Tulum, MX

Tulum is a town located in the Caribbean coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, about 90 minutes South of Cancun. It is very popular with tourists due to its New Age vibe, jungle-like hotels and restaurants, and white sand beaches. During our Yucatan road trip this past July my boyfriend and I decided to stop by this town for a few days and we had a great time. If you are planning a trip to this chic Mexican town, then keep reading for my list of recommendations.

Getting Around Tulum…

Tulum is a small town, however where you stay can really make or break your trip. Tulum is divided into three major areas; the Tulum Ruins (Zone Arqueológica), the hotel zone (Zona Hotelera), and the city center (El Centro).

• Tulum Ruins - This area is where you’ll find the famous Tulum Ruins, you can use a taxi or bicycle to reach this area. It is about a 5-10 min drive from the city center depending on traffic.

• Hotel Zone - This is where you will find most of the “instagrammable” spots famous in Tulum. Here you will find restaurants, bars, boutiques and popular hotels. It is about a 15-20 min car ride from Tulum City center. To find it in a map, look for Carretera Tulum (HWY 15).

• City Center - El Centro is where you will find most locals, some bars and restaurants, and local craft Mercados (or shops). If you are looking for a more authentic Mexican experience then this is the area for you.

Where to stay in Tulum…

We selected to stay in the city center when visiting Tulum. If you are looking for the best location for nightlife and boho restaurants/bars I recommend you stay in the Hotel Zone on Carretera Tulum.

• Mestizo Gallery - This is where I stayed during my time in Tulum. It has a 3.5-star rating, indoor pool, free welcome drinks, and free breakfast every morning.

  • Average cost per night was $60

• Coco Tulum - Beachfront 2.5-star hotel located on Carretera Tulum. Famous for beachfront bar with swings and other onsite restaurants.

  • Average cost per night $110

• Hotel Calaluna Tulum - Adults only, 3-star hotel with private beach, within walking distance to Azulik.

  • Average cost per night $105

Top Things to do in Tulum…

• Visit a Cenote!

  Cenotes are natural swimming holes or caves that are found throughout Mexico, but especially around Tulum. They have crystal clear (and very cold) waters that are great for snorkeling or diving. The following two cenotes are the most popular and closest to Tulum.

  • Gran Cenote - Probably the most popular due to its proximity to city center. We went around 3pm and it was crowded, but still managed to get good photos and enjoy the cold (but refreshing) waters. You can rent snorkeling gear for a small additional fee.

    • Cost $10 to $14 per person

    • Hours: 10am to 5pm

  • Cenote Dos Ojos - This Cenote does not feel as crowded due to its larger size and distance from Tulum. The translation of the name is “The Two Eye Cenote” and it gets it name from the two swimming caves/pools it offers. Here you can also rent snorkeling gear (or do professional diving) since its greater size includes many cave systems.

    • Cost $25 per person (snorkeling gear is $3 - $5), lifejackets are free.

    • Hours: 8am to 5pm

    • Tip: You can easily spend a day in here. You can bring your own snacks and drinks and they have hammocks all around to take a nice afternoon nap.

• Learn about Pre-Columbian Mayans at the Tulum Ruins

  The Famous Tulum ruins are the most well-preserved and photogenic ruins in Mexico. To visit this site you can take a taxi or drive to the main entrance, from which you’ll have to walk approximately 0.5 miles to the official ticket booth. If you can’t/don’t want to walk then you can take the small tram that takes visitors back and forth throughout the day for a small fee of $1.

  • Cost $5 per person

  • Hours: 8am to 5pm

  • Tip: Upon arrival you will see many locals try to sell you guided tours and entrance tickets for a much higher price. Just keep walking to the official ticket booth (at the very end of the path) and from there buy your tickets and guided tour.

• Go See One of the New Seven Wonders of the World: Chichen Itza

  Definitely worth a visit if you are already in this side of the world. If you have a car this will only be a 1.5 hour drive. If you do not have a car, then there are guided tours that take you there. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunblock because there is little to no shade.

  • Cost $25 per person

  • Hours: 8am to 4:30pm

  • Tip: If driving, you can park your car at the official parking lot of the attraction for free.

• Explore Tulum from a Bicycle

  This is a very, very bike friendly town. Everywhere you will see locals and tourists alike riding their bicycles. Renting one is very easy too, all you need is an identification card and Mexican pesos.

• Visit the Eco-Friendly Azulik

  Azulik is the eco-friendly hotel famous for its hanging nets. If you’ve got $500 to $1000 to spend per night, then this is the hotel for you. For the rest of us, there is a more budget friendly option. You can visit this famous hotel by simply going for drinks or dinner. They have three different restaurants and you have to pay a fee/credit prior to entering each one.

  • Kin Toh is the most popular restaurant / bar in Azulik. Here you will find the hanging nets. They open at 5pm and people will begin lining up a bit before. To visit Kin Toh you need to have dinner there (a bit expensive) or go for drinks (this is what I did). We paid $35 per person and about $30 was credited for drinks at the bar.

    • Note: We took our small camera and had no issues, but I’ve heard DSLR’s are not allowed.

  • Tseen Ja is the other restaurant located in Azulik that connects to Kin Toh through a suspension bridge. It is at a higher elevation, therefore you still have great photo opportunities.

  • Cenote is the third restaurant located in Azulik’s ground floor. It has big nests-like tables and feels like you are in the middle of the jungle. The food is farm-to-table and is open from 7:30am to 10:30pm.

• Visit the Art Exhibit, Ik Lab in Azulik

  My favorite part about this art gallery is that is was free! The exhibits change from time to time, but the building itself is enough to go see. Made from locally sourced wood, it feels like you are inside a tree. To go in you must take your shoes off and leave any large bags at the entrance. From there you are free to wander around for however long you like.

Food in Tulum, Yum!

Tulum is full of fusion restaurants and organic vegan food options. However, be ready to pay USA prices on Mexican territory. Nonetheless, there a couple of few places you can’t miss out on…

• Matcha Mama - Probably the number one place you will find in all Tulum itineraries and it is a definite must. They serve a variety of things from raw juices and kombucha to açai bowls (my favorite). Everything is made fresh in front of you and you can sit in one of their beautiful swings and enjoy your bowl in a hot summer day. Expect to pay anywhere between $7.50 to $10 for an açai bowl.

• Juanita Diavola - This restaurant also located on Carretera Tulum and it belongs to the Coco Tulum Hotel. We had lunch here consisting of wood fired pizza, a refreshing natural smoothie and the best bruschetta we’ve ever had. It also offers outside sitting area and a lounge for a more informal feel. Prices are average, we spent approximately $50 with tip.

• Mur Mur - Trendy restaurant and bar with swings as seats. Drinks are average, but it is nice to swing at the bar while drinking your mezcal.

Thank you for reading my post on my top things to do around Tulum. I hope this helps you guide your next trip and if you’ve already been to Tulum then leave me a comment down below with your recommendations. Thanks!