the plan -- see you soon!!
Countdown
8 days · 13 hours to go!
BMMBDN
Apr 2990°F72°F
Apr 3088°F72°F
May 188°F73°F
May 293°F73°F
May 393°F75°F
May 493°F77°F
May 591°F75°F
May 688°F75°F
Scroll the week
Stay
Home base for the week.
Villa Najrufi. Five bedrooms in La Veleta, built around a courtyard pool, with an open-air kitchen, a living room made for Monopoly Deal, and tons of sun. Vibes will be through the roof. I’ll bring a flamingo floaty.
Villa Najrufi
Address
colonia, calle vialidad 27 Lote 16, La Veleta, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Backyard Pool
Our own little private slice of paradise :)
Patio Dining
Dress light, we’re eating outside ya’ll!
Living Room
We’re playing games here, so bring it.
King Bedroom
One of five bedrooms — four with kings, and all with ensuites.
Days
Day by day.
Times are loose, with few firm reservations.
DAY 01
Wednesday · April 29
Arrival night + chef dinner
Land, hug everyone, drop bags, swim. Then eat.
ArrivalTransferVillaDinner
1:30 PM
locked
Touch down in Cancun
Wheels down. Bags, regroup, head south.
2:15 PM
locked
Pick up Robin in Playa
Quick swing into Playa to grab Robin, then the final stretch into Tulum.
3:30 PM
locked
Check in at Villa Najrufi
Settle in at Villa Najrufi. Brendan comes in from Tulum airport. Pool first, unpack second.
7:00 PM
locked
Private chef Mexican night
The Nomad Bite is rolling in — margaritas, ceviche, birria, al pastor, churros. We start the way we mean to continue.
DAY 02
Thursday · April 30
Food tour + scooter pickup
The food tour is the best three hours of the week. Scooters after, pool back at the villa, Centro for dinner.
MorningFood TourScootersCentro Dinner
9:15 AM
locked
Head into Centro
Don’t be the reason we’re late!
10:00 AM
locked
Tulum Walking Food Tour
Three hours, six stops, the best intro to Tulum. I’ve done it. sooo good!
1:30 PM
locked
Grab the scooters
Scooter pickup in Centro. Helmets on, paperwork in your pocket, photos of the bikes before you ride off.
7:30 PM
flexible
Dinner in Centro
Burrito Amor, Tu, Panza, or El Cayuco — vote at the villa, walk in.
DAY 03
Friday · May 1
Cenote loop + birthday dinner at Bak
Cenote day (1 + up to 3 more) and then BAK steakhouse for dinner.
MorningMiddayLate AfternoonDinner
9:30 AM
locked
Scooters out from the villa
Compass Loop starts here. Cash, water, dry bag — then choose the cenotes that match the mood and the energy.
10:15 AM
optional
Casa Cenote
Option one if you want the mangrove channel and the easy entry. Good opener, not a requirement.
12:00 PM
optional
Choose from Calavera, Cristal, or Escondido
These are the other three options on the loop. Pick one, pick two, or call it after Casa — nobody is speed-running all four just for the bit.
7:00 PM
locked
Birthday dinner at Bak
Birthday dinner. Locked in for 7. If we eat slow, we’ll see their fire show!
DAY 04
Saturday · May 2
Brunch, Mia, and as much night as you want
The big one. Chef brunch, daybeds at Mia, sunset reset at the villa, as much or as little night as you want. No judgment either way.
BrunchBeach ClubDinnerLate Night
9:00 AM
locked
Chef brunch at the villa
Slow morning. Mimosas optional, eating before the beach is mandatory.
11:30 AM
locked
Mia daybeds
Daybeds from 11:30 to 5. Beach club, lunch, the long afternoon we’ve been waiting for.
7:30 PM
flexible
Dinner TBD
Quick reset at the villa, easy dinner in town, then head out if the vibe is right.
11:45 PM
optional
Confessions or call it
Late-night, post-beach club. Open until 3 if anyone still has legs.
DAY 05
Sunday · May 3
Birthday breakfast, send-off, villa reset
Birthday morning at the villa. Send-off, massages, low-key Centro dinner.
BreakfastDepartureAfternoonDinner
9:00 AM
locked
Birthday breakfast at home
Chef breakfast on the patio. Mimosas, slow morning, no agenda.
12:00 PM
locked
Matt + Brendan depart
Send-off without the scene. Hugs, photos, then the road.
3:00 PM
locked
Massages at the villa
Pool, nap, massage, repeat.
7:30 PM
flexible
Centro dinner
Whatever the table votes for — birthday boy doesn’t pick.
