Tulum is much from only a sleepy fishing village. Tulum’s Yucatan Peninsula is a haven of thick jungle, Mayan ruins, and paradisiacal white sand seashores – primarily all the things you need in a ravishing 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 perfect issues to do in Tulum. Tulum is incredible 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 an enormous deal – think about it a celeb standing attraction. It’s simply one of the crucial in style issues to do in Tulum, albeit accessed by day journey. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Web site and a world-famous web site of historical Mayan ruins. When planning a Tulum itinerary, skipping Chichen Itza can be against the law. The complicated 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 suppose that Chichen Itza is only a single temple. Nonetheless, the complicated 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 automotive 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 undoubtedly probably the most well-known and, as one of many 7 New Wonders of the World, value carving out time to go to.
2. Scuba Diving
Tulum could be small, however it’s mighty when it comes to diving alternatives. Get off Tulum Seaside and expertise scuba diving; you’ll be able to’t go to Tulum with out really experiencing its underwater world, and a scuba dive expertise is way 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 planet. 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 embrace transportation to a dive middle; in any other case, you’ll be able to simply seize a taxi. It’s simple 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 Web site, 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 greatest issues to do in Tulum to get ‘off the crushed monitor’. And it presents a extra intense jungle expertise than brief hikes to cenotes and Tulum ruins.
The easiest way to expertise the reserve is by guided tour. The park is so huge; you need some route from a educated information.
4. Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is understood for its wonderful seashores and resort metropolis buzz. Just some individuals are minimize out for days and days in a comparatively sleepy city, so should you want a metropolis repair, Playa del Carmen is the place to take a day journey to. Contemplate this among the best 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 get pleasure from important museums and sights 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 automotive or shuttle. By 2024, a practice will join the 2 main Yucatan locations, so watch this area. Ensure that 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 Seaside, and if that doesn’t promote you, we don’t know what’s going to. The seaside, we will attest, does appear like paradise. Image these slanted palm timber simply made for climbing, white sand, and lulling waves – it is without doubt one of the greatest seashores in Mexico. You’ll be able to seize meals and snap footage by its large multi-colored signal; Paradise Seaside is the primary Tulum Seaside, and it’s simple to see why it made our listing of Finest Seashores in Mexico.
Playa Paraiso is a 20-minute drive or an hour’s stroll from the city middle. In the event you select to stroll, you’ll move via the Parque Nacional Tulum on foot. You can 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 Seaside Golf equipment
With regards to seaside golf equipment, head out of Tulum Pueblo as an alternative of Tulum Seaside. This neighborhood is full of seaside bars and golf equipment, and you may simply spend a day (or evening) hopping between them earlier than lastly reserving a taxi again to your resort. That is the die-hard occasion strip, and you may count on extravagant cocktails and music in any respect hours. If you’re a partier, seaside membership hopping is well one of the crucial enjoyable issues to do in Tulum. A taxi trip will take as little as 10 minutes.
7. Chococacao Maya
Chocolate lovers, go away Tulum Pueblo and head via the encompassing 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 simply’ll go away with.
Chococacao Maya is a 40-minute drive from Tulum. Nonetheless, it’s positioned proper subsequent to the Nohoch Mul Pyramid and a number of cenotes – so it’s simple to mix.
8. Cenote Calavera
Cenote Calavera is a well-known cenote that you simply’ve very doubtless seen earlier than. The cenote is sat in an enormous sinkhole with a wood 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 novel swimming spot. Cenote Calavera can be only a 10-minute drive from Tulum Pueblo middle should you want any extra persuading.
9. Tulum Tower
Tulum Tower is like one thing out of Conflict 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’ll be able to scale the constructing to the highest for a ravishing view over Tulum. In the event you go to Tulum and love scenic views, you understand 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 Street Journey By Parque Nacional Tulum
Parque Nacional Tulum is the very best place for the underconfident driver to sort out a single-day highway journey. You’ll be stopping and beginning continually with a full listing of to-dos, a lot of which already characteristic on this information. It neatly combines so many sights right into a single day, making it among the best issues to do in Tulum. There’s Playa Ruinas, the turtles at Playita Tortugas, and the notorious Tulum ruins. The overall driving time can be lower than an hour, however you’ll have a lot to see that you would be able to dedicate a complete day to the expertise.
