Tulum Travel Guide: Top Things to Do in Tulum
- Apr 23, 2024
- 7 min read
Tulum is a coastal paradise on the Yucatan Peninsula where soft sandy beaches meet lush jungles. Once a thriving seaport in the days of the Mayan Empire, Tulum has evolved into a haven that blends of art, nature, and tranquility. You can relax on stunning beaches or explore ancient Mayan wonders perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The town is focused on wellness and known for its bohemian beachfront resorts. At night, you can enjoy a vibrant culinary scene & live music at beach clubs. Discover the allure of Tulum with this ultimate guide of it's top experiences.
Top Things to Do in Tulum:
Walk through town and go shopping at Tulum Beach
Relax on the white sand beaches of Tulum
The coastline of Tulum features soft white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters. The main Tulum Beach has a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere with beach clubs and restaurants. As you walk down the beach, you can explore the many resorts each with their own style and ambiance. You will find many different art installations along the beach in Tulum in front of the resorts.
To make the most out of your stay in Tulum, I recommend staying at a resort on the main beach. You can spend your days lounging on the beach at your resort and will be able to easily walk to restaurants, nightlife, and the best things to do in Tulum.
There are many other beaches to check out in Tulum in addition to the main beach. Playa Paraíso is particularly famous for its stunning scenery, while Playa Pescadores and Ziggy Beach are known for their laid-back vibes. Some beaches, like Playa Ruinas, provide unique views of the ancient Tulum Ruins.
Swim in the Gran Cenote
Swimming in a cenote is one of the top things to do in Tulum. Gran Cenote is a cenote very close to Tulum Beach with stunning crystal-clear waters and intricate cave formations. A cenote is a natural sinkhole formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, revealing a pool of fresh groundwater underneath. You can swim in the clear blue water, snorkel, and explore the underwater world of caves and tunnels.
As you swim through the underwater cave formations, you will see stalactites on the roof of the caves. It is a refreshing place to swim and escape the heat, surrounded by lush vegetation. Keep in mind that before you enter the cenote you will be asked to rinse your body and hair in fresh water. You will also need to store your belongings in a locker by the entrance.
The Gran Cenote is a 20 minute drive from the resorts on Tulum Beach. I would suggest arranging a driver with your resort for the safest and most reliable transportation. You will drive through Tulum Pueblo on your way to Gran Cenote, so I recommend making a quick stop here for lunch at Burrito Amor. Burrito Amor is a low key spot known for delicious and generously sized burritos.
Workout at the Tulum Jungle Gym
Tulum Jungle Gym is a unique fitness facility in a picturesque location within the jungle. The facility is located just off the beach and is surrounded by lush greenery It has an open-air design, so you can exercise while enjoying the tropical climate.
The gym is famous for its creative and rustic workout equipment that blend with the jungle setting. This equipment is crafted from natural materials, like ropes, logs, and bodyweight stations. Tulum Jungle Gym has a wellness-oriented atmosphere that incorporates mindfulness and connection to nature.
After your workout, I recommend reenergizing with a juice or acai bowl from Raw Love. You can find the juice stand on the beach in front of the Ahau Hotel, a 5 minute walk south down the beach from Tulum Jungle Gym.
Explore the Mayan ruins at the Tulum Archaeological Site
The Tulum Ruins are one of the best preserved coastal sites for Mayan architecture. The ruins are perched on cliffs overlooking panoramic views of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. You can descend the cliffs to a small beach below where you can take a swim in the water. The ruins feature ancient Mayan architecture such as the Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes, and the defensive city wall.The ruins date back to the Late Postclassic period (1200-1450 AD) where a prominent Mayan city one stood. Tulum city was an important maritime trade port that connected Mayan settlements across region. The city had a defensive wall that enclosed the other three sides of the city to protect it from potential invasions.
You will need to pay a small admission fee to enter the ruins, and its best to go in the early morning right before they open to avoid long lines. We arrived at the ruins at 8AM and there was no queue, but when we left around 10AM there was a long queue to buy tickets and enter. The ruins are a 15 minute drive from the resorts on Tulum Beach, and you can arrange transportation with your hotel.
