Tulum is a boho-chic-lover’s paradise. The town is located on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Part beach, part jungle, there really is something for everyone. This is the ultimate Tulum travel guide to top attractions and photo spots. I’ve listed all my favorites with lots of photos to help you plan your getaway!
Where To Stay In Tulum
When looking for hotels in Tulum, we considered 2 locations: Tulum beach or Tulum town.
Tulum Beach is boho-chic heaven. The beach is dotted with upscale hotels, restaurants, bars, gelaterias, beach clubs, and spas. Hotels are luxurious.
Tulum Town is a 20 minute taxi-ride from Tulum beach. Hotels and restaurants tend to be more affordable. Grocery stores and banks are easier to access. You’ll experience a more authentic Tulum vibe here.
We wanted a unique stay that was centrally located and affordable. We stayed at the beautiful Radhoo on Tulum beach. The Radhoo suites feature unique net hammocks high above the Mayan jungle. You can read about all my hotel recs and my Radhoo experience on my full Tulum Hotel Guide blog post.
Best Time to Travel to Tulum
Tulum has tropical and sunny weather all year round. The best time to visit Tulum is between October and late November to avoid the rainy season and hotter summer months. This is also considered the low tourist season, while December – April is considered peak season. We went during November and the weather was a perfect 84°F with very little crowds. We saw light showers that lasted 15-20 minutes on 2 out of the 8 days.
How to get to Tulum
FLY INTO CANCUN. The best way to get to Tulum is to fly into Cancun airport and take a 1.5 hour taxi to Tulum.
TAXI TO TULUM: We prebooked a one-way transfer from USA Transfers for $100USD. If you don’t want to prebook, there are plenty of taxi drivers available for hire at the airport.
BUS TO TULUM: the ADO buses at Cancun airport are another option and are a fraction of the cost of a taxi
Know before you go
GETTING AROUND TULUM: On Tulum beach, you can easily walk or bike the entire stretch. For farther transfers like going into Tulum town and the cenotes, we opted for taxis. Taxis are abundantly available to hail throughout Tulum. A typical ride from the town to beach costs anywhere between 150 – 300 Pesos ($7 – 15 USD) depending on the time of day. Renting a car is also an option, especially if you plan on making multiple far excursions.
CURRENCY: Mexican Pesos
CASH vs CREDIT CARDS: Most establishments on Tulum beach accept credit cards but a few places are still cash only. Taxis are cash only, as are entrance fees to cenotes and ruins. So it’s a good idea to have cash on hand. There are numerous currency exchanges in Tulum town. The town offers better conversion rate than the airport based on our experience.
Related Blog Posts
Top 20 Attractions in Tulum
- 1. Ahau Tulum
- 2. Casa Malca
- 3. Mia Beach Club Tulum
- 4. Azulik Nests and Kin Toh Dining
- 5. Azulik Museum
- 6. Tulum Beach
- 7. Coco Beach Tulum
- 8. Cenote Calavera
- 9. Follow the Dream sign at Lolita Lolita
- 10. Matcha Mama
- 11. Orchid House Tulum
- 12. i Scream Bar
- 13. Kanan Tulum
- 14. Cenote Suytun
- 15. Funky Geisha
- 16. Radhoo
- 17. Boutique Shops
- 18. Valladolid
- 19. Macondo at Nomade
- 20. Bal Nak'
Top 20 Attractions in Tulum
From trendy beach clubs to Maya ruins, there is an endless list of things to see and do in Tulum. I’m listing our absolute favorites things you need to add to your itinerary!
⭐ As always I’m linking my entire trip on my Instagram highlights.
1. Ahau Tulum
The Ven a la Luz statue stands tall at the Ahau Tulum villas. It means “come into the light” and symbolizes the importance of cultivating a deep connection with nature. The structure is free to visit, but there is usually a long line to take the popular photo. Head through the structure to enter the Ahau resort.
Grab a fresh açai bowl at their smoothie bar Raw Love or a cocktail at the beach bar and take in the gorgeous beach views
2. Casa Malca
Can you believe these are wedding dressing hanging from the curtain rod?!
This is Pablo Escobar’s mansion. The wedding dress swing is hidden deep inside the Casa Malca grounds. But it’s so worth seeking out! You can dine at their restaurant and explore the resort grounds.
There are multiple gems around the Casa Malca grounds, including an outdoor bathtub and an indoor chandelier room.
3. Mia Beach Club Tulum
Grab a day bed (or an onion like mine pictured below) and spend the morning in style at Mia Beach Club. Mia is located within hotel Selina.
4. Azulik Nests and Kin Toh Dining
Imagine having front row seats to the sun setting over the Mayan Jungle. You can experience this in your own private nest at Azulik.
The Azulik resort and villas are designed to connect guests with nature. There is no electricity, television, not air conditioning. You walk barefoot to feel the earth under you. The nests are part of Kin Toh, one of the many dining experiences on the property.
Each rooftop nest rental ranges between $350USD – $800USD for the evening, with an additional minimum meal consumption. It’s definitely a splurge. They also have “lounge” nests under the roof with net hammocks, which also have a reservation fee.
