Travel Diary: Tulum + Playa Del Carmen

Last December, my mama, 2 friends and I, took a quick trip to the Yucatan Peninsula to visit some of the people behind the production of Jen's Pirate Booty. We have a handful of workshops spread throughout Mexico. They are all run by local artisan families. It warms our hearts to be able to bring continuous work to so many villages in Mexico and allow the artisans to use their craft. To be able to work, doing something you love, is an incredible joy. A joy that I experience every single day.

A lot of the production we do in Mexico is done by hand. The Gauze that we use is a very delicate and tricky material and doesn't do well when mass produced. It requires specialty cutting, sewing and dying techniques. All of which the local artisans have mastered over many, many generations. 

This trip, we put a lot of focus on Mexican embroidery techniques for our upcoming Summer and Fall seasons. They are all done by local artisans and can take many days, upon weeks to create one piece. We have such an appreciation for this type of craftsmanship and are so honored and excited to be able to incorporate them into the collection. 

After we got some work done, we were able to escape to magical Tulum.  A place where neon aqua waters meet an endlessly, breathtaking, stretch of white sand beach. Adorning the beach are a ton of swanky little bungalows, tucked in to the trees. There is food from all over the world. The drinks are refreshing and ever flowing. The people exude fashion, style and grace...and there is an unexplainable vibration, that just keeps alluring you back. 

A quick list of a few of our favorite stops while in the Yucatan Peninsula...

PLAYA DEL CARMEN

> Los Aguachiles - mouthwatering tostadas - find them in Tulum and Playa!

> Caguameria de Esquina - same owners as Aguachiles and muy bueno

> La Perla - refreshing mezcal cocktails + ceviche

> Hotel La Semilla - a little oasis away from all the touristy resorts

> La Cueva del Chango - breakfast spot 

TULUM

> Coqui Coqui - a hotel/castle on the beach in Tulum

> Posada Margherita - an unexpected Italian Restaurant/hotel

> CoCo Tulum - an inexpensive beachside hotel made up of thatched roof huts

> El Tabano - a menu of endless interesting dishes using local ingredients

> Urge Taquito - a taco shack in town with the biggest topping station I've ever seen