Tulum Itinerary: How to Spend 5 Days in Tulum
Tulum is one of the most visited destinations on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. This 5-day Tulum itinerary covers the beach, the Coba and Tulum ruins, Sian Ka’an and the best cenotes, with practical tips for each day.
All photos and text by Isabella Biava
Among all the Mexican Caribbean Coast touristy resorts, Tulum is arguably the trendiest, especially for style-conscious travelers.
From a wild and laid-back fishing village that it was 15 years ago, when I visited for the first time, Tulum has continuously developed and expanded over the years to become what it is today, a would-be eco-friendly destination, popular with wealthy tourists but not only with them.
Unfortunately, the so boldly acclaimed eco-resorts are everything but eco. Beautiful and stylish for sure, I admit I fell too into the Eco-boho-chic trap. But there is nothing Eco about them, if not for the fancy green badge to clean our conscience and appear cool.
Having said that, Tulum has so much to offer both for first-timers and returning guests. It’s always full of surprises, beach parties, great restaurants, and cenotes, reefs and jungle on its doorstep.
I also have good news for you. You don’t necessarily need to be wealthy to enjoy Tulum.
I used to visit Tulum multiple times when I was living in Cancun, and when I later left my job to travel around South America, I always found my way back there for some reason.
It’s a special place indeed, and in this post, I am going to help you figure out the perfect 5-day itinerary, squeezing in the most interesting things to do, including some beach time.
Getting there: Tulum now has its own international airport (TQO), about 30 minutes south of town, and a Tren Maya station. Most international travelers still fly into Cancun, about two hours north by road. Our guide on how to get from Cancun to Tulum compares the options.
Where to stay in Tulum
First of all, you need to decide where to stay. As a digital nomad who temporarily settles in every destination for at least a month, I always choose Airbnb over hotels.
I feel like I have more freedom, and most of all, I feel like I am living like a local with my own home, without the hassle of paying the bills, because everything is already included once you make your reservation on the platform.
I got so used to it that I always check on an Airbnb, even for short stays. It’s just more comfortable.
I have selected the best Airbnbs in Tulum for their decor and location in the best and safest areas of Tulum. You can choose the one that suits you best.
But let’s dig into my suggested itinerary
5-Day Tulum Itinerary
Day 1: Tulum Beach and Beach Clubs
On the first day, I would explore the beach.
If you stay in the beach area, you can just enjoy your hotel or Airbnb facilities and relax. But I would also suggest that you take a long walk and maybe try one of the fancy beach restaurants.
If you are staying in town, you can always join a beach club. Generally, they let you use the beach facilities in exchange for spending a minimum amount at their restaurants.
On the northern side of the beach, closer to the Ruins, the public beaches are now inside Jaguar Park (Parque del Jaguar), which charges foreign visitors an entrance fee of 100 pesos (as of July 2026).
The most popular beach club is Papaya Playa Project, and I also like Villas las Estrellas, Posada Margherita and Nomade. Most of the beach hotels offer this option.
Day 2: Coba Ruins and Cenotes
After a glorious breakfast in your home/hotel or at one of the cool cafes in downtown, it’s time to go for an adventure.
Let’s visit Coba’s archeological site today. A small village about 50 minutes’ drive from Tulum, Coba is best known for its archeological site and Nohoch Mul, at 42 meters one of the tallest Maya pyramids. Climbing reopened via a new wooden staircase, and the last climb of the day is at 3:30 pm (as of 2026).
However, I have a surprise for you.
Besides the Mayan ruins, you will be able to appreciate the refreshing cenotes of Coba. There are three cave cenotes, Choo-Ha, Tamcach-Ha and Multun-Ha, located about a 20-minute drive from the site.
It’s great to keep them for last so you can cool off after a sweaty walk in the jungle.
How to get to Coba
My suggestion is to rent a car and drive, but if you prefer to go by bus it’s possible via ADO, and then you can get a taxi from the ruins to get to the cenotes. But mind that they are not always available.
Day 3: Tulum Ruins and Playa Paraíso
Today I would explore the ruins in Tulum, the only Mayan site built right on the beach. I would suggest you go when they open at 8 am, when it’s not so hot or crowded. The ruins are now part of Jaguar Park: foreign visitors pay 100 pesos for the park plus 165 pesos for the archeological zone (as of July 2026), and last entry is at 3:30 pm. Park in the paid lot near the entrance and take the park shuttle to the ruins.
