Tulum is way from only a sleepy fishing village. Tulum’s Yucatan Peninsula is a haven of thick jungle, Mayan ruins, and paradisiacal white sand seashores – basically the whole lot you need in a fantastic vacation to Mexico. There are such a lot of issues to do in Tulum, together with that loveably tacky photoshoot spot close to the Tulum signal. You’ll be able to go to historical Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza, go cave diving in lovely cenotes, or sit back at a seaside membership of your alternative. Tulum adventures are in every single place.
Visiting Tulum: 23 Finest Issues to Do in Tulum
On this information, we’ll cowl the easiest issues to do in Tulum. Tulum is improbable for getting that ‘basic’ itinerary when visiting Mexico; Tulum is ideal for ticking off all the very best Mayan ruins and seashores. We’ve bought tons of nice actions arising for you – so sit tight and prepare to be aware of these high Tulum issues to do.
Planning Your Journey To Tulum Proper Now?
Beneath are among the high excursions in Tulum. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Mexico!
High Actions and Excursions in Tulum:
1. Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a giant deal – take into account it a celeb standing attraction. It’s simply probably the most well-liked issues to do in Tulum, albeit accessed by day journey. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Website and a world-famous web site of historical Mayan ruins. When planning a Tulum itinerary, skipping Chichen Itza can be a criminal offense. The advanced was as soon as an historical Mayan metropolis stuffed with Mayan ruins, together with the gorgeous step Temple of Kukulkan (the postcard image of Chichen Itza). Many individuals mistakenly assume that Chichen Itza is only a single temple. Nonetheless, the advanced can take half a day to discover and absolutely admire.
This attraction is a 2-hour drive inland from Tulum. Be ready to rent a automobile or e book an expertise, together with public transportation. It’s additional, if not the furthest, of all of the day journeys. Nonetheless, it’s positively essentially the most well-known and, as one of many 7 New Wonders of the World, price carving out time to go to.
2. Scuba Diving
Tulum is likely to be small, however it’s mighty when it comes to diving alternatives. Get off Tulum Seashore and expertise scuba diving; you may’t go to Tulum with out actually experiencing its underwater world, and a scuba dive expertise is rather more immersive than snorkeling. Information flash – scuba diving is unimaginable in Tulum. Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is offshore of Tulum; the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the second largest coral reef on the earth. It’s second solely to the Barrier Reef in Australia. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is a breeding floor for a flurry of brightly coloured tropical fish and bigger animals like sharks, turtles, manta rays, and dolphins.
You’ll be able to e book diving excursions from Tulum city to see the coral reefs. Many of those journeys embody transportation to a dive middle; in any other case, you may simply seize a taxi. It’s straightforward to squeeze into a brief interval if you have already got your PADI qualification, and if not, allocate just a few days of your itinerary to getting the qualification first.
3. Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is an enormous pure park of 5,280 km2. It’s simply south of Tulum, additional down into the state of Quintana Roo. Regardless of being a UNESCO World Heritage Website, it attracts fewer vacationers. It’s someplace to go to for an actual jungle expertise, out within the remotest areas of Tulum’s shoreline. Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Tulum to get ‘off the crushed observe’. And it gives a extra intense jungle expertise than quick hikes to cenotes and Tulum ruins.
The easiest way to expertise the reserve is by guided tour. The park is so large; you need some route from a educated information.
4. Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is understood for its superb seashores and resort metropolis buzz. Just some persons are lower out for days and days in a comparatively sleepy city, so when you want a metropolis repair, Playa del Carmen is the place to take a day journey to. Contemplate this top-of-the-line issues to do in Tulum to get away from precise Tulum. We’d counsel strolling Quinta Avenida – a promenade meets thoroughfare alongside the beachfront with eating places and bars. You’ll be able to take pleasure in vital museums and points of interest just like the 3D Museum of Wonders and Playacar Mayan Ruins.
Playa del Carmen is simply a 50-minute drive north of Tulum. You’ll be able to e book a taxi or simply arrange a rental automobile or shuttle. By 2024, a prepare will join the 2 main Yucatan locations, so watch this area. Make certain to take a look at all of the Finest Issues to do in Palya Del Carmen earlier than you go.
5. Playa Paraiso
Playa Paraiso interprets precisely to Paradise Seashore, and if that doesn’t promote you, we don’t know what is going to. The seaside, we will attest, does seem like paradise. Image these slanted palm timber simply made for climbing, white sand, and lulling waves – it is without doubt one of the finest seashores in Mexico. You’ll be able to seize meals and snap photos by its big multi-colored signal; Paradise Seashore is the principle Tulum Seashore, and it’s straightforward to see why it made our record of Finest Seashores in Mexico.
