30 Best Things to Do in Tulum, Mexico

The best things to do in Tulum are swimming in the cenotes, walking the clifftop Mayan ruins, a boat day in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, climbing the Nohoch Mul pyramid at Cobá and snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal. Three or four days covers the highlights without rushing.

What to Do in Tulum

You will not run out of things to do in Tulum. Beautiful cenotes, Mayan ruins and white sand beaches are what most visitors have heard about, and all three live up to it.

There is more to this Caribbean town than its famous sights, though, from wood-fired restaurants in the jungle to quiet ruins in a biosphere reserve. Tulum has also become expensive, and fees for the ruins, beaches and cenotes changed several times in 2025 and 2026.

This guide covers 30 things to do, with the current entry fees and access rules. Universal Traveller checked prices, opening days and the places named here in October 2026.

Much of what you will do in Tulum is outdoors in strong sun and high humidity. Bring biodegradable sunscreen, which most cenotes and reefs require, and light, breathable clothes.

Things to Do in Tulum Compared

1. Swim in the Cenotes Around Tulum

Swimming in a cenote is the one thing to do in Tulum if you do nothing else. A cenote is a limestone sinkhole flooded with rain and groundwater, and the Yucatán Peninsula has thousands of them, many linked by underground rivers.

Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera and Cenote Zacil-Ha are all a short bike ride west of town on the Cobá road. Many tours combine three or more cenotes in a day, which is a good way to see several if your time is limited.

Go at opening time. By late morning the most popular cenotes fill with tour groups, and the water is at its clearest before swimmers stir up the sediment.

Verdict: Worth it, and the reason many people come to Tulum. Pay a little more for a smaller cenote rather than queuing at the busiest one at noon.

This day pass covers five cenotes at Casa Tortuga with gear included, rated 4.7 from 75 reviews. It suits travelers without a car who want several cenotes in one place.

Read the full guide: The best cenotes in Tulum

2. Explore the Tulum Ruins

The Tulum Ruins are the only major Mayan site built on the coast, and they stand on 12-meter cliffs above the Caribbean. That setting, rather than the size of the buildings, is the reason to come.

The site is about 4 kilometers northeast of town and now sits inside the Parque del Jaguar, a protected area with its own entry fee. Truthfully, Cobá and Muyil offer more to explore, but Tulum is still the most visited of them all.

El Castillo, the temple on the cliff edge, was a landmark for Mayan traders arriving by canoe. If only the temples could talk, what would they say about the Mayan civilization?

Verdict: Worth it for the view, but arrive at 8:00. By mid-morning the heat and the crowds from Cancún make it hard work.

This guided walking tour adds the history the signs leave out, rated 4.9 from 109 reviews. A licensed guide can also be hired at the entrance.

Read the full guide: Tulum Mayan Ruins guide

3. Float in Laguna Kaan Luum

If you have done the big sights and want a quiet day, Laguna Kaan Luum is about 20 minutes south of town. Its shallow, milky turquoise water surrounds a deep blue sinkhole about 80 meters deep, which is off-limits to swimmers.

A wooden platform and swing sit over the water, and the shallows are warm and calm. Part of the visit for many is to cover themselves in the lagoon’s mud, which locals say is good for the skin, if you can get past the smell.

Verdict: Worth it as a slow half day after the cenotes. There is little shade, so go early or late.

4. Swim at Playa Paraíso

Some of the best things to do in Tulum cost nothing. Playa Paraíso, just south of the ruins, is a wide, long stretch of white sand with turquoise water and room for everyone.

Finding a public entrance used to be a challenge, as hotels and beach clubs line the road. Since November 2025, the government says no visitor has to pay to reach Tulum’s beaches, and several free public access points have opened along the hotel zone.

Verdict: Worth it on a calm, clear day. Check the sargassum reports before you go between April and July.

Read the full guide: The best beach clubs in Tulum

5. Go Birdwatching in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve begins just south of Tulum and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers about 528,000 hectares of tropical forest, mangroves, lagoons and reef.

