Top 10 Best Things To Do In Tulum, Mexico (+ Tips, Maps & Where To Stay)

Tulum, Mexico is known for its white sand beaches, dazzling cenotes, ancient Mayan ruins, and as an artsy enclave.

A trip to Tulum can mean different things to different people. From the trendy beach clubs and social media hot spots, to the pure natural beauty and history. So depending on what interests you, you can seek out a variety of different attractions.

But you will notice the prices can range from very affordable at some of the local establishments, to extremely expensive resorts and restaurants. And since we are more budget-conscious travelers, Tulum really put our money-saving skills to the test.

Truly our favorite part was any activity or restaurant where we got to witness the locals passion for the area. But whatever it is you are seeking, we’ll help you find it.

So let’s get into our top 10 things to do in Tulum.

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Helpful Map Of Tulum, Mexico

Use this helpful map to find the best places to explore around Tulum.

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Get Local Mexican Food From An Authentic Restaurant

Certainly, you didn’t come to Mexico to miss out on some delicious Mexican cuisine.

And while you can get Mexican food almost anywhere in Tulum, we found the Mexican food in the touristy areas to be expensive and more like gringo style Mexican food. So, we want to share some of our favorite local spots.

Chez Coco is an absolute must visit. We were already impressed with the coffee and food, before the owner walked up and shared her heartwarming story and made us feel so welcome to the area. You will need to walk or ride through a more authentic part of Tulum, but I promise you will not be disappointed with the vibe of the restaurant, service, and welcoming atmosphere.

For the super affordable and authentic Mexican food, it’s best to go into the town of Tulum. One spot that we recommend is Taquería Honorio. They have delicious tacos, along with other classics like chips & guacamole, empanadas, and more.

Also, head over to another local favorite, Taqueria La Chiapaneca. You can’t miss the juicy spinning Kababs right from the sidewalk.

Of course, there are plenty of high end Mexican restaurants around Tulum. But they can’t complete with these local gems on price and authentic flavor.

Visit a Cenote

Tulum is known for its abundance of beautiful cenotes. They are natural holes in the limestone bedrock that provide access to clear groundwater beneath. Cenotes come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from massive caves to open-air watering holes, and many combinations of the two.

Since the ancient Mayans up until modern day, cenotes have been admired for their beauty and life sustaining water.

They offer a variety of activities, like swimming, snorkeling and diving, cliff jumping, wildlife viewing, or just appreciating the natural beauty.

And their level of development varies greatly too, from free undeveloped cenotes, to fully built up attractions with docks, restaurants, and more. So depending on what type of experience you are looking for, you can let that guide which cenotes you choose to visit.

Two of the most popular cenotes near Tulum are Gran Cenote and Cenote Calavera.

Gran Cenote is an absolutely incredible place to snorkel, surrounded by turtles, fish, and bats. It’s 500 pesos or $30 usd (cash only and cheaper to pay in the local currency) per person, but in my opinion, well worth it for one of the most immersive snorkeling experiences of my life.

Cenote Calavera is another popular one near Tulum, that’s a great spot for cliff jumping or just swimming around in the crystal clear water. It is 250 pesos or $17 usd (so again cheaper to pay in the local currency.)

I’m not even going to pretend to claim that these are the best cenotes around. There are dozens of them just around Tulum so it would take months to try them all.

But a few other’s that were recommended to us were Dos Ojos and Maya Muyil.

Oh and something to be aware of, since cenotes are such delicate ecosystems, not only are things like sunscreen and bug spray prohibited, but many might also require you to shower before entry.

Or you always book a tour that brings you to many different cenotes in one day:

Book A Snorkel Boat Tour:

Tulum offers access to the Mesoamerican Reef, which stretches over 700 miles (1,126 kilometres) from the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula all the way to Honduras. The Mesoamerican reef is the second-largest coral reef system in the world. It’s also often referred to as the Great Mayan Reef.

I do want to urge you to either not apply sunscreen until after your snorkeling adventure or to use a reef-safe sunscreen. We personally recommend Stream2Sea. (Use code TWOROAMINGSOULS for 10% off). As they not only have a reef-safe sunscreen, but also a coral care sunscreen, which helps nourish the reefs. While there are some threats to the reef that are out of our control, choosing the right sunscreen can help make a small impact. 

