10 Awesome Things To Do in Tulum Mexico

Tulum is Mexico’s hippy beach destination. While it’s getting pretty popular, it’s still a chilled beach spot to relax outside of the main Riviera Maya resort areas. There’s plenty of things to do in Tulum from turquoise beaches to fascinating Mayan ruins to stunning cenotes (swimming holes). Read on to discover what to do in Tulum Mexico!      

Why Visit Tulum?

In a nutshell, Tulum is Mexico’s boho-chic beach paradise. Tulum is filled with thatched beach huts, trendy but rustic bars and hip shops. There’s a wide range of Tulum attractions from the beach to the jungle to ancient ruins.

While Tulum is not exactly off the beaten track these days, it’s definitely a laidback oasis in the Riviera Maya, just south of the sparkling all-inclusive resort towns of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Tulum attracts hippies, yogis, beach babes, eco-conscious travelers and independent travelers alike. In fact, Tulum reminded me a lot of a more chilled and rustic version of Bali’s Seminyak.

When I was looking for a short Mexican beach vacation, I chose Tulum precisely because it is not all shiny and high rise, and because there’s so many Tulum activities beyond the beach. Sure, spend some lazy days at Tulum’s chilled beach bars, but also leave time to explore by bike, visit the Tulum Mayan ruins and swim in gorgeous natural cenotes. Tulum is perfect if you want an an active Mexican holiday or are simply in need of a beach break!

I’ve rounded up the top ten best things to do in Tulum. Once you’re on top of all the Tulum sightseeing options, combine them into your perfect Tulum itinerary!

What To Do In Tulum – Tulum Beach Activities 

1. Hit the Beach

Numero uno on the list of Tulum things to do has got to be to hit the tropical beaches. In fact, this is probably the reason most people dream of visiting Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula in particular.

Yup, Tulum’s beaches are pretty, they’re chilled, and they’re definitely worth visiting. However, in my view, the charm of Tulum isn’t in it’s beaches (or at least it’s not just in its beaches). Instead, it’s in the boho-chic bars and shops, the thatched beach huts and the eco-luxe resorts. Or, as The Castle says (for ya ‘Strayans), it’s the vibe. Nary a high rise in sight. Hallelujah to that I say.

We visited Tulum in late December. The temperature was a lovely mid-20s celsius, but the beach was fairly windy and the shore was lined with seaweed, so I stuck to the sand and beach clubs … which brings me to number 2 on my list!

2. Chill at a Tulum Beach Club

Tulum is famous for its laidback beach clubs. These are essentially hotels or restaurants that provide beach space and loungers in exchange for a minimum spend (food / beverages) or a cover charge. I loved Tulum’s beach bars, and found them (like much of Tulum!) to be more relaxed than similar joints in Asia and Europe.

It’s very easy to waste pass a day (or two … or three) at Tulum’s beach clubs. It’s also equally easy to spend a sh*tload of money at these places, so come prepared! Many beach clubs have a minimum spend (often US$35 or US$50), and it’s pretty easy to hit this amount after a couple of drinks and a meal. Your hotel may have a beach club or be associated with a beach club, which may waive the minimum spend requirement.

Our favorite beach club was the super chilled Mivida at Punta Piedra Hotel. Mivida has a small stretch of beach, cold beer, fresh fish tacos, and lounge style music. Right up my street! If you wanna hang with the cool kids, check out the trendy Papaya Playa Project or Ziggy’s Beach Club.

Tulum Activities – Tulum Attractions Near Town 

3. Swim in Tulum Cenotes 

Swimming in a cenote is an absolute highlight of visiting Tulum.

Ahmm … what’s a cenote I hear you say? A cenote is a natural waterhole or sinkhole created when the surrounding limestone collapses. Cenotes can be open (like a pond), semi-open (with some cavern walls) or closed (complete cavern or underground).

Cenotes have unbelievable natural beauty. They’re often circular with limestone or karst formations, tropical blue and green waters, and lush surrounding jungle. See Exhibit A above.

Cenotes are the perfect place to take a refreshing dip and chillax. I’m a complete and total and utter wuss with swimming in cold water, but managed a ten minute swim in the cenotes no problemo. I’d call the water in cenotes crisp and fresh rather than unbearably cold.

When I planned a trip to Tulum, I heard about these ‘cenote’ thingys and thought there were maybe one or two around the area. Hell no! There’s literally thousands of cenotes dotted around the Yucatan Peninsula.

Many cenotes are open to the public for a small fee. (Note: Some closed cenotes are only accessible to cave divers. For the brave and prepared only!) Some of the most beautiful (and popular / busy!) cenotes near Tulum are Gran Cenote, Cenote Dos Ojos and Cenote Zacil-Ha. You should also visit a less-known cenote. While they might not be quite as exquisite, you’ll get to experience the true tranquility of a cenote sans crowds.

Don’t miss experiencing a cenote on your trip to Tulum. Many Tulum tours and day trips include a cenote visit. Otherwise, jump on your bike and pop into some of the cenotes that are closer to Tulum town.

4. Tulum Ruins

The Tulum Ruins are Mayan archeological ruins perched on a cliff overlooking the topical ocean. As well as being visually spectacular, the Ruins of Tulum are unique as they are the only Mayan city built on the coast, and are one of the few walled Mayan cities. Even better, the Tulum Ruins are right in the heart of Tulum, and are easily accessible with or without a tour.