Playa Paraiso is a 20-minute drive or an hour’s stroll from the city middle. When you select to stroll, you’ll move by means of the Parque Nacional Tulum on foot. You may simply mix this with a go to to the Playa Ruinas, El Castillo, Casa de Cenote, and the beloved turtle seaside, Playita Tortuga.
6. Hop Between Seashore Golf equipment
In relation to seaside golf equipment, head out of Tulum Pueblo as an alternative of Tulum Seashore. This neighborhood is full of seaside bars and golf equipment, and you may simply spend a day (or night time) hopping between them earlier than lastly reserving a taxi again to your lodge. That is the die-hard get together strip, and you may count on extravagant cocktails and music in any respect hours. In case you are a partier, seaside membership hopping is definitely probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Tulum. A taxi journey will take as little as 10 minutes.
7. Chococacao Maya
Chocolate lovers, depart Tulum Pueblo and head by means of the encircling jungle to go to Chococacao Maya. This attraction takes you on an immersive expertise the place you remodel your individual cacao beans right into a scrumptious chocolate dish. The expertise is led by a educated information. Probably the most precious a part of that is the cultural alternate and perception into the significance of cacao and chocolate in Mayan historical past that you just’ll depart with.
Chococacao Maya is a 40-minute drive from Tulum. Nonetheless, it’s situated proper subsequent to the Nohoch Mul Pyramid and a number of cenotes – so it’s straightforward to mix.
8. Cenote Calavera
Cenote Calavera is a well-known cenote that you just’ve very seemingly seen earlier than. The cenote is sat in an enormous sinkhole with a picket ladder teetering down the sting into the water. Of Tulum city’s close by cenotes, Cenote Calavera is the one that’s the most coated by the rock above. It has a pure cavern really feel, which is atmospheric and makes for a singular swimming spot. Cenote Calavera can also be only a 10-minute drive from Tulum Pueblo middle when you want any extra persuading.
9. Tulum Tower
Tulum Tower is like one thing out of Struggle of the Worlds. The nice spider-looking construction is extra alien-looking than one thing a human has designed. For an entry ticket of round $40, you may scale the constructing to the highest for a fantastic view over Tulum. When you go to Tulum and love scenic views, the place to go to. Higher but, Tulum Tower is only a 10-minute drive or 40-minute stroll from Tulum city middle.
10. Take A Single-Day Highway Journey By Parque Nacional Tulum
Parque Nacional Tulum is the very best place for the underconfident driver to deal with a single-day street journey. You’ll be stopping and beginning consistently with a full record of to-dos, lots of which already characteristic on this information. It neatly combines so many points of interest right into a single day, making it top-of-the-line issues to do in Tulum. There’s Playa Ruinas, the turtles at Playita Tortugas, and the notorious Tulum ruins. The whole driving time can be lower than an hour, however you’ll have a lot to see which you can dedicate a complete day to the expertise.
11. Road Markets at Parque Dos Aguas
Parque dos Aguas is correct in the course of Tulum Middle – so a simple match into even essentially the most packed of your itineraries. The little park is a continuing hive of exercise, with public sports activities areas and avenue meals distributors promoting tasty, conventional Mexican meals and ice cream. Parque dos Aguas is an excellent place to attach with the group. And the park will get even higher when it hosts one in every of its common avenue markets the place you should purchase handicrafts and splurge on souvenirs. Try the schedule once you go to Tulum.
12. Playa Ruinas
Tulum has a variety of beautiful seashores, however Playa Ruinas takes the biscuit relating to dramatic enchantment. This seaside is a tiny strip of vivid white sand with the stays of an historical Mayan metropolis overlooking it from a grassy cliff high. Guests have each the seaside and ruins to understand, and the seaside is simply 20 minutes from Tulum by automobile or an hour on foot by means of the Parque Nacional Tulum.
13. Escultura Ven a la Luz
Escultura Ven a la Luz is an influencer’s paradise. The entire venue is designed for one large photoshoot, and you may snap photos subsequent to colossal statues made out of rustic supplies. Whereas this attraction sits inside Ahau Resort, you may pay a tiny payment to enter and see the very best statues. In case you are planning a seaside day, it’s a must-detour attraction.
