In a nutshell
- Tulum is located in Quintana Roo on the Caribbean coast of Mexico and is one of the most popular travel destinations in Mexico.
- With dream beaches, ancient Maya ruins, and dozens of cenotes, Tulum is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Mexico — and we’ve got all the highlights covered.
- We’ll walk you through the best tulum things to do, from beaches and cenotes to day trips and restaurant picks — with honest, practical advice.
- We also cover safety, the best time to visit, and where to stay — so you can plan your trip with confidence.
The Most Beautiful Attractions in Tulum
Tulum is a pure tourist town and not particularly attractive. There are no sights in the town itself.
But what you can discover around Tulum is incredible: from paradise beaches to Maya ruins to stunning cenotes — it’s all there.
To explore the most important things to do near Tulum, we recommend staying four days in Tulum.
Maya Ruins of Tulum
The Maya ruins are clearly the top attraction in Tulum. They’re among the most famous Maya sites in Mexico.
In terms of the structures and history alone, we don’t find the Maya site in Tulum as impressive as Chichén Itzá or Uxmal near Mérida. However, the location of the ruins right on the ocean is incredibly cool and great photos are basically guaranteed.
We really recommend visiting the ruins with a guide so you can learn more about the site. There are signs in front of the individual structures, but they don’t explain all that much.
Admission costs 100 MXN (paid in cash at the entrance). You also have to pay a significantly higher amount to enter the Jaguar Park (our current information is 415 MXN). Parking is an additional charge as well. Unfortunately, the payment system is pretty complicated.
Book a guided tour of the Maya ruins of Tulum
How to get from Tulum to the Maya site
The Maya ruins are about 4 kilometers from the center of Tulum. You can get there on foot, by bike, or by car or scooter. Alternatively, colectivos (minivans) also run there — just flag down a van marked Playa del Carmen on the main road.
From the Zona Hotelera it’s 2–4 kilometers to the ruins. From there, your best bet is to go by bike, taxi, or car or scooter. Of course, you can also walk.
The Most Beautiful Cenotes near Tulum
Tulum is a great base for visiting cenotes. Here are our recommendations for beautiful cenotes near Tulum:
- Cenote Corazón: 8 kilometers from the center. Great for swimming. Admission: 200 MXN.
- Gran Cenote: 5 kilometers from the center. One of the most popular cenotes. Admission: 500 MXN.
- Cenote Dos Ojos: 20 kilometers from the center. Our favorite cenote. Admission: 400 MXN.
Guided tour from Tulum to Gran Cenote and two other cenotes
Read our tips for the most beautiful cenotes in Mexico:
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Tulum
The beaches of Tulum are among the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. The water really is as turquoise as it looks in the photos — seriously.
Most beaches are private and you can only access them through hotels and beach clubs. If you stay in the Zona Hotelera, your accommodation will come with a beautiful beach right on your doorstep.
There are a few public beaches as well. The most beautiful is Playa Paraiso — brilliant blue water, fine sand, and palm trees for shade.
Alternatives for public beaches are Playa Santa Fe and Playa Mirador.
Check out our tips on the most beautiful beaches in Tulum:
More Great Day Trips from Tulum
There’s so much more to discover near Tulum. Our day trip picks cover beaches, nature, and culture — something for every kind of traveler.
#1 Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
The Sian Ka’an nature reserve is just a few kilometers south of Tulum and offers an incredible variety of exotic animals and plants, plus deserted beaches and stunning lagoons. It’s seriously a must for nature and wildlife lovers.
From Tulum, you can book guided tours to Sian Ka’an — this is the best way to experience the reserve, as you’ll take part in a variety of activities. Alternatively, you can head there by bike or scooter. Popular spots include Laguna Muyil and Laguna Nopalitos.
Guided tour through Sian Ka’an with boat ride and lunch
#2 Maya Ruins of Cobá
Cobá is a seriously impressive archaeological site between Tulum and Valladolid. Honestly, we find it more exciting than the Maya ruins of Tulum.
The archaeological zone of Cobá is quite large, so we recommend renting a bike at the entrance — it costs only about 65 MXN per person.
You pay 100 MXN at the first entrance (parking lot) and another 90 MXN admission at the pyramids.
Extra tip: Near Cobá there are a few beautiful cenotes that are barely crowded. At 100 pesos admission, they’re also really affordable.
From Tulum, you can get to Cobá by colectivo or on a guided tour.
Guided tour to Cobá from Tulum
#3 Akumal
The small town of Akumal is about 28 kilometers north of Tulum and offers a dream beach straight out of a postcard. It’s a highlight on any Yucatán road trip.
You can stroll along the beach as long as you like, or book a guide for swimming with turtles. Since the water is usually very calm, it’s perfect for the whole family.
Colectivos depart from the main road in Tulum, across from the ADO terminal, heading to Akumal. The ride takes about 30 minutes and costs 40 MXN. Get off at the bridge in Akumal and walk about ten minutes to the beach entrance.
Beach admission costs 120 MXN. Showers, restrooms, and lockers are included. There are also several restaurants on the beach.
Guided tour to Akumal with turtle swimming and Tulum Maya ruins
Restaurants and Eateries in Tulum
While Tulum itself doesn’t have much in the way of tulum sightseeing, the town does offer a great selection of restaurants and eateries.
Our restaurant picks for downtown Tulum:
- Loncheria La Esquina (€): Good and affordable spot for lunch. Classic Mexican food.
- Taqueria La Chiapaneca (€€): A typical Mexican taco spot.
- Burrito Amor (€€): A fun, hip place on the main road.
- Otti Cacao and Smoothies (€€): Our go-to for breakfast.
- El Agavero | Cocina Ancestral & Mezcaleria (€€€): Elegant restaurant with seriously delicious dishes.
Our restaurant picks for the Zona Hotelera:
- El Paraiso Tulum Restaurant (€€): Great beach club with tasty food.
- La Zebra (€€): Cool beach bar worth a stop.
- La Taqueria – Pinches Tacos Shop (€€): Delicious tacos.
- Mezzanine (€€€): Excellent Thai food — a real surprise in this setting.
Read our tips for typical food in Mexico:
Where to Stay in Tulum?
From luxury hotels to stylish boutique hotels to budget hostels, Tulum has a wide range of places to stay for every budget.
Read also our hotel articles for Tulum:
Crime in Tulum
Crime in Tulum is low. Especially in the Zona Hotelera, there’s security everywhere. That said, always keep a close eye on your valuables — especially on the beaches — and only bring what you need.
The town center is safe too. During the day, you can walk through the streets without any issues. At night, however, it’s better to take a taxi, as the center gets very quiet.
Read our tips on safety in Mexico too:
The Best Time to Visit Tulum
The best time to visit Tulum is from November through April. This is the dry season in Quintana Roo — it’s not quite as hot and humid as during other months.
Tulum is warm year-round. However, from June through November is hurricane season on the Yucatán. During this time, expect heavy rainfall and storms. It usually doesn’t rain all day, though, and it’s rare for a hurricane to actually make landfall.
The upside of hurricane season is that it’s not quite as crowded and prices are lower. Our article on the best time to visit Cancún has more useful tips.
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