11. Avenue Markets at Parque Dos Aguas
Parque dos Aguas is correct in the course of Tulum Middle – so a straightforward match into even probably the most packed of your itineraries. The little park is a continuing hive of exercise, with public sports activities areas and road meals distributors promoting tasty, conventional Mexican meals and ice cream. Parque dos Aguas is an excellent place to attach with the neighborhood. And the park will get even higher when it hosts one in every of its common road markets the place you should buy handicrafts and splurge on souvenirs. Try the schedule while you go to Tulum.
12. Playa Ruinas
Tulum has plenty of beautiful seashores, however Playa Ruinas takes the biscuit with regards to dramatic enchantment. This seaside is a tiny strip of vibrant 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 automotive or an hour on foot via 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 huge photoshoot, and you may snap footage subsequent to colossal statues comprised of rustic supplies. Whereas this attraction sits inside Ahau Resort, you’ll be able to pay a tiny charge to enter and see the very best statues. If you’re planning a seaside day, it’s a must-detour attraction.
Escultura Ven a la Luz is 20 minutes away from Tulum city by automotive or half-hour by bike. Located within the Tulum Seaside 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’d like previous Mayan structure, visiting these ruins is among the greatest issues to do in Tulum. The steep-walled pyramids are a a lot lesser photographed web site, a perfect resolution 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 ravishing 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 automotive, however effectively value the additional miles. The water is (as you would possibly guess) a vibrant, vibrant blue. Regardless of its tinted shade’s power, you can even see all the way in which to the underside. It’s so clear. It’s so clear, actually, that you simply’ll have the ability 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 ravishing assortment of crystal-clear lagoons. You enterprise across the totally 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. In the event you really feel energetic, you’ll be able to 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 fairly rugged-looking mountain climbing path that takes quarter-hour to sort out.
After all, all of those components add to the adventurous aspect of visiting this cenote tenfold. You pay a charge on the trailhead and get limitless each 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 undoubtedly has all the things you want for a refreshing afternoon.
Cenote Escondido is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Tulum; lovely, fairly quiet, remoted, and only a 10-minute drive from Tulum city; it’s a should on your Tulum itinerary. You’ll be able to even cycle there in lower than quarter-hour should 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 automotive – it is without doubt one of the largest cenotes within the space and is legendary 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 probably the most out of the expertise; getting further route will enable you 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 fun cenotes.
Casa Cenote has the ‘huge huge world issue’ and is an amplified model of different smaller cenotes. There’s even a neighborhood crocodile known as “Panchito” that you would be able to 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. Apart from 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 primary Downtown Tulum space and the place you’ll discover the very best lowkey issues to do in Tulum. This space has common dwell music, Tulum procuring alternatives, and typically road events. However regardless of its fashionable oomph, it’s also the place to move while 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 completed your fair proportion 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 should you obtain Google Maps offline in case you want further assist with instructions, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with a great 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 almost 40 minutes via the jungle. It is without doubt one of the most lively issues to do on a day journey from Tulum, and tremendous adventurous and atmospheric. If you’d like an lively 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 via heaps of jungle and previous many main cenotes. You’ll be able to at all times hire a automotive 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 great 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 be one of the crucial handy issues to do in Tulum. This cenote is a glass-blue pool with limestone rock and a spectacular cavern. You entry the cenote by way of 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’ll be able to swim and snorkel or keep on the primary boardwalk, offering a ravishing, scenic view.
Gran Cenote has unimaginable wildlife. In the event you choose to swim, you’ll be able to see turtles, fish, and even bats or birds should 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 one of the crucial 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 enormous expanse of shallow, pastel-blue water. The lake is shallow and ideal for swimming – folks 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 accessible. Laguna de Kaan Luum’s profitable high quality is greatest appreciated aerially, although; within the lake’s middle, there’s a huge darkish blue patch of deeper water. Laguna de Kaan Luum has a ravishing pure coloring, and the totally different depths create a attribute sample of various shade blues.