Escultura Ven a la Luz is 20 minutes away from Tulum city by automobile or half-hour by bike. Located within the Tulum Seashore district, getting away from the city middle for a little bit of coastal buzz is good.
14. Zona Arqueologica de Muyil
The Muyil ruins are located simply on the outskirts of the huge Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. If you need previous Mayan structure, visiting these ruins is among the finest issues to do in Tulum. The steep-walled pyramids are a a lot lesser photographed web site, an excellent answer to avoiding the crowds that inevitably accrue outdoors websites like Chichen Itza. The Muyil ruins are quieter and far much less trampled. And the precise web site dates again so far as 300 BCE to 1500 CE.
The Muyil ruins are a 20-minute drive south of Tulum. Mix it with a go to to the biosphere reserve and Santuario de Cenotes – a fantastic cenote with barely any crowds in comparison with the cenotes scattered round Tulum Middle.
15. Cenote Azul
Cenote Azul is without doubt one of the most unimaginable Mexican cenotes and issues to do in Tulum. This cenote is half-hour from Tulum by automobile, however nicely price the additional miles. The water is (as you may guess) a vivid, vivid blue. Regardless of its tinted colour’s power, you may as well see all the way in which to the underside. It’s so clear. It’s so clear, in reality, that you just’ll be capable to rely all of the tiny fish that inevitably provide you with a pedicure expertise. Surrounded by tropical jungle, Cenote Azul is a high day journey from Tulum. It has that jungle aesthetic that many individuals pursue on a Tulum vacation.
16. Tankah
Tankah is without doubt one of the prettiest issues to do in Tulum. Completely breathtaking, the character park is a fantastic assortment of crystal-clear lagoons. You enterprise across the completely different lagoons utilizing an thrilling mixture of trails – and even zip traces – with Mayan ruins and jungle dotted across the park to greet you as you stroll. It’s a lovely place to spend just a few hours, particularly within the morning when the climate is cooler and fewer humid. Tankah completely blends collectively pleasure and pure magnificence.
Tankah is only a 20-minute drive from the city middle. When you really feel energetic, you may simply catch a taxi or bike there in about half-hour.
17. Cenote Escondido
Seemingly arising out of simply jungle and mangrove swamps, Cenote Escondido is one in every of Tulum’s most magical cenotes. Regardless of its proximity to the city middle, Cenote Escondido feels distant and remoted – solely accessible by a reasonably rugged-looking climbing path that takes quarter-hour to deal with.
In fact, all of those components add to the adventurous factor of visiting this cenote tenfold. You pay a payment on the trailhead and get limitless day by day entry to the swimming gap. And on the cenote, there’s a rope swing to leap into the water, plus altering rooms for the extra shy vacationers. Whereas minimalistic, it positively has the whole lot you want for a refreshing afternoon.
Cenote Escondido is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Tulum; lovely, moderately quiet, remoted, and only a 10-minute drive from Tulum city; it’s a should in your Tulum itinerary. You’ll be able to even cycle there in lower than quarter-hour when you desire to bike.
18. Casa Cenote
Casa Cenote is without doubt one of the all-time favourite cenotes close to Tulum. Whereas it’s additional away from the city middle – 20 minutes by automobile – it is without doubt one of the largest cenotes within the space and is known for diving and snorkeling. You’ll be able to go to independently or on a guided tour. We’d counsel taking a scuba diving or snorkeling tour to get essentially the most out of the expertise; getting additional route will enable you to have interaction higher with wildlife and perceive extra concerning the cenote. Go for a swim, snorkel, or scuba dive and luxuriate in one in every of Tulum’s largest, most enjoyable cenotes.
Casa Cenote has the ‘large broad world issue’ and is an amplified model of different smaller cenotes. There may be even an area crocodile known as “Panchito” which you can see from a distance, and most excursions take you to go to him earlier than you end. He’s stated to be very pleasant, however we wouldn’t get too shut. Other than Panchito, there are tons of fish and wildlife within the surrounding jungle, too, typically together with little raccoons venturing all the way down to search for a snack.
19. Downtown Tulum, aka Tulum Centro
Tulum Centro is the principle Downtown Tulum space and the place you’ll discover the very best lowkey issues to do in Tulum. This space has common stay music, Tulum procuring alternatives, and generally avenue events. However regardless of its fashionable oomph, additionally it is the place to move once you fancy a soothing day. Maybe a day of procuring, informal cocktails, and kicking again with some conventional meals. Tulum Centro is the perfect place to retreat when you’ve finished your justifiable share of day journeys and edge-of-your-seat-style actions in Tulum.