The easiest way to visit this reef is to book a tour, or hire a guide. We booked a ½ day catamaran cruise that included transportation, open bar, lunch, snorkeling, and even paddle boarding. All around, we had an absolute blast!

You can also often book snorkel tours right from the public beach. For example, you’ll see many boats lined up at Playa Pescadores. It’s no longer free to enter, as you will need to pay the National Park fee. Which is about $15 per person. Or book this tour which takes you to 2 snorkel locations for a fair price.

Or if you want to go right from the shores and see a bunch of marine life, consider driving up to Akumal Bay. The reef is close to the shore, so there is no need to ride a boat, rather you can snorkel from right there!

Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve

Tulum is adjacent to a massive ecological preserve that features impressive wetlands. covering the fascinating transition from freshwater lagoons, to a maze of brackish mangroves, and finally joining with the Caribbean Sea.

I would say that most people who visit Tulum will miss this incredible place.

Because booking a tour is the only way you will get to truly experience it, and admittedly tours are rather pricy. But, by providing transportation, breakfast and lunch, and a knowledgeable tour guide. You’ll probably agree that it’s well worth the cost.

It is guided by a Mayan community-based organization who has absolutely stellar guides. Our tour guide Manuel shared so much knowledge and passion about Mayan culture, the unique geology, and the local plants and animals.

The highlight of the tour for us was floating through the freshwater rivers meandering through mangroves full of life.

You float down the crystal clear river, spotting wildlife, and being practically in disbelief of the beauty of your surroundings.

And one of the most exhilarating parts of the trip was our boat captain zipping through the waterways with surgical precision.

And then the tour boat took us out to the manatee feeding grounds. Our guides knew exactly how to find them. Even though they can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes.

Then we moved on to look for crocodiles. We didn’t come across any adult crocodiles that day, but we did see a baby that couldn’t have been more than a foot long.

And we saw the outlet of some underwater rivers pumping tons of freshwater up into the lagoon. Between this experience, and visiting Cenotes, you definitely get a sense for how many wonders lie just below the surface.

This tour really allows you to appreciate more of the unique geology, flora, and fauna of the region.

Party At A Beach Club

You’ll notice the beach front in Tulum is run a little differently than your average beach destination.

Along the sandy shorelines in an area called the hotel zone, you’ll find tons of different beach clubs with day beds, lounge chairs, pools, restaurants, and more. But the catch is that most of these beach clubs require a minimum spend or cover charge to use their facilities. 

However, many beach clubs are also hotels. So if you book accommodation with them, it’s one of the best ways to gain access to beach club amenities. And if you are just a visitor, be aware that hotel guests usually get first priority on the day beds, etc.

Beach Club pricing does fluctuate with the time of year. During our visit in April, we found many of the popular clubs to require a cover of $65 US dollars per person or more. But sometimes part or all of the cover can goes toward your food and drink.

There are also a handful of beach clubs that don’t require a minimum spend, rather, they just ask you to make a purchase at the club. 

If you are looking for some budget-friendly beach clubs, here’s our advice. One of the days we ventured to Niken Hotel & Beach Club. You’re able to park in the small lot if you make a purchase of at least $15 per person. Which is much more reasonable! Plus we were planning to get dinner anyways, so this minimum was easily attainable. I can suggest this place for the low cost, and quiet relaxation. But many of the beach chairs were not exactly level. And all the beach palapas were reserved for hotel guests. 

Another day, we headed to Delek Beach Club, which again, technically has no minimum spend. But they do ask each person to consume one meal and one drink while you are there. We arrived pretty early, and got an amazing location front row with shade. And after walking down the beach to check out some of the other beach clubs, I can highly recommend Delek!

Choosing which beach club to visit, can kinda be overwhelming. So, like I said, Delek is my personal recommendation, but it does get pretty popular in the early afternoon. If you’re looking for a party vibe either DJ’s and more luxurious amenities, consider Taboo or Papaya Playa Project. But expect a much higher minimum spend at these locations. 