I might be stating the obvious here, but the Tulum Ruins are just that – ruins (duh!). Some structures are fairly well preserved, including the Castillo (castle) which sits on the cliff above the sparkling ocean (see photo at the top of this post). Other structures need a little more imagination to picture them in their 13th century hey-day.

In my opinion, the Tulum Ruins rival other Maya Riviera ruins that are better preserved, precisely for that reason. There’s something special about exploring archeological sites with the raw beauty and mystery of being partially preserved. In addition, the location of the Tulum ruins hands down beats the inland ruins.

A Tulum Ruins tour is one of the most popular Tulum activities. Understandably, it attracts many day visitors from Cancun and other nearby resort towns. To avoid the crowds, I recommend visiting either early or late in the day (opening hours are 8am-5pm, 75 pesos). You can also fork out extra pesos for early or late access for sunrise or sunset viewing.

I usually visit sites independently, but went to the Tulum Ruins as part of a half-day cycling tour (see Tulum Attractions #5 below). It was actually a whole lot more beneficial having a guide, as we learnt about the Mayan history and culture and the purpose and significance of each structure.

5. Bike Around Tulum

Biking is definitely the preferred mode of transport in Tulum, and is one of the charms of spending time in Tulum. There’s only one narrow road down Tulum beach and, much like Bali, local infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with Tulum’s increasing tourist numbers, so traffic can be a little (okay … a lot) chaotic.

Rather than contribute to this social issue, jump on a bike and meander around Tulum beach and town, stopping off at cafes, bars and shops as you go. You can either get a bike from your hotel, hire one at the many local bike hire shops, or join a bike tour. We absolutely loved our tour with Tulum Bike Tours, which covered the Tulum Ruins and Tulum Town.

6. Tulum Town

Most people stay either at Tulum Beach or in Tulum Town. Tulum Beach is (obvs) along the beach and comes at a premium. If you can afford it, stay at the beach.

If you’re saving pennies, Tulum Town is only 5km from Tulum Beach and has plenty of budget and boutique accommodation. Even if you’re staying at the beach, it’s worth jumping on your bike and exploring the streets of Tulum Town. Here, you’ll find excellent local food (tacos and margaritas I’m looking at you!), street art and locals going about their daily life.

7. Feast on Tasty Mexican Food

Tulum Beach and Tulum Town have the most excellent Mexican and international food. I won’t attempt to delve into the endless options at your fingertips … my advice is to wander your area, and find a local or two – they’re all good!

My favorite Tulum eating locals were Tunich for breakfast and Mateo’s Mexican Grill for lunch and dinner. In fact, I lurved Mateo’s so much that I’m pretty sure we visited it every single day during our five nights in Tulum. Have a coo-loco (cocktail in a coconut) at Mateo’s chilled sunset bar and indulge in their incredible fish tacos.

Tulum Things To Do – Tulum Day Trips

8. Chichen Itza and other Mayan Ruins

Believe it or not, you can tick off one of the New Seven Wonders of the World while you’re in Tulum. In less than 2 hours, you can take a day trip from Tulum to Chichen Itza (above). We took a really great day trip to Chichen Itza and Valladolid with Mexico Kan Tours.

Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan civilisation. There’s many archaeological structures at Chichen Itza, but the most famous is without a doubt the iconic and towering Pyramid of Kukulcan (above).

Those who are slightly OCD like things in good order will love the mathematics behind the Pyramid of Kukulcan. The pyramid has four faces, with 91 steps on each face, and 1 top step, adding up to 365 days of the year. The pyramid is also oriented precisely so that during the spring and autumn equinox the late afternoon sun creates a snake crawling down the side of the temple.

Another highlight of Chichen Itza is the massive ball court. To the uninitiated, the court kinda looks like a big old field of nothin’ with stone walls and funny looking stone loops. Ho hum.

However, the Grand Ball Court really came to life once our guide explained the game of ‘pitz’, where the aim was for padded players to get the ball through the hoop without using their hands. (TBH, I’m still not sure how the physics of this actually works…) You’d clearly want to be more skilled at ball games than I am, as the losing team were often decapitated with their skulls then put on display. Delightful.

We only had time to explore Chichen Itza but, if you have longer or goof on archeology and ancient ruins, you can also take day trips from Tulum to the nearby Mayan ruins of Coba and Ek Balam.

9. Valladolid Spanish Colonial Town

For something different, take a day trip from Tulum to Valladolid. Valladolid is a quaint Spanish colonial town only 1.5 hours drive from Tulum.

The main pleasure in Valladolid is simply walking around the town square and surrounding colourful pastel stucco buildings. Eat local foods and, if you’re a chocolate lover, don’t miss Tienda Chocolate Shop on the corner near the square. Here, you can sample and purchase tasty (and I’m maintaining healthy!) organic chocolate.

10. Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Sian Ka’an is a biosphere reserve just south of Tulum. The nature reserve is diverse, containing tropical forests, mangrove lagoons and coastal protected marine areas. Sian Kian Biosphere Reserve is home to a variety of bird and mammal life, including (if you’re lucky!) the elusive puma and jaguar.

We unfortunately did not have time to visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. (Or technically did have time, just spent it at the beach instead). Both of the local tour companies that we used provide Sian Ka’an Bisophere tours. Check out the options with Mexico Kan Tours or Tulum Bike Tours.

Now that you know what to do in Tulum, how about combining the best things to do in Tulum into an incredible Tulum itinerary?

Note: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Like It? Pin It!