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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

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Tulum Street Art: Exploring the Pueblo’s Muralism Culture

Last Updated: February 17, 2022 · Mexico, Riviera Maya

Tulum’s street art is one of the best-kept secrets of this magical pueblo. If you are visiting Tulum for a few days, chances are you won’t notice its plethora of painted murals. That’s because Tulum’s street art is somewhat hidden from view.

To find the colorful murals and walls, you have to explore the backstreets of the pueblo off the main Avenida Tulum.

If you think there’s street art is unique to Tulum, think again! Mexico’s culture of muralism dates back decades to the early 1920s and 30s. Like many places in the world, graffiti is seen as a form of art. Hence the name street art! Many times, this inspiration to create art and put it on public walls for display is symbolic. Either it is a show of resistance, representation, or a sign of healing and expression after trauma (in such places as Bogota, Colombia, where the decades-long conflict between the government and FARC guerillas created a culture of widespread street art).

The Tulum art movement is growing. Although it’s not very well known right now among tourists, it’s only going to keep gaining in popularity.

I personally feel that street art is a special way to give back to the community. Hopefully, more people will begin to appreciate the hard work and beauty in Tulum’s street art and discover a newfound sense of curiosity in the destination and its people.

Also Read: 9 Best Eco Boutique Hotels in Tulum

Here is my guide about Tulum’s street art and where to find its colorful murals!

Table of Contents show
The Best of Tulum’s Street Art
TINASAH Urban Art Movement in Tulum
Street Art on Calle Sol Oriente
Mayan Women
Fish Head People & Tulum Te Amo
“Agua”
Other Places to See Street Art in Tulum
“El Parajito” Old Mayan Man
The Cemetery
Deep-Sea Diver Kiss
“Belen” A Local Girl
Salvemos La Selva

The Best of Tulum’s Street Art

old mayan man mural el parajito tulum

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

TINASAH Urban Art Movement in Tulum

Street art has a beautifully nuanced way of telling a story. In that sense, Tulum’s street art is no different. Even the most bizarre and mysterious murals have something to tell. What’s more, several of the murals in Tulum are painted by renowned international muralists.

The culture of street art in Tulum is very present, in part thanks to the urban art collective Tinasah, who in 2019, hosted the first FAT Tulum Art Festival (Festival Arte Tinasah) with the aim to paint over 12 walls by 12 artists in 12 weeks. (P.S. Their Instagram is also helpful for getting clues on where to find Tulum’s street art).

“TINASAH’s work in Tulum is grounded in a shared belief that street art is about making change happen and creating murals for the community in Tulum that have a positive cultural and political influence.”  –CultureTrip

After living in this pueblo for going on 3 months, I truly believe that exploring the street art culture is one of the best things to do in Tulum.

Street Art on Calle Sol Oriente

sea turtle mural tulum
turtle mural

Calle Sol Oriente is about two blocks below the main Avenida Tulum crossing the pueblo from north to south (so the east side of the town). It is the street we lived on and luckily so because this street is chock-full of painted walls and hidden murals!

Rent a bike in Tulum and cruise down the length of Calle Sol Oriente to see the street art. The best way to start your DIY Tulum street art tour is from the far end of Sol Ote where it meets Coba Rd (the road the heads toward the beach). From here, you can cruise down Calle Sol Ote and virtually cross Tulum pueblo, spotting along the way dozens of murals (some recently painted for the FAT festival).

If you start from Coba Rd you will first come across the giant sea turtle mural splashed onto a blank white wall. Keep going and you’ll see a corner of street art.

Mayan Women

mayan women street art tulum

On the sidewall of the scooter rental store, you’ll see a mural of indigenous Mayan women cooking together (one of my favorites) by Mailen (@mailenparmiggiani) for the Tinasah FAT festival.

This piece is especially worth visiting because of what it represents. As Tinasah says on their Instagram (loosely translated), “the mural represents the traditions that are slowly disappearing within a pueblo, that sadly, values money more than the soul of the earth where it lives. It’s our hope that this mural honors and helps preserve Mayan territories and their traditions.”

“Un muro que rescata las tradiciones que lentamente van desapareciendo en un pueblo que parece valorar más el dinero que el alma de la tierra donde se vive; deseamos que se preserven y honren las tierras mayas en las que vivimos y sus tradiciones.” @tinasahhouse

Fish Head People & Tulum Te Amo

fish people art mural in local neighborhood in tulum mexico
tulum te amo heart mural tulum

Soon you’ll come to the strange fish people mural and the “Tulum te amo” mural. Both receive many visitors – I know because I used to live right on this street and used to people watch out the window, lol). Keep going to find a handful of small street art pieces by various artists including one large wall decorated with an Aztec-looking figure that stands out in blue and yellow.

