The town of Tulum is a must-see on any Yucatán road trip in Mexico. Of course, that’s because of its famous Mayan ruins, but also because it’s ideally located near several of the region’s main sights. In fact, we met quite a few travellers who had chosen to stay here for a week or ten days and explore the surrounding area. In this article, we tell you all about the things to do in Tulum and around!
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Tulum at a glance
In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary of what you need to know before you go:
| 🌿 Key facts | 📌 What to remember |
|---|---|
| Where? | Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Quintana Roo state, 130 km south of Cancún |
| Must-sees | The Mayan ruins overlooking the sea, the beaches and the town centre |
| Around Tulum | Cenotes (Gran Cenote, Dos Ojos, Zacil Ha), Sian Ka’an, Punta Laguna, Coba, Akumal |
| How long? | 2 to 3 days on a road trip, a week to explore the region |
| When to go? | November to April, during the dry season |
| Getting there | ADO bus from Cancún or Playa del Carmen, hire car, Tulum airport |
| Getting around | By bike, colectivo or car |
| Our verdict | A Yucatán must-see, a laid-back town full of charm |
Tulum, Mexico
Tulum is a town on the Caribbean coast, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Located on the country’s east coast, it’s known for two main attractions: its ruins and its beach resort. The ruins of Tulum are very famous and often feature as the postcard image of the Yucatán. You’ve probably already seen pictures of this ancient Mayan port city… Located 130 kilometres from Cancún, it makes a great base for exploring the surrounding area, as I mentioned in the introduction.
Things to do in Tulum
Tulum itself doesn’t have a million things to do either; the highlights are, of course, its archaeological ruins, its beach and the nearby cenotes! At first glance, it isn’t exactly pretty, with its huge avenue lined with restaurants and bars… But it’s a small town, far from the giant hotel complexes of Cancún, lively and pleasant! Even though we found it a bit hipster, we could happily have stayed another day or two, just to relax and take our time. According to some locals, Tulum will eventually become like Playa del Carmen or Cancún… For now, it’s a town on a human scale with plenty of soul! As you move away from the centre, you get a glimpse of everyday Mexican life and come across poorer neighbourhoods that are being rebuilt.
The Tulum ruins
Tulum is home to an ancient fortified Mayan city set in an idyllic spot by the Caribbean Sea. We didn’t take a guided tour, but we wandered around the site for about two hours. You can go for a swim here; if you do, allow a little more time. The site isn’t very large, and its buildings are fairly “simple” compared with Uxmal, Calakmul or Chichén Itzá, which are far more impressive. Tulum’s real strength is its stunning setting on the Riviera Maya.
The site has a second beach where swimming is now forbidden, because turtles have made it their home! We didn’t see any, but we came across lots of iguanas and a few coatis, much to our delight!
The beaches
The whole hotel zone is built along the coast, so it offers some lovely beaches. We were staying in the town centre and couldn’t take advantage of this location… On the other hand, unlike Akumal, you can get to Tulum beach without paying anything. And, as I mentioned above, you can also swim at the archaeological site. Among the most beautiful beaches: Playa Paraíso, Playa Santa Fe and Playa Las Palmas, all located in Tulum National Park. Outside the town: Playa Xcacel, Playa Xpu-Ha and Playa Tankah.
Tulum town centre
We really enjoyed wandering around Tulum, despite getting caught in torrential rain… Street art, churches, street vendors, souvenir shops and plenty of restaurants and bars make it a lively and pleasant town. Even though the weather was grey during our stay, the colourful streets made us forget the gloomy skies. See for yourself!
The heart of the town is Avenida Tulum, the main street lined with restaurants, taquerías, bars and tour agencies. The centre is 3 or 4 km from the sea: you can easily cycle to the ruins and to the beaches of the hotel zone, which stretches along the coast. Staying in town is generally cheaper than by the sea, and it’s also where you’ll find the most authentic places to eat!
Things to do around Tulum
The cenotes
Around Tulum, there are above all countless cenotes. You know, those famous natural swimming holes that are so typical of Mexico… We were so excited to see them (we had only just arrived in Mexico) that we preferred swimming in cenotes to going to the beach… If, like us, you’re starting your trip in Tulum and on the coast, don’t rush the cenotes: there are loads more around Mérida and Valladolid, prettier and cheaper… In fact, we’ve written a full article on the cenotes of the Yucatán here.
Gran Cenote
The first one we visited! Very pleasant and beautiful, of course, but a bit “Disney”, with a lawn and lockers for your belongings. Given the facilities, there is of course an entrance fee.
Zacil Ha
Well, by a stroke of luck, there was nobody there when we arrived (early in the morning), so we didn’t pay for this cenote. We took a few photos and left! It’s very beautiful, but rather small!
Dos Ojos
I had read that it was an absolute must because it’s the most beautiful in the region, and so on. It is beautiful, yes, but it’s mainly popular with divers and it’s really very expensive for what it is! Don’t come here “just” for a swim; choose it if you’re going diving…
Other cenotes nearby: Calavera cenote, Escondido cenote, Cristal cenote… There are dozens and dozens of them! Check the prices and locations before you go, it will help you choose.