If you dine during lunch hours, there is no additional cost for the lounge nests. They are first-come first-serve with a minimum meal consumption per person. You can kindly request to tour the rooftop nests as well
5. Azulik Museum
The Azulik Museum is next door to the Azulik resort and is free to visit. It is a place of art and architecture. Powerful words are written at the entrance that embody the Azulik way of life: “Maybe one day, we will be able to spend the night dancing in the museum, not like a night club, but as a spiritual place where we can receive and radiate energy through our spiritual body.” Cameras are not allowed here.
6. Tulum Beach
Tulum beach needs no introduction. The white sand, blue water, and warm Caribbean air is one the many reasons people flock to Tulum. You can easily walk the stretch of the beach and explore the hotels and beach clubs along it. You’ll stumble across numerous establishments offering massages, cocktails, and smoothies.
7. Coco Beach Tulum
Coco Tulum is a boutique hotel on Tulum beach. It’s the perfect place to soak in the beach vibes. Grab a mezcal cocktail at Coco Beach Bar, a swing, and let the warm Caribbean air wash over you.
8. Cenote Calavera
Cenotes are natural sinkholes in the Yucatan region. They’re filled with fresh water and are considered sacred by the Mayans. There are numerous cenotes around Tulum. Cenote Calavera is one of the lesser known ones and one of the closest to Tulum town. Cenote Calavera is open 7 days a week from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and costs 100 pesos per person to get in. There is an additional cost to bring in a professional camera and drone.
9. Follow the Dream sign at Lolita Lolita
This popular photo spot on Tulum beach is located in front of the Lolita Lolita boutique.
10. Matcha Mama
Matcha Mama makes some seriously delicious smoothie bowls and matcha creations. We tried numerous smoothies on our trip and this was amongst the top: it was abundant in fresh fruit, not overly icy, and fairly priced. They also sell fresh coconuts for 40 pesos!
11. Orchid House Tulum
Orchid House Tulum is a 10 bedroom boutique hotel with a restaurant and rooftop nest. The hotel is a quiet getaway from the Tulum beach. The swim-up bar serves a wide array of tropical cocktails and smoothies and offer an extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu.
Orchid House rooftop nests offers a unique multi-course dining experience while overlooking the lush Mayan jungle!
12. i Scream Bar
Ice cream bar at day, raging outdoor club at night, iScream bar has something for everyone! Their ice creams are vegan, organic, and dairy free.
13. Kanan Tulum
Kanan is a luxury adults-only eco-friendly beach resort, beach club, and spa. It’s located on Tulum beach. They offer ocean-front dining, a swim-up bar, and nest dining! The vibe is fun and it’s definitely a place to be seen.
14. Cenote Suytun
Cenote Suytun is one of the most magical cenotes in the Yucatan area. It is a 1.5 hour drive from Tulum town. The Mayans performed rituals in cenotes to ask for rain and good crops. The best way to get here is by car. We rented a taxi for the day. We visited soon after the rainy season and hence, the cenote was flooded. During low tide, the water is well below the platform.
15. Funky Geisha
Tulum beach is dotted with amazing restaurants, and Funky Geisha is one of them. They offer a fusion menu featuring Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese flavors and they nail it! The restaurant seating is fun and their cocktail program is not to be missed!
16. Radhoo
The Radhoo Tulum Hotel is nestled in the heart of Tulum beach. It’s surrounded by the lush Mayan jungle on one side. We stayed in the Radhoo Suite, which boast net hammocks hanging above the forest offering breathtaking views. You can read more on my ultimate Tulum travel guide to hotels and Radhoo blog post. They also have a bar serving drinks and cocktails.
17. Boutique Shops
Tulum beach and town are both great places to shop for boho-chic decor, hats, bags, and clothes. There are numerous boutique shops selling unique handmade pieces, like these dream catchers.
18. Valladolid
Valladolid is a colonial town with an ancient history. It is a 1.5 hour drive from Tulum town, making it the perfect day trip. We hired a taxi for the day to take us here. The town center is filled with colorful buildings, cathedrals, and cafes.
19. Macondo at Nomade
Fancy a quick trip to Morocco? Dine at Macondo. Restaurant Macondo is located within the Nomade resort grounds and offers an extensive plant-based food and beverage menu. The seating is low moroccan-style. Nomade also has an open-air beach-front restaurant called the Popular.
20. Bal Nak’
Bal Nak’ is an open-air cocktail bar and restaurant. They have one of the best drink deals on Tulum beach: 2-for-1 cocktails! We discovered this cocktail bar on our very last day and had some of the BEST cocktails of our trip here. They have a full dinner menu as well as swoon-worthy candle-lit dining areas within lush palm trees.
Tulum will always have a special place in our hearts. We hope this ultimate Tulum travel guide to top attractions and photo spots helps you in planning your trip!
If you have any questions, leave a comment below or message me on Instagram @croissantsandcaviar!
Thanks for stopping by!
Shway
4 comments
Wonderful pictures ????????????????
What do you use to take??
Drone/Tripod?
Thank you! Both! Drone for some and tripod for others 🙂
Do you remember how much it cost to rent a taxi for your Valladolid day trip?