Tlaloc street art mural in Tulum
tlaloc tulum street art

“Tlaloc” mural by @guri.arte @felipecespedesart and @nicenaranja

Small murals are dotted all over Calle Sol Oriente. How many will you spot?

face shell turtle mural
connected minds mural
wolf head skater mural tulum
palm sign mural

Further down Sol Ote you’ll find a large, colorful, and whimsical mural by Pelucas (@pelucaspilasbubbles) on the corner of Calle Orion Sur (pictured below).

tulum street art
tulum street art

“Agua”

The mural “Agua” by artist Val (@val_aurea) is witty and playful. It plays on reality by depicting feet underwater that are directly positioned below a roof-top pool, which you can see through its clear-glassed wall. You can find it on the corner of Calle Sol Ote and Geminis Sur.

 

 
 
 
 
 
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Une publication partagée par Val (@val_aurea)

 

Other Places to See Street Art in Tulum

“El Parajito” Old Mayan Man

"El Parajito" old mayan man mural in Tulum

One of the most striking murals I think out of all of Tulum’s street art is the painting of an “old Mayan man” who has apparently lived in Tulum for seemingly forever. The artist, Emma Rubens (@emmarubens), had quite the work cut out for herself to paint such a stunning piece even with electrical lines in her way. The result is truly beautiful and definitely one of the “must-see” murals to see in Tulum. You can find it on the corner of Calle Satélite y Calle Mercurio.  

The Cemetery

The local cemetery in Tulum has a wall surrounding it that’s full of stunning street art symbolic of Mayan culture and the representation of death and religion. I didn’t get any pictures here but you can trust me on this one! It’s beautiful.  

Deep-Sea Diver Kiss

deep-sea diver kiss street art in tulum
mural of a woman's face coming out of the earth

I am not sure about the name, and I didn’t capture the artist’s name either, but there is a beautiful blue-purple mural of a woman and a deep-sea diver exchanging a besito on the cheek. It is a whimsy, underwater world scene not to miss out on your tour around Tulum’s street art.

The best way to enjoy the view of this mural is to grab a vegetarian meal at La Hoja Verde located just opposite the street (Calle Beta Sur). Continue down Calle Beta Sur to find even more street art, including this one of a woman’s face coming out of the earth.  

“Belen” A Local Girl

One of the largest art murals in all of Tulum is none other than a piece by Emma Rubens. This mural is inspired by Belen, a local girl who would come hang out with Emma while she painted. Belen always asked when Emma would paint her, so finally she did. You can spot this piece as you enter Tulum off the main ave on the backside wall of the Tulum Yoga Studio. (Story by @tinasahouse).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Une publication partagée par TINASAH (@tinasahouse)

If you go around the corner down Calle Gemini Sur, you’ll also find painted high on a secret wall the colorful “Mother of Geminis” by artist Vexta (@vexta).

Salvemos La Selva

“Salvemos la selva” or “Let’s save the jungle” is a beautiful piece not to miss by @alinzart in collab with @ericaarndts.

“Dedicated to the ones that loved this place before you even existed, the ones that lived in balance and harmony with their surroundings and knew how to communicate with nature. The true owners of this earth that today suffers by the greed of the ego. Collaborative wall with @ericaarndts, thanks for your patience and understanding.” –@alinzart

 

 
 
 
 
 
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Une publication partagée par Alaniz (@alanizart)

There are SO many more murals and street art to see in Tulum than I mentioned here. You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for them! The best way to get around the pueblo to see all the street art is by bicycle. Walking is doable as well but would take too long. So rent a bike and explore the side streets!

I hope this guide to Tulum’s street art provided a bit of insight and background. My hope is that you can better appreciate these works of art as you enjoy Tulum and all it has to offer now that you understand a little bit more about the artists and their stories. Feel free to drop more street art locations in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Book a tour!


Don’t forget to check out my other travel guides to Tulum:

  • The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Tulum
  • 12 Epic Day Trips From Tulum You Can’t Miss
  • The Complete Guide to Scuba Diving in Tulum, Mexico

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By: Bri · In: Mexico, Riviera Maya

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The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Tulum

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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