DAY 06
Monday · May 4
Work morning, afternoon options
Work and play makes for a great day :)
SunriseWorkAfternoonDinner
8:00 AM
optional
Optional Tulum Ruins
Get there at 8 to beat the heat, the crowds, and the iguanas with attitude.
10:30 AM
locked
Work from the villa
Laptops out, pool close, AC honest.
4:00 PM
optional
Azulik or murals
Azulik if you want the architecture. Murals if you want a stroll. Both is fair game.
7:30 PM
flexible
Centro shortlist
Burrito Amor, Tu, Panza, or El Cayuco — same shortlist, no wrong answer.
DAY 07
Tuesday · May 5
Work morning + last-day run
Last full day, and yes, it’s Cinco de Mayo. One more cenote, one more beach, or one more walk. Scooters back before dinner. Centro to send the trip off properly.
WorkAfternoonScootersDinner
9:30 AM
locked
Work from the villa
Another morning with the laptop open and the pool in sight.
2:00 PM
flexible
Pick one for the final run
Gran Cenote, Calavera, murals, Azulik, or just beach and reset. Heads up: Cinco de Mayo matters more in the U.S. than it does here, so town will be normal-busy, not crazy.
6:00 PM
locked
Return scooters
Scooters back before dinner. No one wants to deal with that at midnight. May be getting these picked up.
8:00 PM
flexible
Cinco de Mayo in Centro
Dinner out, one more night, last call on Tulum.
DAY 08
Wednesday · May 6
Departure
Pack up. Head out. Group chat stays open.
MorningCheckoutAirport
8:00 AM
TBD
Final villa morning
Coffee on the patio one more time. Pack slow. Check passports and chargers twice.
10:00 AM
locked
Head out
I’m ready to start planning the next one!
Crew
The crew.
Full crew Wednesday through Sunday. Matt and Brendan fly out May 3. The rest stay through May 6.
Traveler
Apr 29Apr 30May 1May 2May 3May 4May 5May 6
B
BradFull trip
M
MeganFull trip
M
MattDeparts May 3 · 12:00
B
BrendanDeparts May 3 · 12:00
D
DanielFull trip
N
NormaFull trip
R
RobinPlaya del Carmen · 2:15pm
Share & export
Send the link or push the key time blocks into everyone’s calendar in one tap.
Currency + tipping
Plan on 1 USD ≈ 18–20 MXN when you’re doing real-world cash math · Tip 10–15% at restaurants · Cenote entry is usually cash-only · Chile crew can use the same planning range.
Notes
Bring this. Know this.
Quick reference for when wifi is thin and you need an answer in two seconds.
Emergency
In Mexico, dial 911 for police, ambulance, and fire. U.S. and Chile backups are below.
Cash & ATMs
Carry pesos for cenotes, tips, and street food. Use bank ATMs, and plan cash math by the street rate, not the perfect one.
- Preferred ATMs
- HSBC · Santander · Bital
- Avoid
- Euronet machines — fees are highway robbery
- Planning rate
- 1 USD ≈ 18 – 20 MXN in real trip math
- Carry for the week
- ≈ 3,000 MXN to start
- Chile crew note
- Use the same 18 – 20 MXN planning range for cash expectations
- Restaurant tipping
- 10 – 15%
- Bag / valet tipping
- 20 MXN per bag · 50 – 100 MXN valet
Cenote Etiquette
Five rules that keep the cenotes alive and keep us from getting yelled at.
- Before entry
- Rinse before you get in — sunscreen, lotion, bug spray
- In the water
- No sunscreen in the water — they will check at the gate
- Jumping
- Only where posted — cave floors are often shallow
- Cave formations
- Older than anyone you’ve ever met — don’t touch them
- Cash at the gate
- 200 – 300 MXN per person typical
Scooter Safety
Helmets on, paperwork handy, photos first. Let’s keep everyone upright and unbothered.
- Helmet
- Yes, they look dorky. Wear them anyway.
- Checkpoints
- Real near Centro — keep rental paperwork on you
- After drinks
- Do not ride — take a colectivo or taxi
- Fuel
- Fill in Centro before heading north — stations get sparse fast
- Night riding
- Low visibility on jungle roads — avoid when possible
Cinco de Mayo
Helpful reality check so nobody expects spring break with sombreros.
- Reality
- Mostly a U.S. holiday — Mexico keeps it pretty quiet
- Tulum impact
- Centro may skew busier from U.S. visitors, not locals
- Reservations
- Book dinner spots by morning of
- Traffic
- Expect slightly heavier flow near Centro in the evening