Some other recommendations that were suggested to me were BeTulum, Mia, Le Zebra, Lula, and Ana y Jose. But like I said, there are TONS, so check out other local blogs to get a better idea of which beach club might fit your vibe best!

I should note, that technically all beaches in Tulum are public, but the development along the coast certainly makes public beach access difficult. With practically wall-to-wall hotels all along the hotel zone, and fee area of Jaguar Park covering much of the coast north of that.

However, if you are looking for a free public beach access, you can find an entrance just south of the sign for La Cochita Hotel.

Tulum Ruins

The ancient Mayan Tulum ruins are definitely the most popular attraction in Tulum. These well-preserved Mayan Ruins sit atop a gorgeous location on the bluffs just north of Tulum. This walled-city was an important location for trade and worship.

It’s fascinating to explore this archeological site, learning about the ancient Mayans, their culture, beliefs, ohh and see like a thousand lizards who have made this their fortress.

For the most informative experience, we recommend going with a tour guide who can color your experience with stories, answer questions, and bring the history to life. You can still explore without a guide, but your learning is somewhat limited to what is on the information placards.

As this is one of the most popular places in Tulum, here’s some tips for visiting:

The tickets to see the ruins are open every day from 8am to 3pm. You can somewhat avoid crowds and mid-day heat by going right when they open. But tour buses start showing up shortly after they open.

Payment for entry is a little bit confusing. First you need to pay the entry fee for the National Park Del Jaguar, and the ticket building is a little hidden off to the right.

Once you enter the National Park, the ruins are about a 10 minute walk from the entrance. Or you ride their free shuttles instead.

Then, there is a separate entry fee of 100 pesos to enter the Archeological Site (ruins).

The beach right below the ruins was closed when we visited. The cove had trapped lots of sargassum, so not sure anyone would have wanted to be down there anyway. And There’s another public beach just south of the ruins so that you can access from the south end of the park.

Check Out The Local Art Scene

Tulum is definitely known for it’s bohemian chic vibe. And it’s located all over the area. Personally, I’m a huge fan, this was literally the theme at our wedding! You can simply walk around the area, or go into some of the local art museums to get a closer view. 

But I do have some advice! My group mistakenly thought by booking a dinner at Kin Toh at Azulik would allow us assess to walk around this luxury resort, and see it’s true magic. But, come to find out, we were only allowed to walk around the restaurant. Which IS, still very cool, but…. The meals are outrageously expensive. Like meals starting at $75 a plate. And really, the flavors were kinda just okay and not really authentic dishes to the area. Which is kinda one of my favorite parts of traveling to try the authentic local foods.

So my advice is to just visit the museum here, called Sfer Ik Tulum. It costs about $24 per person, and you can spend as much time as you like. They also have another location inland called, called Azulik City of Arts. Which really does look pretty unique and cool.

Or of course, head to the famous wooden lady at Escultura Ven a la Luz. But do expect long lines here, especially to get a photo with the wooden lady. Definitely head here early to beat the crowds.

Lastly, there is the Atik Tulum Park which blends the natural Mayan jungle with Mexican urban art. So if you want a more authentic feel for the art, this place can be a great stop.

There is this tour that will take you around to all the Instagram-able spots.

And of course, you don’t even have to pay to get to experience the local art scene. Little gems are located all around the area. Even just walking into some of the Beach Club entrances or local store is like walking through a cool art exhibit.

For example this little shop in the hotel zone had a beautiful set up with local goods, and through the back was a beautiful cenote. So just walking around Tulum in both downtown and the hotel zone, there’s tons of little gems that you don’t even have to pay for.

Kaan Luum Lagoon 

Just a short drive from town is the majestic Kaan Luum Lagoon. Which in Mayan, means Yellow Earth. But it is also often referred to as the eye to heaven. Which refers to the deep hole surrounded by the shallow shores, resembling an eye. It becomes more apparent if you are able to get any sort of aerial view. Which luckily they have a raised platform that can provide a better view.

The deep blue section in the middle, is actually a cenote that is located within a lagoon. And it’s one of the deepest cenotes in the area, extending to the depths of 240 ft (80 m).