The lake is only a 15-minute drive from Tulum or a (fairly difficult) 40-minute bike trip. You’ll move just a few cenotes in your means. It’s a good spot to spend a handful of hours, particularly within the late afternoon while you need 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’ll be able to count on two particular animals – howler and spider monkeys at this attraction. Visiting Punta Laguna nature reserve is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Tulum for any animal lover. The spider monkeys on the reserve are utterly free, and it’s a actually moral approach to rise up near them. It’s also possible to 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 an amazing day journey. We advocate it for households as a zoo various.
Issues To Do in Tulum: FAQs
By now, we’ve got established that Tulum has plenty of issues to do. You’ll be twitching in your seats – completely able to sightsee Tulum with a vigor that will 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 difficult 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.
How one can Get to Tulum
Tulum is most simply reached by way of a direct flight to Cancun Worldwide Airport. Cancun Airport has a usually scheduled flight fleet, connecting Mexico with main nations just like the US and lots of cities throughout Europe and South America. It’s an absolute hub for arriving in Mexico by airplane 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 automotive to get to Tulum.
An alternative choice is to highway journey to Tulum if you’re already inside driving distance. If this appears like the thought for you, simply regulate common Mexico safety updates so you’ll be able to keep away from any areas of explicit unrest. The choices are limitless, although. Some folks even highway journey from the US to Mexico – thrilling.
Maintain your eyes peeled for an upcoming practice line being constructed to attach Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum too. A brand new Mayan practice will join all the key Yucatan Peninsula hubs and is scheduled to be accomplished by the tip of 2023. It will make touring from Cancun Worldwide Airport massively extra easy. And it’ll additionally imply that you would be able to get to Tulum from quite a few factors on the peninsula with no need a automotive or costly shuttle.
Getting Round Tulum
Tulum is tremendous simple to get round. The city middle is so compact that it’s simply absolutely skilled on foot. On the similar time, the outskirts might be reached by hiring bikes – maintaining issues as eco-friendly as doable. The city middle is the place you’ll discover all of the Tulum procuring and central services, whereas the seaside space is the place you’ll discover all of your golf equipment and seaside day alternatives. The 2 important areas of Tulum are break up by Avenida Coba, which you’ll be able to sort out by bike or taxi.
Getting round Tulum is manageable with no automotive, however we’d counsel hiring a automotive if you wish to do day journeys. With a rental automotive, you’ll have full freedom and may head to among the most fun sights within the surrounding space. In any other case, you should use Tulum taxis and arrange excursions for day journeys. Most excursions embrace roundtrip transportation, eliminating the entire ‘how do I get there’ conundrum.
Finest Time to Go to Tulum
The overall consensus is that Tulum is greatest 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 exquisite sights with out all of the mania. Costs are barely cheaper as effectively.
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 a beautiful time visiting Tulum.
What’s Tulum greatest identified for?
Tulum is understood for Mayan ruins and pure wonders. You’ll spend mornings on Tulum Seaside 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 have the ability to go to Chichen Itza and a handful of important sights, however not benefit from the countless 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 presents.
Is Tulum higher than Cancun?
We’d say undoubtedly. Tulum is miles extra genuine than Cancun and isn’t ruined by a shiny strip with 1000’s of vacationers arriving each day. For a seaside city various, it’s a should.
What to do in Tulum in two days?
In two days in Tulum, you need to go to one of many cenotes or Chichen Itza. It is best to then get pleasure from a seaside membership and Tulum’s seaside city tradition.
To Conclude
Tulum is inconceivable to not love. The city is gorgeous – from the Tulum ruins to Tulum Seaside. And it’s the excellent vacationer vacation spot for anybody wanting to really expertise Mexico off the Cancun strip.
With regards to Tulum lodging, there’s a huge collection of luxurious resorts and resorts. Simply take a look at our information on the greatest Tulum all-inclusive resorts – the seaside city even has among the greatest 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 via 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 highway journey is one approach to see the remainder of the area. You will get out for a number of days, weeks, and even months. With a highway journey, you’ll be able to hop alongside the greatest seashores in Mexico and style the area. It is without doubt one of the most fun methods to expertise the Riviera Maya and Yucatan Peninsula – so if you’re adventurous, set this concept apart as a should.