Dance to live music under the moonlight at a beach club
Your visit to Tulum would not be complete without experiencing the vibrant beach club scene. A lot of the beach front clubs feature live music and DJ sets at night, and you can dance the night away on the sand. I would recommend going to Vagalume for a great music, fire dancers, and an aesthetic for Instagram-worthy photos. Vagalume is a day club until the sun sets, and then turns into a night scene from 7PM - 1AM. I find the ideal time to go is around 9PM on weekend nights. They will usually request a hefty entrance fee, but its important to know that the rate is negotiable.
Walk through town and go shopping in Tulum Beach
Tulum Beach is the ideal spot to find boutiques with a bohemian and eclectic style. There are variety of artisan markets and lifestyle stores that sell unique jewelry, clothing, home decor, and crafts. I would stroll through the main street in Tulum Beach and explore different shops as you walk through town. You will also discover many fun spot to take Instagram-worth photos, and unique art displays. Tulum specializes in environmentally friendly products, organic clothing, and sustainable goods. You will find eco-conscious products that are made with locally sourced materials.
Snap a photo with the Ven a la Luz statue at Ahau
The most famous spot in Tulum to snap a photo for Instagram is the Tulum Statue at the Ahau Hotel. The statue is called 'Ven a la Luz', which means "come into the light. It was created by Daniel Popper, a South African artist, for the Tulum arts festival in 2018 located at Ahau. The 33 foot tall state depicting an individual holding their chest apart, served as the entrance to the famous arts festival. After the festival, the statue remained at the entrance to the hotel until it was relocated in 2021 to the Tulum Sculpture Park. The Tulum Sculpture Park can be found in a garden directly next to the beach at Ahau. You will need to pay a small admission fee to the sculpture park, and its best to go in the early morning right after they open or evening right before they close to avoid crowds.
Wander through the Azulik museum
Azulik is a luxurious eco-friendly adults-only resort with a unique architectural design. The breathtaking structures are built using natural materials such as wood and thatch, seamlessly blending with the surrounding jungle environment. The resort offers treehouse-style accommodations, with elevated walkways that are immersed in nature connecting various buildings.
While you must be a guest to explore the entire resort, Azulik has a museum that lets the public explore a portion of the resort. You can also dine in the restaurant Tseen Ja where you you can eat in a floating nest amongst the treetops of the Jungle. You must make reservations for this unique dining experience well in advance.
Eat lunch at a bohemian restaurant on the beach
There are many beachfront restaurants in Tulum where you can dine directly on the sand with a view of the white sand beach and turquoise waters. You can unwind with a cocktail and take a break from the beach to indulge in local cuisine. My favorite beachfront restaurant is the La Popular at the Nomade Tulum Hotel. La Popular specializes in local and sustainable seafood that is caught by fisherman from the surrounding towns. The restaurant has a bohemian ambiance with low rise tables on the sand, and is the perfect place to take a mid-day break from your relaxing beach day. Another one of my favorite spots to eat lunch on the beach is Maresias Beach Club at Be Tulum.
Full moon party at Papaya Playa Project
The Papaya Playa Project is a resort known for hosting Full Moon Parties on the Saturday night closest to the full moon. The festive party takes place at a beachfront venue, and you can dance the night away under the moonlight to electronic music. The event also incorporate artistic elements like visual art installations and light displays. The Full Moon Party is meant to be a cultural exchange that creates a sense of community for locals and tourists alike. You can find details on the Papaya Playa Project's upcoming events on their website.
Watch the sunset over the jungle from a rooftop bar
Rooftops in Tulum are the perfect spot to take in the breathtaking beauty and vibrant colors of the sunset from an elevated view. My favorite places to watch the sun set in Tulum is the RoOf Sunset Bar at Hotel Panamera where you can enjoy an incredible view of the sun setting over the jungle and the ocean behind you. They have classic and elevated cocktails accompanied by a culinary menu by cutting-edge Chef Kane William Sorrells. The venue features resident DJs that play laidback music each night during sunset. As the sun sets and the stars come out, the party continues.
Experience the vibrant nightlife
Tulum's nightlife is vibrant and diverse mix of beachfront parties, live music, trendy clubs, and more. I would recommend sticking to the nightlife along Tulum Beach as it is a safer than Tulum Pueblo. Gitano is a trendy spot and mezcal bar with a lush jungle setting that often hosts DJ parties.
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