Tulum, Mexico is the jewel of Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Once you have experienced the beautiful Caribbean beaches, crystal clear cenotes, and Mayan ruins it will become clear why Tulum is such a popular getaway. Many people take day trips from Cancun or Cozumel to Tulum but we opted to stay in “the Bali of Mexico” for a whole week to get the full experience. Read on to explore my one-week guide to Tulum Mexico.
RELATED POST: Yelapa, Mexico: The Ultimate Guide to Mexico’s Secluded Beach Town
RELATED POST: Sayulita, Mexico: The Ultimate Guide to Mexico’s Laid-Back Surf Town
If you’re looking to eat some delicious tacos, snorkel, or dive in a cenote, and relax in a hammock on the beach, then a vacation to Tulum is a must! I’ll walk you through where to stay, where to eat, and the best things to do in this guide to Tulum Mexico!
How to Get to Tulum
There are no direct flights to Tulum, as there’s no airport there. You can choose to fly to either Cancun (2 hours by car) or Cozumel (40 minutes by ferry & 1 hour by car) which is what we opted for. Check on Google Flights which one is cheaper to fly to.
If you’re flying into Cozumel, you can take a taxi to the ferry terminal and take a ferry to Playa del Carmen. It will leave you directly next to the ADO bus station, from where you can take a bus to Tulum. Or rent a car as we did! There’s also a taxi stand if you prefer. There’s no need to pre-book anything (other than a car rental) in advance.
Where to Stay in Tulum
I found Airbnb to have the best options for places to stay in Tulum. I’ve linked a few of my favorites, including the one we stayed in. The town is small enough that you can walk to most things. Or rent a scooter to get around to the beach and cenotes! We rented a car for the week in order to explore some of the outer cenotes.
HELPFUL HINT: If this is your first time using Airbnb make sure to sign up with this link to receive $65 off your first stay!
Images were taken from Airbnb.
Where to Eat in Tulum
I had some of the most delicious + affordable meals in Tulum. From street tacos to huevos rancheros, you can’t go wrong with authentic Mexican food. Most mornings we would wake up and make our way over to a coffee shop before hitting the beach. Though we also made quite a few tasty meals at our Airbnb with local produce!
Feel free to find your favorite spots to eat in Tulum, or take a look at some of mine!
BREAKFAST + SNACK SPOTS
- Brew Tulum (local breakfast + coffee spot)
- Raw Love (yummy vegetarian spot)
- Matcha Mama (popular Tulum breakfast spot)
- DelCielo (breakfast + brunch spot)
- BOTANICA Garden Cafe (healthy breakfast staples)
LUNCH + DINNER SPOTS
- El Camello Jr (large servings of fresh seafood)
- Burrito Amor (extensive vegan + gluten free menu)
- Antojitos La Chiapaneca (cheap street tacos)
- Encanto Cantina (date night spot with yummy cocktails)
- Tres Galeones (delicious Mexican food with great atmosphere)
- La Negra Tomasa (try their ceviche)
- Tacos De Guisado (a must-visit! try their fresh squeezed juice)
What to Do in Tulum
CENOTES
Tulum is home to some of the world’s most beautiful cenotes! In fact, the cenotes are the major reason Tulum, Mexico has grown in popularity. I would recommend checking out at least two while you’re here. But honestly, they’re all so unique you could visit a dozen and not get tired of them! Here are a few we visited along with ones I’ve heard good things about.
- Escondido Cenote
- Cenote Calavera
- Cenote Nic Te Ha
- Cenote Tortuga
- Cenote Azul
MAYAN RUINS
You can’t visit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula without seeing the Mayan Ruins in Tulum. Here’s how to beat the crowds at this famous archaeological site. You NEED to arrive early, around 8 am, to get a good experience touring the ruins. Another good time to visit is the hour before they close at 5 pm. If you go any other time you’ll be stuck waiting in line to get a ticket and then be elbow to elbow with hundreds of other tourists. Which usually equals not a fun time.
Click to read Other Things You Need to Know About the Mayan Ruins in Tulum
BEACHES + SNORKELING
Another great thing to do while in Tulum is to explore the white-sand beaches. I have a few hidden beaches that are much more private than the main access ones. Some of these beaches have access to beautiful reefs where you can snorkel while others are more suited for relaxing and swimming.
You can also book a boating/snorkel tour like we did! This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
MY FAVORITE BEACHES
- Bahia Soliman
- Playa Las Palmas
Tulum is part of the Mesoamerican Reef System, which extends over about 1000 km along the Caribbean coast. It is the second-largest coral reef in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This is a great place to put on a mask and immerse yourself in this underwater ecosystem. We saw rays, sea turtles, conch shells, eels, and endless colorful fish!
Let me know if you plan on visiting Tulum anytime soon! As always questions are welcome in the comments. I’m happy to help with trip-related advice.