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Maya site in Quintana Roo, Mexico
Photo: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tulum is on the Yucatán Peninsula, in Mexico. It is one of the earliest resorts in Mexico, offering a place of worship and solitude for the Mayan kings, clergy and gods in early times. The tropical beach backdrop is the main attraction of this picturesque, much-visited small ruin on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. Shortly after your arrival, you will understand why early Mayans picked this beautiful place to relax.
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Zona Arqueologíca de Tulum
The main attraction. Mayan ruins by the sea. Access to the beach directly below the main temple via the stairway is restricted. However, for a certain price through vendors at the ruins entrance, you can still take boat tours for views of the ruins from the water. To get to the ruins, take a collectivo at the bus stop across the street from the ADO bus terminal in Tulum. Simply ask the driver for "ruinas". The cost is M$30, payable in cash and small bills only. To get back to Tulum, wait on the other side of the street from where the collectivo dropped you off and flag down one of the passing collectivos. There is a bag check at the entrance to the ruins. You are not allowed to enter with any kind of disposable plastic or smoking supplies. As the line at the bag check can get quite long and it only takes about one hour to see the ruins, it is better to not bring a bag at all, because this allows you to skip the line. There is a 7-Eleven on the corner of the street where the collectivo drops you off, so that you can buy water after seeing the ruins. The entrance procedure is a bit complicated. First, you have to buy the bracelet to enter the national park. The ticket office is in the street to the right from the bag check. Then, you pass through the bag check. After that, you can either walk 500 m or take a shuttle to the entrance to the ruins. There is the INAH ticket office, where you need to buy the entrance ticket to the ruins. It gets very crowded after 10 am, when the tours and cruise ship passengers arrive, so better come early or late in the afternoon.
Big lagoon with swimming area and hammocks, includes a deep area in the center with different colored water.
the streets behind the main road in Tulum are filled with street art, with interesting pieces on almost every block.
Some sort of immersive psychedelic Mayan art museum on the Tulum Ruins grounds.
A rotating observatory tower ride affording 360 degree views of the Tulum ruins and area.
Uniquely designed art museum and restaurant that is best experienced as an architectural jewel. It takes influences from the nearby seascapes and jungle landscapes to create meandering paths through the building with arches, doorways, and architectural details that resemble jungle growth. Casual visitors can just walk around outside and get a feel for it without spending the money on admission. A visit may only take a few minutes for the casual visitor though the curious architect might want to come when the doors first open to avoid crowds and spend more time in each space.
Immersive interactive museum that showcases the life of Frida Kahlo and her enduring inspiration to women artists.
Here the Cenote goes underground 90 m (100 yards) before the beach, and emerges as an 'underwater' water spring about 18 m (20 yards) of the beach in the ocean. Tanka III Bay is 7 km (5 miles) north of the intersection to the ruins. Take a cab. Great places to eat and stay or scuba too. One of the ways to make sure you also visit and dive is to arrange taking a diving course there and it will take just 3 hours in total.
In Cenote Cristal you have a nice platform to jump into the water. On the opposite side of the road is Cenote Escondido. Also nice for swimming and it has a rope to jump into the water. Maybe not so great for diving and snorkeling but a great spot to cool off and have some fun close to Tulum.
Limestone cave cenote offering snorkling and swimming. Provides life vests, fins and mask for extra charge. Many fish, iguanas, and tropical birds.
One of the most popular cenotes in the region offering many activities. Set aside around 2 or 3 hours total. It's M$350 as of July 2017 for entrance with your own snorkeling. There is a small local restaurant with local dishes for M$70 (Feb 2022). It's at the intersection of the Highway 307 and the road to the cenote, between the minimarket and the ticket booth. They serve lunch until 15:00.
Very cool mostly cave/underground cenote that is quite popular.
Small, clean cenote a short walk from town. Has a platform for jumping into the cold waters. Hammocks available. Provides life jackets, fins, mask all for extra charge. Clean restrooms and showers.
Small public cenote in town with free access. Can get crowded with locals in the afternoon.
Beach connected right to the ruins at Tulum.
Less crowded beach with a smaller beach club.
More lively beach with seafood options and options for ocean activities.
Maybe the most popular public beach in Tulum with many beach clubs and a relaxing atmosphere.
Jaguar Park is a conservation area for the protection of jaguars. The area opened in 2024. It comprises two federally protected areas, Jaguar National Park (Parque Nacional Jaguar) and the Jaguar Protected Area for Flora and Fauna (Area Protegida de Flora y Fauna). Dubious environmental value and locals complain that government is simply regulating what has always been free and open beach access.
Holistic spa specializing in Mayan treatments.
Peaceful, tranquil spot for healing waters and holistic massage treatments.
Massages, facials, and packages, including couples massages. Comfortable facility in town.
