A Simple Guide to Visiting Tulum, Mexico

Guide to Visiting Tulum – Day 1: Enjoy Tulum’s Beautiful Beaches

Tulum has some of the best beaches in Mexico. The soft white sand, tall palm trees, and clear blue water make it a dream place to relax.

There are three ways to enjoy the beach in Tulum:

1. Stay in a Beach Hotel

Tulum has hotels right on the beach, where you can wake up and step onto the sand. These hotels are expensive, but if you can stay for a night or two, it’s worth it!

2. Visit a Beach Club

If someone is not staying at a hotel on the beach, they can pay to visit a beach club. Some are party places, while others are quiet and relaxing. Here are some good ones:

Party & Lively Beach Clubs

1. Taboo Tulum: A fun beach club with a lively party vibe, music, and dancing.
2. Mia Beach Club: A beach club with a pool, a chill atmosphere in the day, and parties later.

Relaxed & Chill Beach Clubs

1. Papaya Playa Project: A beachfront bar with music, good for relaxing.
2. Nomade Tulum: A peaceful beach club with great food and a relaxing atmosphere.

Family-Friendly & Instagram-Worthy Beach Clubs

1. Ziggy Beach: There is a quiet and family-friendly beach club where people can relax and enjoy the ocean.
2. Coco Tulum: A beautiful white beach club that looks amazing in photos!
3. Ahau Tulum: Famous for the “Ven a La Luz” wooden art structure, perfect for photos and a relaxing meal.

3. Go to a Public Beach

If you don’t want to spend money on a beach club, you can visit a free public beach. The best ones are:

1. Las Palmas Beach
2. Playa Paraíso
3. Playa Ruinas

Day 2: Explore Cenotes and Tulum Town

After enjoying the beach, it’s time to see something unique, cenotes!

What is a Cenote?

Cenotes are natural pools of freshwater inside caves or open spaces. The water is cool and clear, and you can swim, snorkel, or dive in them.

Here are some of the best cenotes near Tulum:

Best Cenotes for Snorkeling & Swimming

1. Dos Ojos: A huge underwater cave, one of the most famous cenotes in Mexico! Great for snorkeling and cave diving.
2. Cenote Escondido & Cenote Cristal: Two cenotes right across the road from each other, great for snorkeling.

Cenotes with Fun Extras

1. Zacil-Ha: A natural swimming pool cenote with a zipline over the water!
2. Cenote Calavera: A deep cenote where you have to jump into the water from above!

Famous & Easy-to-Access Cenotes

Gran Cenote: A popular cenote has wooden decks, making it easy to swim.

Tip: Cenotes are on private land, so you must pay an entrance fee. Don’t wear regular sunscreen; it harms the water. Use reef-safe sunscreen or wear a hat and cover-up instead.

Cenote Clubs

Most cenotes are simple, with just a few chairs, but some have restaurants, music, and spa services. If you want a luxury cenote experience, check out Vesica Cenote Club. It has great food and massages.

Visit Tulum Town

Tulum is divided into two parts:

1. The Beach Area: This is where you find beachfront hotels, fancy restaurants, and beach clubs. It’s expensive and very touristy.
2. Tulum Town (Pueblo): This is a more local, relaxed, and affordable area. It offers cheaper food, shopping, and a laid-back atmosphere.

Tip: Many people stay in town for a few nights and then move to the beach to enjoy both sides of Tulum while saving money.

In town, you’ll find good restaurants, shops, and bars at lower prices than on the beach. Some good places to eat are:

1. Bonita
2. Burrito Amor
3. Palma Central

Day 3: Visit Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

One of the most special places near Tulum is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. It’s a huge nature reserve with mangroves, lagoons, rivers, and coral reefs. There are two main areas to visit:

1. Punta Allen (Wildlife Boat Tour)

1. Take a boat tour through the mangroves and ocean.
2. See manatees, crocodiles, dolphins, turtles, and birds in their natural habitat.

You must book a tour because the roads are too rough for regular cars.

2. Muyil (Mayan Ruins & River Float)

1. You can visit Mayan ruins and see old temples.
2. You float down an ancient Mayan river canal.
3. You can do this on your own or with a tour.

If you love wildlife and ocean tours, visit Punta Allen. If you prefer Mayan history and a peaceful river float, visit Muyil.

Day 4: Bike Around the Coba Ruins

Tulum has many amazing ruins, but if you want to see something less crowded and more adventurous, take a day trip to Coba, an ancient Mayan city. It’s about 45 minutes to 1 hour away from Tulum, depending on where you’re staying.

Coba is special because it has the largest network of raised stone roads (called sacbé in Mayan) in the ancient Mayan world. This means the city was well-connected to many other Mayan cities.

