A Gym With No Walls: My Tulum Journal
Updated: Sep 26
During my trip to Mexico this year, I made my way to the Tulum Jungle Gym—a gym that takes the idea of an outdoor workout pretty seriously. Think sand, sunshine, tropical surroundings and a workout space that feels about as far removed from your typical commercial gym as you can get.
And that was exactly the point. Because for most people, there’s something about working out on vacation that can feel a little strange. You’re supposed to be relaxing, sleeping in, eating good food, exploring somewhere new...and then there you are, voluntarily picking up weights and sweating in the middle of a jungle.
Personally? I loved it.
Welcome to the Jungle
The first thing that struck me was the environment.
I’m used to gyms where you’re surrounded by mirrors, rubber flooring and the familiar soundtrack of weights clanking in the background. This was different. Everything still has a designated place; the equipment is lined up in neat rows, but the equipment is made of wood, and the hard floors were replaced by sand and bare feet.
There was something refreshing about being able to look up between sets and see the jungle instead of a wall. Here, the surroundings were part of the experience. The workout didn’t feel completely separate from the rest of the day. It felt like another way of experiencing where I was. Something as simple as working out can suddenly feel like an adventure.