Massages and holistic spa services that include aromatherapy, sound therapy, and steam vapors.
Very unique tropical/beach themed gym with custom equipment made out of wood and stones. Definitely has a very Instagram-focused clientele, but is a very fun place to workout. Locations both right on the beach and within the town.
Closed as of April 2022. 16 km from Tulum. Hidden Worlds is on the most extensive system of underwater caves and caverns on Earth. The park is home to some of the most incredible cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula, as featured in the 2001 IMAX movie Journey Into Amazing Caves and the 2007 BBC Planet Earth series.
Offers various adventures - learning to scuba dive, exploring cenotes, admiring local wildlife, kite surfing and paddle boarding lessons and day trips to Sian Ka'an and Isla Blanca for practice. Ground tours to Punta Laguna and Coba, Sian Ka'an, Muyil and Tulum Ruins are also available upon reservation. The shop has PADI certified Dive Master instructors, senior level 2 (IKO, KISS, PASA, IBO) kitesurfing instructors and local guides speaking English, Spanish and Italian. Diving tours start at 08:00 and 11:00 every day, private kite surfing and paddle boarding trips are with the following duration: 09:00-16:00. All gear, equipment, transportation is provided.
British-owned dive shop specializing in cenote diving.
– 50 km. A beautiful site; it was one of the largest Maya cities in ancient times. It boasts the tallest pyramid of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Nohoch Mul. You can still climb it, and the view from the top overlooking the forest for miles around is impressive. A fun and efficient way of exploring the ruins is renting a bike (M$50); just go to the rental place inside the ruins.
Chunyaxche
Archaeological site adjacent to Sian Ka'an reserve, includes a steep, walled watch tower that you can climb.
– 20 km. A wonderful nature preserve and . The park features acres upon acres of pristine mangrove swamp and wetlands. Find a sea kayak and explore the lagoon side. There are a few fishermen that dock here and are willing to take you on a tour that is much cheaper than the organized tours offered in the area. The fishermen will take you on a one or two hour boat tour of the reserve anytime of the day. Expect to pay M$1000. Still there are also organized boat tours available.
– 55 km. An eco-archaeological park near Playa del Carmen. Here you can admire tropical flora and fauna typical of the region as well as different expressions of the Mayan culture. In its facilities you can find an archaeological site, snorkeling in underground rivers, beach, butterfly pavilion, orchid greenhouse, regional fauna breeding farm, Mayan village, jaguar island, among others. For additional cost visitors can swim with captive dolphins; enjoy the Temascal and Spa services. At night you can admire the unique night show “Xcaret México Espectacular” which features a variety of performances from ancient Mayan culture to traditional Mexican music and dances.
– 60 km. It's serene and authentic. Entrance fee M$200 per person, M$800 for an hour guided tour.
In the evening on the Calle Sol Ote around the Parque dos Aguas. There is a good variety.
On the street Géminis Nte in the east of the center. Here you find vegan food among others.
On the Av. Satélite. They are open in the evening starting at 18:00.
Healthy and clean amazing food
Incredibly generous portions of seafood in taco and burrito format, also serves ceviche. Try the marinated marlin tacos.
Delicious al pastor tacos in a full service restaurant. Massively popular, but somehow still incredibly quick service. Watch the orange habanero salsa, the heat will sneak up on you.
Delicious and simple taqueria focusing on al pastor, with incredibly good tortas.
Offers chicken that is roasted to perfection that can be ordered by the 1/4, 1/2, and whole.
Taqueria specializing in Al Pastor tacos, great for a cheap meal and drinks.
Small establishment serving authentic pozole (both red and green) and traditional Mexican fare.
features authentic Mexican and is one of the most popular restaurants on the pueblo strip.
On the cliffs 12 m/40 feet high overlooking Playa Paraiso. Thai food and great ambiance and a super view. They hows on Friday and Saturday nights.
Great (and cheap) seafood. This place is often crowded (mainly by locals).
A simple beach club with delicious beach food, fresh juices and smoothies.
Oscar y Lalo
Seafood, Mexican and Yucatecan cuisine.
The food is somewhat expensive (but well worth the price!), keeping locals away, and few tourists notice this excellent restaurant, since it's not on the main strip. The place is owned by its young chef, Claudia, trained in Mexico City's premier culinary academy.
Latin American Restaurant in Tulum
Tapas-style small plate dishes and cocktails all inspired by local Riviera Maya flair.
Lively nightclub with 3 floors of dancing and music with different DJs on each floor. Drinks are overpriced and scams have been reported, so keep your eyes open.
It's actually a hotel but offers weekend rooftop movies, a cool lounge, and drink specials, try the Razzleberry Daiquiri!
Lively open-air bar with the best live music and mojitos and guarapo in town.
