Azulik

Deep in the jungles of Uh May, a small town near Tulum, you’ll find a contemporary art museum called Azulik. To get there, you have to drive a few kilometers down a dirt road until you reach a guardhouse. An entrance fee is required (with a separate cost if you wish to use a professional camera). Not wanting to pay extra, I used my phone during our visit, which explains why the quality isn’t the best.

The magic begins as you enter a cave-like opening made entirely of wood before surfacing to the other end into a completely different world. It reminds me of that scene in Alice in Wonderland when Alice falls down a rabbit hole and into a magical world.

When you reach the other side, the wooden path transforms into a concrete entrance. Here, you need to remove your shoes and enter the museum barefoot to get the full experience. There is nothing more primitive than the feel of the uneven wood surface and the cold concrete on your bare feet.

Multiple paths lead up and down the building and into separate spaces. Vines hang from every corner, giving the feeling of being in an enchanting forest.

The museum reminds me of our trip several years ago to Naoshima, a small island in Japan known for its art museums, with how it seamlessly integrates architecture with nature. These places transport you to a different world where dreams become realities.

Walking through each room offers a different experience. You will discover that there are no rigid shapes as every element—even how the light flows—is designed to move organically.

In this immersive experience, art isn’t just a painting on the wall or a sculpture on display. It’s something you can feel, smell, hear, and sometimes even taste.

Our visit to Azulik reminds me that there is magic in this world, but in order to get there, you need to find it first.