You’ll be able to take a strolling tour of Tulum Centro or go to by your self. It’s actually enjoyable to get misplaced in, and when you obtain Google Maps offline in case you want additional assist with instructions, you may’t go fallacious with wander. We vote for together with just a few hours in Tulum Centro for a lazy morning when visiting Tulum.
20. Coba Ruins
Coba is an historical Mayan metropolis, and its full title is Zona Archeologica de Coba. The preservation is dwelling to the very best pyramid within the Tulum space, Nohoch Mul, which sits dramatically in a jungle clearing. To succeed in Nohoch Mul, you’ll first must hike for practically 40 minutes by means of the jungle. It is without doubt one of the most energetic issues to do on a day journey from Tulum, and tremendous adventurous and atmospheric. If you need an energetic expertise of a Mayan pyramid, the Coba ruins are your best option. These Mayan ruins are additionally a lot quieter than Chichen Itza – preserve that in thoughts when crowd dodging.
Coba is a 45-minute drive inland from Tulum. It’s a scenic drive by means of heaps of jungle and previous many main cenotes. You’ll be able to at all times hire a automobile and make a full day of it, combing cenote hopping with the Coba ruins. In any other case, e book a guided tour with roundtrip transport included from Tulum.
21. Gran Cenote
Talking of serious cenotes, Gran Cenote is without doubt one of the most lovely issues to do in Tulum. And, solely a 10-minute drive or 15-minute cycle from the city middle, this cenote can also be probably the most handy issues to do in Tulum. This cenote is a glass-blue pool with limestone rock and a spectacular cavern. You entry the cenote through a flight of steep steps, stepping down into the pool partially underground in an enormous sink-hole-type-structure. To go to the cenote, you may swim and snorkel or keep on the principle boardwalk, offering a fantastic, scenic view.
Gran Cenote has unimaginable wildlife. When you choose to swim, you may see turtles, fish, and even bats or birds when you take a peak into the cavern. We don’t throw the phrase magical round typically, however the cenote ticks that field. Climbing down into the cenote provides to that mystical attract, creating probably the most distinctive swimming spots you’ll ever expertise.
22. Laguna de Kaan Luum
Okay, let’s take a quick pause from all these lovely cenotes. Subsequent up is a pastel-turquoise lake known as Laguna de Kaan Luum. Laguna de Kaan Luum is gorgeous, stretching so far as the attention can see in an unlimited expanse of shallow, pastel-blue water. The lake is shallow and excellent for swimming – individuals use the close by swimming pier when not admiring the water from a swinging hammock. There are additionally tons of conventional seaside huts with foods and drinks out there. Laguna de Kaan Luum’s profitable high quality is finest appreciated aerially, although; within the lake’s middle, there’s a huge darkish blue patch of deeper water. Laguna de Kaan Luum has a fantastic pure coloring, and the completely different depths create a attribute sample of various colour blues.
The lake is only a 15-minute drive from Tulum or a (fairly difficult) 40-minute bike journey. You’ll move just a few cenotes in your manner. It’s a good spot to spend a handful of hours, particularly within the late afternoon once you desire a refreshing dip.
23. Punta Laguna Nature Reserve
Punta Laguna nature reserve is one other spectacular lake close to Tulum. Nonetheless, as an alternative of gorgeous watercolor patterns, you may count on two particular animals – howler and spider monkeys at this attraction. Visiting Punta Laguna nature reserve is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Tulum for any animal lover. The spider monkeys on the reserve are utterly free, and it’s a actually moral method to rise up near them. You can even take ziplines across the reserve as an additional enjoyable contact.
A 50-minute drive from Tulum city, this nature reserve is the place for moral wildlife watching and a fantastic day journey. We advocate it for households as a zoo various.
Issues To Do in Tulum: FAQs
By now, we now have established that Tulum has a variety of issues to do. You’ll be twitching in your seats – completely able to sightsee Tulum with a vigor that may impress even the hardiest of sightseeing vacationers. Let’s face it. The attract of cave diving into one in every of Tulum’s superior cenotes is tough to withstand.
Earlier than you go, although, be aware of this important part on the practicalities of having fun with your go to to Tulum.
The best way to Get to Tulum
Tulum is most simply reached through a direct flight to Cancun Worldwide Airport. Cancun Airport has a recurrently scheduled flight fleet, connecting Mexico with main nations just like the US and plenty of cities throughout Europe and South America. It’s an absolute hub for arriving in Mexico by aircraft and solely a 2-hour shuttle away from Tulum. You’ll be able to land at Cancun Airport after which e book a taxi or shuttle or rent a automobile to get to Tulum.