The name is often translated as origin of the sky, and it is what the Maya called this place. About 330 bird species have been recorded here, including herons, ospreys and hummingbirds.

Most visitors come on a boat tour through the lagoons and canals, with stops to snorkel, float and watch for dolphins and turtles. The road south to Punta Allen is rough, so a tour is easier than driving yourself.

Verdict: Worth it, and the best nature day from Tulum. Choose a small-group tour, as the larger boats feel rushed.

This small-group tour floats the ancient Mayan canals and visits Muyil, rated 4.8 from over 600 reviews.

6. Watch the Sunset at Kin Toh

Kin Toh, at the Azulik resort in the hotel zone, is one of the most photographed restaurants in Tulum. Diners sit in woven nests raised above the jungle and watch the sun go down over the treetops.

It is a special-occasion dinner rather than an everyday meal. Booking is required, the restaurant is adults only and expects elegant dress, and some tables come with a minimum spend.

Verdict: Worth it for the setting at sunset. Diners who care most about the food will do better at Hartwood.

7. Spend a Day at Xel-Há Park

Mexico can be very hot, especially in summer, and a water park is an easy way to cool down. Xel-Há is about 18 kilometers north of Tulum on Highway 307.

What sets it apart is its natural inlet, home to diverse marine life. You can snorkel, float down a river, explore mangroves and use the park’s food and drinks, which are included in the ticket.

Verdict: Worth it for families who want everything in one place. Independent travelers can snorkel cenotes and Akumal for far less.

8. Have a Picnic at Playa Ruinas

Playa Ruinas is the small cove directly below the Tulum Ruins. Because of its position beneath El Castillo, it is one of the most photographed spots in Tulum.

Walk down the wooden steps from the site after exploring the ruins, and swim in the turquoise water with the temple above you. The beach is reached from inside the archaeological zone, so it is covered by your ruins ticket.

Verdict: Worth it as the reward after a hot walk around the ruins. Bring water and a towel in your daypack.

9. Visit SFER IK Museion

SFER IK is a contemporary art space with architecture shaped from wood, vines and concrete, and it hosts exhibitions and workshops. The original gallery is in the hotel zone next to Azulik, and a larger sister site, SFER IK Uh May, is in the jungle west of town.

Visitors walk barefoot over the curving floors, which is part of the experience. Swimwear and tripods are not allowed.

Verdict: Worth an hour for anyone interested in design, even more than art. Go in the late afternoon when the light is softer.

10. Eat Like a Local at Burrito Amor

Burrito Amor on Avenida Tulum turns up on almost every list of where to eat in Tulum, and it deserves its place. The kitchen brings clean eating to Mexican food, so travelers with allergies or a particular diet will find plenty that suits them.

The grilled burritos are the order, with vegetarian, vegan, fish and chicken fillings. Many come wrapped in a banana leaf.

Verdict: Worth it for a quick, filling lunch at town prices.

Read the full guide: The best restaurants in Tulum

11. Grab a Coffee at Ki’Bok

When it is time for a break, head to Ki’Bok in the center of town. Its espresso uses beans from Veracruz, and you can buy a bag to take home.

The garden courtyard is a good place to plan the next day. It is open from early morning until late, which is rare for a coffee shop in Tulum.

Verdict: Worth it for the coffee and the shade. Breakfast is fine, but the coffee is the reason to go.

12. Dine at Hartwood

Hartwood is one of the restaurants in Tulum worth a little extra effort. Even in quiet months it is full every night, as guests come for food cooked over a wood fire in an open-air kitchen.

Expect plenty of seafood and whatever is in season, with the menu written fresh each day. Reserve online well ahead, as tables go quickly.

Verdict: Worth it for the best dinner in Tulum if you book early. It is expensive, and the room is hot and loud, which is part of its character.

13. Climb Nohoch Mul in Cobá

Once you have seen Tulum, travel inland to make the most of your stay. Cobá is about 45 kilometers northwest, roughly 45 minutes by car, so it is an easy half day.

Its main pyramid, Nohoch Mul, rises 42 meters above the jungle and is one of the tallest Mayan pyramids on the Yucatán Peninsula. Climbing was suspended in 2020, but INAH reopened it in December 2025 with a new wooden staircase.