It's directly at the Cenotes Dos Ojos Park. Staying in a provided tent costs M$150 per night (Feb 2022, including mattress, pillows, sheets and bed cover). The tents are protected from the rain. Also available are shared and private rooms. The place has WiFi, a kitchen for cooking and free drinking water. 5 min walking away are a minimarket and the very frequent shared vans to Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
Relaxed hostel with outdoor communal area and kitchen. Breakfast (DIY), water, cooking facilities, beach shuttle bus and internet provided. A nice place for young people that wants to party. All rooms are facing out to the common area, so there is lots of noise at night until 23:00. Also not the cleanest place and bed bugs are a common thing. Private rooms in a better state, now situated in a separate building about 200 m from the main one, also quieter since avoiding the loud music from the bar at night. Dorm rooms with fan or A/C. Deposit for blankets, or give your ID as a deposit. Discounts available for stays longer than one night, up to 20% off a 5-night stay
temporarily closed as of April 2022. Hostel. 3 blocks west of the ADO bus station, off the main avenue. Rustic hostel with huge rooftop terrace and common areas with shared kitchen. Breakfast is provided. Most of the double rooms are in Mayan style palapas. Garden atmosphere. Great for rainy season.
Offers 6 air-conditioned rooms with cable television, Internet, and shower with bath. Some of its offered activities include kiteboarding school and rental, car and bike rental, and massage service.
Offers private cabanas on the waterfront
Thatch roof bungalows right next to the beach. Snorkeling is available in the Zamas cove.
A series of rustic beachside villas in the wilderness. It has many relaxation alternatives like different types of massages, esthetic treatments (body and facial scrubs), reiki, the temazcal (copal sweat lodge, based on traditional healing methods used by indigenous Mexicans to purify the soul and body) and a flotation tank. It is clothing optional.
Eco boutique oceanfront cabañas, hidden away on the beach near Tulum.
Minimalist in design, the private cabanas are quiet, beach-inspired, and furnished with a deck/balcony that opens up to a garden panorama, a private toilet and bath.
Boutique hotel between Tulum town and the beach, offering king sized beds, A/C, continental breakfast, free bicycle use, free high speed wi-fi and a restaurant open from 08:00-23:00 daily.
Quaint, small boutique hotel with a private beach and a restaurant.
Has its own white sand beach, 44-acre gardens and 2 pools near the beach. It is an all-inclusive resort that offers activities including a kids' activity center with a climbing wall and game room, a spa, a PADI dive center and diving and snorkeling excursions.
Offers 5 neatly furnished rooms, all with ultra-silent A/C and ocean view, a great upstairs airy restaurant and terrace, free breakfast, wireless internet, great ambiance, quiet and quaint. It is on beautiful Tankah III Bay, seven minutes from the ruins and 180 m (200 yards) from Casa Cenote (sink-hole).
Bahia Principe Grand Tulum is a large, lively upper range all-inclusive with facilities that include a spa, a scuba dive center, thirteen restaurants, six bars, a kid's club and its own private section of sandy beach.
Upscale luxury resort with spacious, comfortable, well-appointed rooms. On-site restaurant serves innovative Mexican cuisine but prices are quite high. The hotel has the distinction of being the former private beach mansion of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Gift shop focusing on a variety of souvenirs and artisan crafts from the region.
Zona Arqueologica Centro Artesanal Tulum
More artisan crafts and souvenirs.
By bus
The ADO Terminal Autobuses is in the city center. Both first and second class buses serve the terminal. Inside the Terminal is a Santander ATM.
By train
Two stations for the Tren Maya are useful for visitors to Tulum. The Tulum Airport station is on the airport access road near the end of the runway.
By car
If you drive yourself to the ruins before opening time, it may be a bit confusing as to where to go and what to do.
By shared shuttle
Shared shuttle is also a popular way to get to Tulum. Shuttle companies, such as Daytrip or SuperShuttle, offer shuttle buses to Tulum from Cancun several times a day.
By combi
Shared shuttle vans (called combis or colectivos) are one of the most commonly used local transportation options in the Yucatan.
By car
If cenotes and revival ruins are more your thing renting a car is advisable.) Renting a car makes life easier. Bike riding is fun, but that beach is far from town and that sun is pounding down.
By taxi
Taxis are an inexpensive way to get around but for the most part, Tulum 'Pueblo' is so small that walking is a simple. Taxis from 'Pueblo' to the coast is M$100-150.
By bike
Bikes are available for rent from various shops in Pueblo. Iguana Bikes M$150-250 for 24 hours, Kelly M$100 for 24 hours (July 2017).
By train
You can use the Tren Maya to get to the Tulum Airport, the Cancun Airport, and to popular nearby resort areas such as Playa del Carmen or Bacalar.
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