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
This is a natural biosphere reserve on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, with one of its entrances about 20 kilometres from Tulum. We chose to explore the reserve on a guided tour, but you can also visit independently. During our day, we walked through the reserve’s jungle, then visited the Muyil ruins, before discovering the reserve’s canals and mangroves all the way to Punta Allen. We tell you all about this wonderful day in a dedicated article: the Sian Ka’an reserve.
See monkeys in the Punta Laguna reserve
The Punta Laguna reserve is 50 minutes from Tulum, so you can easily do a day trip. We also went on a tour, which we describe in a dedicated article: the Punta Laguna reserve. Our day was split in two: we met a Mayan family in the morning and spent the afternoon in the reserve. On the programme: spider monkeys, a zip line and a swim in a very special cenote…
Coba
We didn’t visit this archaeological site, as we already had quite a few on our itinerary, but it’s easy to reach from Tulum. It’s about 50 kilometres away and you can get there by bus or taxi.
Akumal
We spent a night and half a day there hoping to see its famous turtles… But having to pay to go to a beach put us off… I later found a few tours from Tulum to Akumal… I don’t know what they’re like, but if they let you see turtles… why not, ha ha…
Chichén Itzá
Further afield, but still doable as a day trip, you can visit Chichén Itzá. If you go for this option, a tip: leave very early in the morning or go late in the day. We chose to stay near the archaeological site, but if we did it again, we’d sleep in Pisté, the town next to Chichén Itzá.
Practical tips for visiting Tulum
We stayed in Tulum for 3 days and 2 nights, but we could easily have stayed longer! To visit Coba, enjoy the beaches… As we mentioned in the introduction, some travellers we met stayed in Tulum and explored the area from there! A good strategy if you’re short on time or don’t want to drive too many kilometres!
Where to stay
We spent 2 nights at the Jabin boutique hotel, not far from the town centre. We chose this hotel because the photos looked amazing and prices in the hotel zone were beyond our budget! We were right: it was the most beautiful hotel of our trip! The room was tastefully decorated, with quality materials, brand new… Only the breakfast felt a little light; otherwise, the place is just perfect! Fun fact: there was even Netflix in the room, perfect if you get torrential rain like we did! Ha ha!
Edit: it seems this hotel has closed for good… a shame, it was stunning!
Where to eat
➺ Restaurant da Dona Tina: a family-run place serving Mexican and Yucatecan specialities: we had a feast for very little money!
➺ Antojito la Chiapaneca – tacos for 10 pesos (around 50 cents), fresh and cheap food, we loved it too!
➺ Ruta del Sol – for a hearty breakfast!
Getting to and around Tulum
ADO buses run between Cancún or Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Allow around 2 hours by road from Cancún (130 km) and 45 minutes to 1 hour from Playa del Carmen. Tulum now also has its own international airport and a Tren Maya station, handy for arriving directly or travelling on to other stops in the Yucatán.
In Tulum itself, plenty of colectivos can take you from one place to another, but bikes are king here!
We had a hire car, so that’s mostly how we got around.
FAQ – Everything you need to know about visiting Tulum
The frequently asked questions are here!
How many days do you need in Tulum?
Tulum has plenty to do and a rich surrounding area: you could easily spend a week there exploring the region. If, like us, you’re on a Yucatán road trip, 2 to 3 days are enough to see the ruins, enjoy the beaches and visit a few cenotes.
Is Tulum worth visiting?
Yes! Its Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean Sea, its beaches, its great places to eat and all the activities nearby make it a superb stop. For us, it’s a must-see on the Yucatán Peninsula.
Where is Tulum?
Tulum is on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, in the state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatán Peninsula. The town is around 130 km south of Cancún and about sixty kilometres from Playa del Carmen.
How do you get from Cancún to Tulum?
The easiest option is to hire a car: allow around 2 hours by road. ADO buses also link Cancún (city centre and airport) to Tulum several times a day. You can also fly straight into Tulum International Airport or take the Tren Maya.
When is the best time to visit Tulum?
The best time is from November to April, during the dry season. From May to October, it’s hotter and more humid, with a risk of hurricanes from June to November and sometimes sargassum on the beaches.
What is there to do in Tulum with kids?
Tulum is great for a family trip: the ruins are a short and easy visit, the beaches are ideal for swimming and cenotes such as the Gran Cenote are a big hit with children. Nearby, the Punta Laguna reserve is also a chance to see spider monkeys in the wild.
Is Tulum safe?
Tulum is a very popular destination with travellers. As anywhere, a few precautions are enough: don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach, travel during the day outside the town centre and check your government’s travel advice before you go.
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So there you have it, I think you now have a good idea of the things to do in Tulum… We really loved visiting Tulum and the surrounding area! The town has lots of charm, our accommodation was gorgeous, and we were never bored!