The price to enter the area is 300 pesos per adult if you are a foreigner, with cheaper prices for Mexican citizens, locals, and children. And the hours are 9am to 4pm.

Visitors are welcomed to swim in the shallow waters that surround the cenotes. And what might surprise you is that it’s entirely fresh water, so for those who don’t like swimming in salt water, this could be a nice place for a day of swimming.

There are two docks, floating hammocks, and a fun viewpoint overlooking the lagoon. There are also some man-made swings and structures for a photo op, which honestly, is not really our vibe. Like why not just let the beautiful nature just speak for itself.

But anyway, something important to know is that sunscreen is not allowed here. So it’s best to visit early or have some sort of sun protective layer if you visit mid-day.

Rent Bikes To Ride Around Town

Renting bikes in Tulum was by far one of the most fun ways to get around the area. And I’ve noticed it does seem like they are building up the newer roads and bike paths to be more bike friendly. Renting a bike costs about $10-$15 per day. The more days you rent, the cheaper it tends to be. 

I have no idea why, but taxi’s in the area are absolutely bonkers pricing. For example, we took a roundtrip taxi to Cenote Calavera from our hotel. Which was about 2 miles one way. This cost us $1500 pesos, which equals about $76 dollars. So my advice it to avoid taxis at all costs!!!! It’s practically a scam.

If you want to head to some places a bit further away, then consider renting a motorbike. The first half of my trip, we spent exploring some of the gems on the outskirts of Tulum. And the second half, riding bicycles around to the closer attractions.

The roads here are set up kinda interestingly. As they are two lane traffic, but the breakdown lane is kinda were the motorbikes that are driving slower ride.

The farthest thing we went to was Kaan Luum Lagoon about 20 minutes away, but I wouldn’t recommend going much further than that on a motorbike. Because it’s not super comfortable, and highway driving was rather intimidating. But the motorbike saved us a ton of money versus paying the insane taxi prices!

Sip Some Local Tequila or Mezcal

When in Mexico, you have to try the Mexican tequila and mezcal, it’s the real deal here! You’ll spot margaritas and mezcalitas on nearly every menu, but if you want to go beyond the basics, head to a proper mezcaleria.

We checked out Mamazul Tulum Mezcaleria, and wow, they have more varieties than we could count. Whether you’re a seasoned sipper or just mezcal-curious, it’s a fun spot to sample authentic, high-quality spirits.

Heads up: drinks here are a bit on the pricier side, but they make some classy delicious cocktails.

Also, I’m going to have to make the spicy rim a new addition to my homemade margaritas!

There is this fun mezcal tasting tour, that includes a chocolate tasting.

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Where To Stay In Tulum

Tulum is set up into two different zones. There is the hotel zone which have properties lined along the beach. Then, there is the town of Tulum, where you will find other places to stay. And it kinda depends on the type of vacation you are seeking for the best place to stay.

You’ll find much higher prices for the beachfront properties.

Personally, we stayed at Aflora Tulum which was located on the outskirts of town. It was a boutique residence/hotel, with a pool, and chic vibe. There was also a tasty restaurant called Panza on site for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I personally liked the location because it was centerally located to everything we wanted to do. And since the beachfront in Tulum can be hit or miss with the sargassum, I kinda enjoyed only visiting the beach a few times. And not paying the premium to be on the beach.

But if you are seeking that true beach vacation, then staying on the beachfront is a good option for you.

Here are some recommendations for beachfront properties:

• La Zebra Tulum – Luxury Hotel, beachfront, attached beach club, on-site restaurant, good location, higher-end price
• Lula Tulum – Small Luxury Hotel, beachfront, onsite yoga and restaurant, mid-price accommodation
• Yaxchen Tulum Cabañas & Cenote – Great Budget Option, attached cenote, but far from town
• Azulik – Very Boho Chic, luxury stay, beachfront, good location on hotel zone and close to town
• Hotel Shibari – Restaurant & Cenote Club – Unique accommodation, with attached cenote, no direct beach access, but partner beach clubs included, luxury higher-end

Use the map below to browse other great options for accommodations in Tulum:

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Additional Tips For Visiting Tulum

Here are some additional tips to consider when visiting Tulum.