In fact, once you finish your historical tour, you will be already there to hit the beach.
Playa Paraiso is the stretch of beach that goes from the ruins to the first hotel. It’s a public beach, and you can find some restaurants for your lunch and enjoy the beach for the rest of your day.
If you feel bored, there are cheap one-hour boat tours that take you snorkeling by the reef and then to see the Mayan ruins from the sea, definitely picture-worthy.
Day 4: Sian Ka’an Biosphere and Muyil
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a vast protected area that stretches over more than 5,000 km² south of Tulum.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, Sian Ka’an is home to thousands of species of flora and fauna, and something like 23 archeological sites, one of which is Muyil, accessible from the main road, the Carretera Federal, about 25 km (a 20 to 25 minute drive) south of Tulum.
There are different ways to visit the biosphere, well worth it if you love nature. One is by a regular organized tour, either by jeep or by boat.
The second option, which is my favorite, is by boat via Muyil. There is a path to the lagoon just past the archeological site where official guides will be waiting for you with their boat.
They offer two kinds of tours, the longest one, a full-day tour, will take you by boat through the natural canals among the mangroves. You will then swim in the lazy river and let the current take you to the next stop, where the boat will pick you up and take you along other canals through the coast where the lagoon meets the ocean. Expect to pay roughly 900 pesos per person for the boat and float, plus small park and boardwalk fees (as of late 2025).
It’s a fantastic day in the water, and I suggest you leave it for your last day so that your skin is already used to the sun and you don’t get burnt. However, I recommend using an reef-safe sunscreen.
Day 5: One More Cenote on the Way Out
This is your last day in Tulum before setting off for your next destination.
In the morning, before leaving, you can either bask in the sun and relax, or you can use your time to check out another cenote. There are so many good cenotes in the area.
I would choose one depending on which direction you are going, assuming that you have your own car, of course. And that’s why I always recommend renting a car in Mexico, to have the freedom to move around as you please.
If you go to Bacalar next, you might want to check out Cenote Corazon. A beautiful open heart-shaped cenote. Hence the name “Corazon,” “heart” in Spanish. It’s located on the road Tulum-Chetumal, right before Muyil, about 15 minutes drive from Tulum downtown.
If you are driving towards Valladolid, you can check out the Gran Cenote (500 pesos as of 2026), a little too expensive, in my opinion, but it’s a beautiful and very well-known semi-open cenote.
If you are heading towards Cancun, don’t skip Cenote Taak Bi Ha, a cave cenote next to Cenote Dos Ojos with crystal clear water.
With this itinerary, I just wanted to offer an idea of what 5 days in Tulum could be like and what I would do if I had such limited time. Options are endless, though, and it’s really up to you.
Traveling style is so personal, and there is no right or wrong. You can even spend the 5 days on the beach sipping Margaritas, and it’s fine, although you would be missing a lot.
Either way, I am sure you’ll have a blast.
Tulum Top Places
Here below, I am leaving you a list of my favorite places to hang out.
Trendiest restaurant on the beach: Hartwood
Best vegan restaurant: La Hoja Verde (downtown) and the restaurant at Sanará (beach zone)
Best meat restaurant: El Asadero (downtown)
Best Mexican gourmet restaurant: Cenzontle (beach road)
Best cafe in town: Botanica Garden Cafe (downtown)
Best coffee in town: Ki’bok
Best burritos: Burrito Amor (more in our guide to the best Tulum restaurants)
Cool healthy restaurant: Raw Love (on the beach at Ahau Tulum, check it is open before you go)
Top luxury hotel: Be Tulum (now BE Destination Tulum)
Coolest hotel: Nomade Tulum
Most elegant hotel: Casa Malca
Vegan and organic grocery store: Gypsea Market
Best bakery: Gypsea Market and Italdo
More Tulum Guides
- Best things to do in Tulum
- The best Tulum restaurants
- The best cenotes in Tulum
- Gran Cenote: entrance fee, turtles and how to visit
- Cenote Dos Ojos: entrance fee, diving and how to visit
- Mayan ruins near Tulum
- Day trips from Tulum
- How to get from Cancun to Tulum
- About the Author
- More info
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.
