15 Best Things To Do In Tulum, Mexico

Welcome to the best things to do in Tulum!

My husband and I just spent a long weekend in Tulum to celebrate his birthday, and it was such an amazing trip.

I wish we had more time there, so I’m already daydreaming about the next time I can swim in cenotes and drink delicious beachside cocktails.

In today’s post, I’ve put together this list of the best things to do in Tulum!

Let’s dive in.

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Tulum Essentials

Top Tours & Experiences In Tulum

Where To Stay In Tulum

How To Get Around Tulum

If you want to explore the beautiful places outside of Tulum, you may want to have your own car.

Make sure to reserve your rental car in advance on RentalCars.com.

1. Spend the day at a beach club

Hellooo, beach bums!

Tulum’s beaches are obviously one of its most popular attractions.

You could honestly spend your entire trip just sipping cocktails with your toes in the sand, if you wanted to.

(Although, I don’t recommend it! You should definitely venture out from the hotels and experience all the rest of the things on this list. 😉)

Also, apparently it’s common to go topless! So… when in ~~Rome~~ Tulum.

Anyways, while there is a small stretch of public beach in Tulum, it’s not well maintained.

So, beach clubs are the way to go!

You’ll find one at every hotel, and this is how you’ll have access to nicer beaches, day beds, etc.

They’ll each have their own minimum spend (what you have to spend on food and drinks) in order to use to their facilities.

Pro tip: The further south on the beach you go, the nicer (cleaner) and more exclusive (expensive) it gets.

We really enjoyed spending a day at Coco Tulum.

Their minimum was reasonable, their facilities were nice, and there wasn’t too much seaweed on the beach.

We also spent a day at Be Tulum. Everything was more expensive here, including the minimum, with cocktails ringing in at $20USD a pop.

However, their beach was pristine.

We didn’t get a chance to check out Casa Malca, but I highly recommend you do.

It’s one of Pablo Escobar’s (alleged) former mansions that has been renovated and transformed into a luxury hotel.

Nowadays, it’s filled with quirky art and beautiful aesthetics.

Of course, you have to snap a pic at the iconic hanging bench framed by wedding dresses.

2. Embrace Tulum’s foodie scene

Tulum is definitely a foodie Mecca.

You could eat at a new, delicious restaurant for every meal and still not get to try everything.

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You MUST stop at Antojitos La Chiapaneca when in Tulum.

This downtown taco stand serves up the best street tacos, with tacos priced at less than $1USD each!

The pastor is the best, and it’s really cool to watch them prepare it.

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The açaí bowls at Matcha Mama are so delicious!

I recommend ordering up a bowl and a cold brew here for breakfast.

Then, snap a photo on their swings (one of the most photographed spots in Tulum) while you wait.

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Casa Jaguar is a perfect choice for a more upscale dinner. The food is amazing, and cocktails are delicious.

And, with just a small number of tables situated throughout a jungle-like courtyard, the ambiance couldn’t be dreamier.

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Kin Toh at Azulik serves up avant-garde Mayan dishes and cocktails.

For a truly remarkable experience, you can reserve one of their “nests.”

If you’re down for the $1000USD minimum spend, you can dine in a private, tree-house like boot that overlooks the jungle and beach!

3. Explore the Tulum Ruins

The Tulum Ruins are the remains of a 13th century Mayan port city, dramatically set against a stunning beach backdrop.

There’s a ton of history to learn about here, as this was once a major trade hub and a culturally significant site.

While you’re there, make sure to snap a pic with the famous cliffside tower, El Castillo.

You can usually walk down to the beach as well, which is really beautiful.

The Tulum Ruins are only a 15-20 minute drive from the hotel zone, or a 30 minute bike ride.

4. Dive into the wellness scene

I think lots of people visit Tulum nowadays without much knowledge of why it’s truly a special place.

Tulum is actually an energy vortex, which is an intersection of the energy lines that make up the Earth’s electromagnetic field.

Energy vortexes are believed to have powerful spiritual properties, and to be highly conducive to activities like prayer, peaceful meditation, and healing.

Of course, the ancient Mayan culture was deeply tapped into this spirituality.

They were known for their deep medicinal knowledge that connected mind, body, and spirit.

Today, you can still experience the rituals of Mayan culture that help facilitate this connection.

A temazcal ceremony is a popular ritual to participate in.

It takes place in a sweat lodge, sometimes led by a shaman.

The ritual promotes cleansing, healing, and mindfulness.

You could also try partaking in a cacao ceremony, or experience sound healing.

Tulum also has lots of upscale spas like Yäan Healing Sanctuary, which are perfect for rejuvenating massages and treatments.

5. Visit Chichen Itza

If you have enough time, one of the best things to do in Tulum is to take a day trip to Chichen Itza.

Chichen Itza is a four square-mile complex of the ruined Mayan city developed around the 7th and 8th centuries.

Today, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

You can’t miss the iconic El Castillo pyramid, one of the site’s most impressive structures.

Then, you could spend hours admiring all the of the surrounding architecture and intricate stone carvings.

On your way to or from Chichen Itza, also check out the nearby town of Valladolid.

It’s very charming, and there are some stunning cenotes in the area.

6. Go cenote hopping

Cenotes are sinkholes that expose the groundwater underneath.