An alternative choice is to street journey to Tulum in case you are already inside driving distance. If this appears like the concept for you, simply keep watch over common Mexico safety updates so you may keep away from any areas of explicit unrest. The choices are limitless, although. Some individuals even street journey from the US to Mexico – thrilling.
Maintain your eyes peeled for an upcoming prepare line being constructed to attach Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum too. A brand new Mayan prepare will join all the foremost Yucatan Peninsula hubs and is scheduled to be accomplished by the top of 2023. It will make touring from Cancun Worldwide Airport massively extra simple. And it’ll additionally imply which you can get to Tulum from quite a few factors on the peninsula while not having a automobile or costly shuttle.
Getting Round Tulum
Tulum is tremendous straightforward to get round. The city middle is so compact that it’s simply absolutely skilled on foot. On the similar time, the outskirts will be reached by hiring bikes – preserving issues as eco-friendly as attainable. The city middle is the place you’ll discover all of the Tulum procuring and central amenities, whereas the seaside space is the place you’ll discover all of your golf equipment and seaside day alternatives. The 2 major areas of Tulum are cut up by Avenida Coba, which you’ll be able to deal with by bike or taxi.
Getting round Tulum is manageable with no automobile, however we’d counsel hiring a automobile if you wish to do day journeys. With a rental automobile, you’ll have full freedom and might head to among the most enjoyable points of interest within the surrounding space. In any other case, you should use Tulum taxis and arrange excursions for day journeys. Most excursions embody roundtrip transportation, eliminating the entire ‘how do I get there’ conundrum.
Finest Time to Go to Tulum
The final consensus is that Tulum is finest visited in November. Or at a push, very early December. This season is within the shoulder season, that means it comes simply earlier than the December to April frenzy of partiers and flashing cameras. You get the nice and cozy climate and delightful sights with out all of the mania. Costs are barely cheaper as nicely.
Many individuals query ‘is Tulum protected,’ and the reply is that it’s a lot safer out of hurricane season (September and October) and peak vacationer season when crowds make it simpler for pickpocketers and petty criminals. And if you wish to tick off many issues to do in Tulum, planning a visit with fewer crowds is useful. Subsequently, persist with the November shoulder season window, and also you’ll have an exquisite time visiting Tulum.
What’s Tulum finest identified for?
Tulum is understood for Mayan ruins and pure wonders. You’ll spend mornings on Tulum Seashore or Tulum Pueblo after which take day journeys to journey within the Mayan jungle and cenotes.
Is 3 days sufficient in Tulum?
3 days are simply sufficient in Tulum. You’ll be capable to go to Chichen Itza and a handful of major points of interest, however not benefit from the limitless day journeys and actually get a style of Mexican tradition in Tulum. 5 to 7 days in Tulum is a lot better if you wish to get ‘sufficient’ of the city and all it gives.
Is Tulum higher than Cancun?
We’d say positively. Tulum is miles extra genuine than Cancun and isn’t ruined by a shiny strip with hundreds of vacationers arriving day by day. For a seaside city various, it’s a should.
What to do in Tulum in two days?
In two days in Tulum, it is best to go to one of many cenotes or Chichen Itza. It is best to then take pleasure in a seaside membership and Tulum’s seaside city tradition.
To Conclude
Tulum is unattainable to not love. The city is gorgeous – from the Tulum ruins to Tulum Seashore. And it’s the superb vacationer vacation spot for anybody wanting to really expertise Mexico off the Cancun strip.
In relation to Tulum lodging, there’s a large number of luxurious inns and resorts. Simply take a look at our information on the finest Tulum all-inclusive resorts – the seaside city even has among the finest adults-only all-inclusive in Mexico. So in addition to trying to find the very best issues to do in Tulum, dedicate ample time to sifting by means of its throngs of five-star seaside view resorts with white sand seashores and Hollywood-worthy swimming swimming pools. Tulum is such an expertise.
And when you’ve visited Tulum, be at liberty to move throughout the remainder of the Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula. A Yucatan Peninsula street journey is one method to see the remainder of the area. You will get out for a number of days, weeks, and even months. With a street journey, you may hop alongside the finest seashores in Mexico and style the area. It is without doubt one of the most enjoyable methods to expertise the Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula – so in case you are adventurous, set this concept apart as a should.