Sargassum Seaweed

Something that has become more of a detriment to the area is sargassum. Most people would refer to it as seaweed, but It’s actually a type of algae that has been having larger than normal blooms in recent years.

Tulums shores are often plagued by these sargassum blooms. It fills the shores and makes the water less desirable to swim in.

When we visited in April, there was a moderate amount of sargassum. So for the premium prices you pay to stay on the beach, you might have to deal with the smell, uninviting water to swim in, and clogging the beaches.

There were many locals raking it up and loading it into trucks to take it away. As I walked down the beach I noticed some places were worse than others. And some of the abandoned hotels who had no one to remove the seaweed has it very bad!

It wasn’t a huge deal breaker for our trip, but compared to other places we’ve been that were cheaper and had nicer beaches, it’s something to consider!

Taxi’s/ Renting Bikes

Avoid Taxi’s at all costs! They are absolutely ridiculous on pricing. We let out accommodation hire a taxi for us to get from the Tulum airport to our accommodation and it cost $100 one way. But for a 45 minute drive, that didn’t seem too unreasonable. Especially if you can split the cost with several people.

But then getting taxis for shorter distances was just really expensive. Even just a 2-mile ride to a cenote cost us around $74 roundtrip. Luckily I was traveling in a group to split the cost. But we kind of felt ripped off by the cost of most taxi rides.

So our best advice is to rent bicycles to get around town, or a motorbike. Our bicycles cost us $10 per day and our motorbike cost us $27 per day.

You can rent cars here for pretty cheap too. But we’ve heard some negative feedback from tourists. Police Officers are known for pulling over tourists and extorting money in the form of bogus fines.

So we felt bikes were one of the best and cheapest ways to get around. Either motorbikes and scooters, or bicycles.

For motorbikes, personally we don’t find it very enjoyable to drive on highways. But you can get to some of the further places like Kaan Luum Lagoon, or Gran Cenote with just a little bit of highway driving. But I wouldn’t want to go to something more than like 40 minutes away.

Ohh and one weird thing is that Tulum has these speed bumps called Topes, which are basically like rows of little metal domes. Which are just not fun to ride over on a bike. Because they basically

Bicycles are a great affordable way to get to different locations around town or along the beachfront. The newer roads are definitely being built up to be bike friendly. For example the main road from downtown to the beach has a bike path. So you can feel much safer.

But this does lead me to, this area is still being built up. So there is construction going on all over the area. And even some places that seem to be built up, but also deserted at the same time.

Things Close Early

Something to note is many of the tourist attractions, like cenotes, ruins, beach clubs, etc. close pretty early.

On our short trip we were really trying to maximize our time. But we’re bummed to find out there were many things couldn’t do in the evening or even early afternoon.

So plan to visit all these locations in the middle of the day.

Drinking Water

One important thing to know about Tulum is that the tap water is not safe to drink. So you will need to drink bottled water, or some other type of filtered or purified water. This does create some inconvenience, especially if your accommodation doesn’t help you acquire drinking water. So that is something you will want to check with your accommodation. If not, you will have to go out and buy bottled water. And we always hate drinking bottled water because of all the waste it creates.

Or there are also options for drinking water delivery, or you can include it with grocery delivery. But again, it’s just one more thing that you probably didn’t want to worry about for your trip.

Did We Feel Safe In Tulum?

Mexico in general has a reputation for being unsafe due to the cartels. And I will say we did see the police and national guard riding around in trucks with guns pretty often in town and along the hotel zone.

Generally, Jake and I felt safe traveling here, but I mean seeing these vehicles does make you feel a bit uneasy. Like should I feel more safe since they are there? Or less safe since they think there is a need for armed patrols.

Some tips for staying safe are to avoiding traveling at night outside of the touristy areas. And don’t go seeking out drugs or the drug scene. I guess for the high prices of the area, you kinda just wish the authorities didn’t have to be on guard 24/7.

You will need to be smart and pay attention when traveling here. Whenever we hired a taxi, we had our hotel call for the taxi so we knew we were getting a legit taxi. We’ve heard there are times where some vehicles will act like a taxi, but might not be! And because we weren’t staying in the hotel zone, we didn’t really go out at night.

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