From the top, the forest stretches unbroken to the horizon. The site is spread out, so rent a bicycle or a tricycle with a driver at the entrance.

Verdict: Worth it, and the best Mayan site within an hour of Tulum. Combine it with one of the cenotes nearby for a full day.

Tours from Tulum to Cobá and Chichén Itzá are listed on GetYourGuide.

14. Watch the Danza de los Voladores

The Danza de los Voladores, also known as the Voladores de Papantla, is an ancient Mesoamerican ceremony connected to fertility and the harvest, and UNESCO lists it as intangible cultural heritage. Four flyers tied by ropes spin down from a pole about 30 meters high while a fifth man plays the flute and drum on top.

For more than 30 years the voladores performed at the entrance to the Tulum Ruins. They left in March 2026, citing falling visitor numbers.

The ceremony is still performed in Playa del Carmen’s Parque Fundadores, about 55 minutes north, and four times a day inside Xcaret park.

Verdict: Worth seeing if you are in Playa del Carmen. It is not worth the trip on its own.

15. See the Ven a la Luz Sculpture

The entrance to the Ahau Tulum resort is home to Ven a la Luz, which translates as come into the light. The wooden sculpture by South African artist Daniel Popper is just over 10 meters tall.

It was created for the Art With Me festival in 2018 and later moved to Ahau, where two hands open a doorway into a figure’s chest. The piece is meant to say something about Tulum’s fragile ecosystem.

Verdict: Worth a stop on a bike ride along the beach road. Go early for photos without a queue.

16. Snorkel or Dive Cenote Dos Ojos

Dos Ojos, about 20 minutes north of Tulum, takes its name from two neighboring sinkholes that look like a pair of eyes. They connect to one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world.

Snorkelers float through clear water lit by shafts of sunlight, while certified divers can explore the caverns with a guide. It is one of the best-known cavern dives in Mexico.

Verdict: Worth it for confident snorkelers and divers. Beginners will find Gran Cenote easier.

Read the full guide: Cenote Dos Ojos guide

17. Try Kiteboarding

What is a trip to the Yucatán without some water sports? Tulum’s long beaches, steady winds and warm water make it a good place to learn to kiteboard.

The main season runs from November to May, and January to April brings the strongest winds from the north. On a day without wind, there is still stand-up paddleboarding and snorkeling.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers with a few days to commit. One lesson rarely gets beginners up on the board.

18. Explore the Muyil Archaeological Site

Most visitors stop at the Tulum Ruins, but wait until you see Muyil. The site sits at the northern edge of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, about 25 minutes south of town.

Its most prominent building, El Castillo, is a 17-meter pyramid with a small temple on top. Walk on through the forest to a lagoon, where boats take visitors to an ancient Mayan canal to float with the current.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers who want a quiet Mayan site. The canal float is the highlight, so allow time for both.

19. Hunt for Tulum’s Street Art

You have seen them on Instagram: neon phrases like Follow That Dream glowing in the jungle. These pieces are by artist Olivia Steele, who calls them public displays of awareness, signs that seem to speak to you out of nowhere.

Her signs move or come down over time, so do not plan a day around one. The town itself is the better gallery, with large murals by Mexican and international artists on walls around Avenida Tulum and the side streets.

Verdict: Worth it on a bike ride through town. Join a guided mural tour to learn who painted what.

20. Cook in a Local’s Home

If your idea of a good trip includes meeting the community, there is no better way than being invited into a local home. Cooking classes teach Mayan and Mexican ingredients and methods that are staples in Yucatán kitchens.

Your host guides you through a meal of several courses, which you eat together at the end. Hopefully you will cook it again once you are back home.

Verdict: Worth it for food lovers. Choose a class in a family home over a hotel kitchen.

Travelers short on time can taste their way through town instead. This three-hour local food tour is rated 4.8 from 86 reviews.

21. Do Yoga at Sanara

If yoga is part of your daily routine, Sanara in the hotel zone is one of the best places in Tulum to keep it up. The beachfront hotel, now Sanara Collective, has suites and villas facing the sea.