Swimming through the crystal clear water is truly magical, and there are thousands across the Yucatan!

Here are just a few of the most popular:

Gran Cenote

Located only a few minutes from downtown Tulum, this cenote is huge and super photogenic.

Due to its proximity to Tulum, it’s one of the most popular cenotes to visit.

Get there early to beat the crowds!

Cenote Dos Ojos

Dos Ojos is also popular because it’s very close to Tulum.

While it is pretty cool to visit, I think scuba diving is the ideal way to explore this cenote.

Casa Tortuga Cenotes

Casa Tortuga is actually a park with multiple cenotes all in one area.

They offer guided tours, which I highly recommend.

Our guide taught us interesting facts and helped us swim through underwater caves, which was an experience I never would have gotten on my own!

Cenote Calavera

This is the famous cenote that looks like a small hole in the ground, complete with a ladder and rope swing.

Cenote Suytun

This is often called the “most instagrammable cenote.”

It’s very unique because it’s both very shallow, and completely enclosed.

It also features the now-famous, circular platform illuminated by a single beam of light.

7. Visit Downtown Tulum

One of the best things to do in Tulum is to actually leave the hotel zone, and venture into downtown.

Here, you’ll get more of a glimpse into what local life looks like.

You’ll also find some of the most affordable restaurants and street food here.

You MUST try the delicious tacos at Antojitos La Chiapaneca. Then, wash them down with a mojito from Batey.

Afterwards, I recommend strolling down the main street to take in all the sights and sounds.

8. Explore Tulum by bike

I recommend taking a morning to grab breakfast and explore the beautiful boutiques and cafes of the Tulum beach strip.

Although the stores are pricey, you’ll find some of the dreamiest boho clothing, bikinis, home decor, and more here.

And the best way to explore is by bike!

It’s definitely the most fun way to get around, and (bonus!) the bike makes for a great photo prop.

9. Experience Tulum’s nightlife

The nightlife in Tulum is ultra-chic, and full of beautiful people from all over the world.

Many of the upscale restaurants like Casa Jaguar and Gitano transition to intimate, jungle-party type clubs by night.

Also, Rosa Negra is a serious VIBE, sparklers and all.

Papaya Playa Project is famous for their full-moon parties.

Another popular spot is Taboo, a Mediterranean-inspired beach club.

Before you head out, make sure to read #10 on my 10 Things To Know Before Visiting Tulum.

10. Take a yoga class

Tulum has been a yogi hotspot for years because of its special energy, and many hotels offer daily classes.

Is there anything better than a beachside yoga class to start your day in paradise?

Or, maybe you just need to balance out all the exploring and partying.

Either way, I highly recommend taking the time here to connect to both yourself, as well as nature, through yoga.

11. Visit Coba

Just a 40-minute drive from Tulum, Coba is another wonderful place to see Mayan ruins.

Unlike Chichen Itza or the Tulum Ruins, Coba is fairly remote and gets less visitors.

For that reason, you can actually still climb some of the structures, which is pretty rare.

Here, the towering Nohoch Mul pyramid is actually the tallest Mayan structure on the Yucatan Peninsula, and the second tallest in the world.

Climbing to the top is an awesome way to get a totally different perspective of the ruins.

There are also some beautiful cenotes nearby.

12. Snorkel in Akumal

About a 30 minute drive north of Tulum, you’ll find Akumal, a resort community.

Akumal offers some of the best snorkeling in Mexico, because of the coral reef that protects its bay.

Snorkeling with sea turtles is one of the biggest attractions here, as they’re commonly spotted around the reef.

In fact, the name “Akumal” actually comes from Mayan, meaning “place of turtles.”

13. Hunt down Tulum’s best art

Tulum’s magical allure is partly created by all of its incredible architecture and art.

Over the years, the town’s most popular (and instagrammable) art installations have taken social media by storm!

So, one of the best things to do in Tulum is track down all these beautiful sites, and of course snap some pictures of your own.

Here are some of the most popular:

Ven La Luz sculpture in front of Ahau Tulum
Sfer Ik at Azulik
fan tunnel at Mia Tulum
“Follow That Dream” sign in front of Lolita Lolita boutique
the dress swing at Casa Malca
Azulik Uh May

14. Visit Sian Ka’an

If you want a nature getaway with the opportunity to see some wildlife, you must visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

Located just south of Tulum, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of 1,080 square miles of protected land.

Here, you’ll find all kinds of animals including dolphins, crocodiles, turtles, fish, birds, and many more.

The area is also home to important flora and fauna, as well as archaeological sites.

I often hear from nature lovers that visiting Sian Ka’an was one of the highlights of their trip.

15. Visit Bacalar

If you have enough time, I recommend taking a trip to the nearby lakefront town of Bacalar.

It’s about a 2.5 hour drive south of Tulum, so you can visit in a day trip.

Or, you can stay the night in order to really take in the area.

The town is set on Laguna de Bacalar, which is nicknamed the “Lake of Seven Colors” because of its many dazzling turquoise hues.

The area is much further from major airports, so it’s way less touristy than Tulum.

That means, if you want a little more adventure on your trip, Bacalar is totally worth a visit.

Posted By: Arabella · In: mexico, north america, travel