Exploring the Coba Ruins

Coba is different from Chichen Itza because the ruins are spread out in the jungle, making it feel more like an adventure. There are several structures, engraved stones, and pyramids to explore.

1. The Nohoch Mul Pyramid in Coba is the tallest in the Yucatán Peninsula.
2. Visitors can rent bikes and ride through the jungle to see different ancient buildings.
3. If you don’t want to bike, a local Mayan guide can take you around in a bicycle carriage (a tricycle with a seat in front).
4. Walking is possible, but since the area is large, biking makes it faster and more fun!

Cenotes Near Coba

After visiting the Coba ruins, cool off in a cenote before heading back to Tulum. There are three cenotes near Coba, and you can buy a pass for all three or just visit one.

1. Choo-Ha Cenote: A beautiful underground cenote with clear blue water and cave formations.
2. Tamcach-Ha Cenote: Another underground cenote, great for swimming and jumping into the water.
3. Multum-Ha Cenote: A deep cenote with wooden platforms for easy swimming.

Day 5: Yoga, Temazcal, and Tulum’s Best Food

After a long day at Coba, Day 5 is all about relaxing and enjoying Tulum’s wellness and food scene.

Yoga in Tulum

Tulum is a top destination for yoga lovers. Many hotels and wellness centers offer yoga classes, and you can find a variety of styles, from vinyasa flow to meditation sessions.

1. Some hotels offer free yoga for guests or charge a small fee.
2. There are also yoga studios where you can take classes if your hotel doesn’t offer any.
3. Practicing yoga in the jungle or on the beach makes it even more special!

Temazcal Ceremony

A Temazcal is a traditional Mayan sweat lodge that looks like a small, dome-shaped hut. Inside, a shaman leads a spiritual ceremony where you sweat, chant, and meditate.

1. The heat and steam come from hot volcanic stones placed inside.
2. The ceremony is meant to cleanse your body and mind.
3. Some people feel very emotional during the ceremony, while others simply feel relaxed and refreshed.

Tip: Keep an open mind when trying this experience. It’s a mix of physical detox and spiritual healing.

Dinner at Tulum’s Best Restaurants

Tulum has many amazing restaurants, from local Mexican spots to fine dining.

Some of the best restaurants in Tulum Beach Zone:

1. Mezzanine: Delicious Thai food with a beach view.
2. Rosa Negra: A lively Latin-American restaurant with great seafood.
3. Hartwood: A wood-fired kitchen with fresh, local ingredients.

Some of the best restaurants in Tulum Town (cheaper options):

1. Burrito Amor: Famous for its delicious burritos.
2. Palma Central: A food truck park with many different food options.
3. Bonita: A great place for burgers and cocktails.

Tip: Some fine-dining restaurants in the hotel zone can cost $100+ per person, so check prices before going!

Day 6: Visit Chichen Itza: One of the New Wonders of the World

No trip to Tulum is complete without visiting Chichen Itza, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

Getting to Chichen Itza

1. It’s about 2 hours from Tulum.
2. You can rent a car, take a bus, or join a guided tour.

Exploring the Chichen Itza Ruins

1. El Castillo (Temple of Kukulkan): The famous pyramid where the shadow of a snake appears during the equinox.
2. The Great Ball Court: The largest Mayan ball game court ever found.
3. Temple of the Warriors: A temple with carved columns of ancient warriors.

Tip: It is best to arrive early, around 8 AM, to avoid big crowds. Tour buses start coming at 10-11 AM.

Cenotes Near Chichen Itza

If you have time, visit a cenote nearby:

1. Ik Kil Cenote: A famous cenote with vines hanging down and a deep pool.
2. Suytun Cenote: A cenote with a round platform in the middle, perfect for photos.
3. San Lorenzo Oxman Cenote: A cenote with a rope swing for jumping into the water.

Day 7: Relax on Tulum’s Beach & Watch the Sunset

It’s your last day in Tulum, so it’s time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of this magical place.

Visit the Tulum Ruins One Last Time

If you haven’t visited yet, the Tulum Ruins are the perfect way to end your trip.

1. Some ruins sit on a cliff with a beautiful ocean view.
2. A staircase leads down to the beach, so visitors can swim in the ocean after exploring the ruins.

Watch the Sunset Over the Jungle

To end your trip, watch the sunset over the jungle or ocean.

Best Sunset Spots in Tulum

1. Azulik Sunset Bar: A beautiful boho-style bar with jungle views.
2. Mateo’s Rooftop Bar: A casual Mexican restaurant with great jungle views.

Distrito Panamera Rooftop: A budget-friendly rooftop bar with amazing views.