Its studio holds daily yoga classes with views of the trees and the water. Contact the studio before you go to check whether classes are open to visitors who are not staying.

Verdict: Worth it for a yoga class with a view. Practice is the point here, not a spa day.

22. Snorkel with Sea Turtles at Akumal Bay

Just 28 kilometers north of Tulum, Akumal Bay is one of the most reliable places in Mexico to snorkel with green sea turtles. They graze on the seagrass in shallow water close to the beach.

Touching the turtles is not allowed, and you must stay at least 3 meters away. The shallow area near the shore can be snorkeled on your own, but the deeper seagrass zone requires an authorized guide, and a life vest is mandatory.

Verdict: Worth it, especially in the early morning. Go with a guide, as they know where the turtles feed.

This guided turtle snorkel includes gear and GoPro photos, rated 4.6 from almost 400 reviews.

23. Rent a Bicycle

Many places in Tulum are a short ride apart, so renting a bicycle is a good way to get around. Rental shops are all over town, and most hotels can arrange a bike for you.

Plan your day by area so you can ride from one stop to the next. For example, Cenote Calavera, Cenote Zacil-Ha and Gran Cenote are close to each other on the Cobá road.

Verdict: Worth it, and the cheapest way to see the town, beaches and nearby cenotes.

24. Eat Fresh Seafood

Fresh seafood is an essential part of a visit to Tulum. Thanks to the town’s location on the sea, locals and visitors alike eat well year-round.

El Camello Jr. on the highway through town is a popular, no-frills open-air restaurant. It is known for generous ceviche and fresh shrimp, fish and octopus.

Verdict: Worth it for honest seafood at local prices. Go at lunchtime, as the best dishes sell out.

25. Squeeze in a Workout at Tulum Jungle Gym

Not everyone puts exercise on their list of things to do in Tulum, and we cannot argue with that. But if you want to train, Tulum Jungle Gym is no ordinary gym.

Do not expect concrete walls and machines. You lift hand-carved weights and use equipment made of wood and stone, and the main gym sits in the jungle by the beach.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers who want to keep training on holiday. It is basic, which is the appeal.

26. Go Shopping

Shopping is on most visitors’ lists, and Tulum is full of small shops and boutiques. The beach road is the best place to start, with kaftans, handicrafts and local souvenirs.

The more upmarket shops are further south, toward Boca Paila, where you will find home decor and designer pieces. Expect resort prices in the hotel zone and better value in town.

Verdict: Worth an afternoon of browsing. Compare prices in town before buying the same crafts on the beach road.

27. Enjoy the Nightlife at Gitano Jungle

If you are looking for a fun night in Tulum on a Friday, head to Gitano Jungle. Its Gypsy Disco party is the restaurant’s best-known night, with music, good food and an upbeat crowd.

Partying in the middle of the jungle is exactly what a night at Gitano feels like. The mezcal cocktails are the drinks to order.

Verdict: Worth it for a big night out. It is one of the more expensive evenings in Tulum.

28. Visit Casa Malca

Casa Malca is an art-filled boutique hotel on the beach, owned since 2012 by art dealer Lio Malca. The mansion is reputed to have belonged to Pablo Escobar, a claim that has never been confirmed but still draws curious visitors.

Non-guests can book a table at its Philosophy restaurant, and daytime bookings come with a minimum spend. If you want to take the experience further, stay the night.

Verdict: Worth it for the art and the beach, not the legend. Treat the Escobar story as a story.

29. Cool Down with Frozen Treats

Many things to do in Tulum keep you in the sun, and it takes its toll. Take a break with locally made frozen treats, from ice cream to fruit paletas.

Look for paleterías along Avenida Tulum selling fruit-based paletas with real pieces of mango and kiwi. For something richer, choose a chocolate-dipped one, or better yet, try several.

Verdict: Worth it on every hot afternoon. Paletas in town cost a fraction of the desserts in the hotel zone.

30. Book an Experience with Tulum Art Club

Some of the best things to do in Tulum are not on the usual group tours. Tulum Art Club has supported local and visiting artists since 2011, and it runs workshops and studio visits.

Its four-hour e-bike route through the town’s murals is the easiest way in, with stops at the walls and stories about the artists behind them.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers who want to meet Tulum’s creative community rather than just photograph it.

Getting to and Around Tulum

Tulum International Airport (TQO) opened in December 2023 and has taken international flights since March 2024. American, Delta, United, Spirit and JetBlue fly in from the US, and more routes from Canada and the US start for winter 2026 to 2027.

Most visitors still fly into Cancún (CUN), about 130 kilometers and 1.5 to 2 hours north. ADO buses run from Cancún airport to Tulum in about 2.5 hours for MXN 240 to 280.

The Tren Maya links Cancún airport with Tulum in about 1 hour 45 minutes. Fares for foreign visitors were cut by up to 30% in April 2026.

In Tulum, bikes cover the town, the ruins and the beach road. Colectivo vans on Highway 307 are the cheap way to reach Akumal, Xel-Há and Playa del Carmen, and taxis in the hotel zone are expensive, so agree the fare before you get in.

For routes and prices, see how to get from Cancún to Tulum and how to get from Cozumel to Tulum.

Best Time to Visit Tulum

The best time to visit Tulum is December to April, when the weather is drier and less humid. This is also the busiest and most expensive season.

May to November is hot and humid, with the most rain from September to October and the risk of hurricanes from June to November. Sargassum seaweed usually peaks from April to July, but the 2025 season ran into late November and 2026 started in January.

Climate data: Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN), Tulum station averages. Crowd levels are Universal Traveller’s assessment.

Where to Stay in Tulum

The hotel zone along the beach road is where to stay for the sea, design hotels and restaurants, at the highest prices. The town is cheaper and closer to the bus station and the cenotes on the Cobá road, and Aldea Zama in between has newer apartments and small hotels.

• For design: Azulik, the treehouse-style adults-only resort home to Kin Toh and SFER IK
• For yoga by the sea: Sanara, with beachfront suites and a daily yoga program
• For art: Casa Malca, a beachfront mansion filled with contemporary art
• For the beach road scene: Ahau Tulum, home to Ven a la Luz and close to Tulum Jungle Gym

Suggested 4-Day Tulum Itinerary

• Day 1: the Tulum Ruins at 8:00 and a swim at Playa Ruinas, an afternoon at Playa Paraíso, then dinner at Hartwood
• Day 2: cycle the Cobá road to Gran Cenote, Calavera and Zacil-Ha, with lunch at Burrito Amor and sunset at Kin Toh
• Day 3: a full day in Sian Ka’an with a stop at Muyil and the canal float
• Day 4: Cobá at opening and a climb up Nohoch Mul, then Akumal for the turtles on the way back

With a fifth day, add Dos Ojos for snorkeling or a day trip to Chichén Itzá and Valladolid. For more ideas, see our Tulum itinerary and day trips from Tulum.

More Universal Traveller Guides to Tulum

• The best cenotes in Tulum
• The best restaurants in Tulum
• How to get from Cancún to Tulum
• Tulum Mayan Ruins guide
• Tulum itinerary
• Day trips from Tulum
• The best beach clubs in Tulum
• All Mexico guides

Frequently Asked Questions About Tulum

Disclosure: Universal Traveller earns a commission on bookings made through the GetYourGuide and Booking.com links and widgets in this article, at no extra cost to the reader. Partners have no say in which places are recommended or in the verdicts.

• About the Author
• More info

Tim Kroeger( International Tourism Management Expert )

Tim Kroeger is the founder and editor of Universal Traveller, covering luxury stays and active travel. Based in Bangkok, he draws on 15+ years of travel across 112+ countries, from reviewing luxury hotels to bikepacking through Southeast Asia. He also writes about luxury wellness and longevity travel at tim-kroeger.com, where he developed the Restorative Index.

universal-traveller.com/

Expertises: International Tourism Management, Luxury Travel, Adventure travel, Luxury Bikepacking