I've Been Visiting Tulum for Nearly 10 Years — Here Are the Best Things to Do in the Mexican Town

Hit the beach.

Whether it’s your first visit to Tulum or you’ve been more times than you can count, the first stop should be the beach. The beaches of Tulum are what put the destination on the tourist map to begin with. These long, meandering stretches of stark white sand set the scene for dreamy color palettes of crystalline blues, jungle greens, and earthy clay and wood. It’s easy to see why the beaches here laid the foundation for Mexico’s current luxury aesthetic. Playa Paraiso is the main beach in Tulum, but seeing as one sandy stretch rolls into the next, it’s impossible to pick a bad spot.

Walk (or cycle) downtown.

While the beach is what draws visitors to Tulum, the town is what keeps them coming back. Tulum Centro is a buzzy, creative, colorful destination packed with fantastic restaurants, nightlife, boutiques, and art. One of the best ways to explore downtown is on two wheels, and many nearby hotels offer rentals or complimentary bikes as part of their perks. The oldest section of Tulum can be found along Highway 307, now lined with popular bars and restaurants. Sections like La Veleta and Aldea are newer and dominated by luxury-style apartments, restaurants, and boutiques. 

Book a beach club.

All beaches in Mexico are public and you're welcome to bring everything you need for the day. Tulum, however, has a lengthy list of well-equipped beach clubs that provide everything from towels and cold drinks to elaborate menus, oceanfront pools, Bali beds, and sceney parties.

Everyone's favorite is Papaya Playa Project, one of the original beach clubs that began well before Tulum was the international superstar destination it is today. Papaya Playa Project sits within a sustainable boutique hotel right on the sand, blending jungle vibes with funky decor. The best way to experience this beach club is to book a room so you can be immersed in the experience.

Taboo is another dreamscape of a beach club, with an infinity pool that overlooks the Caribbean Sea and a crown of fluffy, cloud-like daybeds. The menu here offers a mix of Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine, as well as fresh sushi. Reservations are a must, particularly if you're visiting during the high season.

Partake in water sports.

The sea may be too calm for surfing, but there are plenty of water-based adventures for travelers who like to be active. Tulum's beaches can be notoriously windy, but for kitesurfers, it's an absolute dream. A quick stroll along the beach will reveal a wealth of operators who are eager to take visitors out to tackle their first wave. On calmer days, you'll find the water teeming with kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and Jet Skis.

Climb Coba.

Everyone — and we mean everyone — comes to Tulum to visit the iconic oceanfront ruins. These are spectacular, without a doubt, but are often swarmed with tourists. For something a bit different and more low-key, head into the jungle to see the ruins at Coba. Not only is Coba an impressive archaeological site, but you can also climb its main pyramid for a gorgeous jungle view.

Coba is believed to be one of the most important sites of the Mayan world, where visitors can still see an impressive network of raised roads. Most people come to Coba to climb its main pyramid, which is 138 feet tall with 120 steps. Be sure to wear shoes with a good grip, as the stones can be quite slippery. The view from the top is certainly worth the effort.

Swim in a cenote.

Exploring a cenote is not just one of the best things to do in Tulum, but in Mexico overall. Fortunately, Tulum is surrounded by spectacular cenotes. The entire Yucatan Peninsula is built on porous limestone, which has a network of underground rivers. Where the limestone bedrock has collapsed, it has left natural caverns or sinkholes, called cenotes. The Maya people believed cenotes to be the entrance to the underworld, and it's easy to see why — they're dark, mysterious, and otherworldly. Draped with hanging vines, pierced with sunlight beams from openings to the sky, and hushed with stony silence, these natural wonders are a must-visit in Tulum.

Visit the Azulik Uh May.

Tulum has long been a center for creatives, who come to be inspired by the natural landscape and earthly energy. Azulik Uh May, also known as the City of Arts, is a jungle-shrouded museum just outside Tulum. This creative project, tucked deep within the Mayan jungle, is packed with sculptures and artwork. The space is dedicated to sustainability and eco-conscious design, with the goal of a zero-carbon footprint. It's the brainchild of Eduardo Neira, a.k.a. Roth, who is also the founder of the nearby Azulik resort. 

Visitors to Azulik Uh May can break the barrier between themselves and the art by creating as well. The community has many workshops and exhibitions that call for viewer participation. Learn ceramics and macramé, sculpture, architecture, and even alchemic dining. This is one space that flies below the radar in Tulum, but should not be missed.

Explore the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

Tulum may have lost that off-the-grid vibe years ago, but you can still find it tucked within the jungle and on the sparkling beaches of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Less than an hour south of Tulum, this protected area spans 1.3 million acres of untouched natural beauty. Hire a guide for the most comprehensive experience, which can often lead to castaway-style beaches, or join a boat ride to cross an idyllic lagoon teeming with dolphins and turtles.

Check out the Muyil ruins.

While visiting the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, you may want to stop at the Muyil ruins (also known as Chunyaxché). Tucked in the northwestern corner of the reserve, these small ruins are easily navigable and often devoid of visitors. One of the earliest settlements on the Caribbean coast, only a handful of the Muyil buildings have been excavated. It was once an important stop on maritime trade routes, and visitors can still travel the ancient canal systems dug up by the Maya through the lagoon to reach the sea. Its main pyramid, El Castillo, is 57 feet high and one of the tallest coastal pyramids in Mexico. 

Make your way to Laguna de Kaan Luum.

Laguna de Kaan Luum, a secret among locals, is an open-air freshwater cenote located a quick drive from Tulum town. Brace yourself for some intoxicating shades of blue and the sounds of wind rustling through the surrounding mangrove forests. 

For full transparency, the lagoon is not completely off the tourist radar. It does have a cost of admission, as well as a price to rent equipment like paddleboards and kayaks. But with that cost of admission comes facilities like palapa-topped umbrellas, restrooms, and small cantinas to buy snacks. Remember to bring cash and leave the sunscreen at home, as the lagoon has a strict no-sunscreen policy to help preserve the wildlife.

Punta Allen

You can still chase that barefoot, sleepy fishing village vibe in one of the many smaller towns surrounding Tulum, including Punta Allen. Unspoiled by the masses, Punta Allen moves at a snail's pace and has retained its original roots. 

One of the reasons it has remained relatively untouched is because it's somewhat hard to reach. It's only 35 miles south of Tulum, but don't underestimate the road — it's better to have a vehicle that can handle some rough terrain. The other option is to take a boat from the Sian Ka'an visitor center south of Tulum's Hotel Zone. 

Once you're there, however, you'll feel as though you've stepped back in time — sandy streets, questionable electricity, and coffee shops without Wi-Fi. This is where people go to escape the fray, disconnect, and listen to the waves with their toes in the sand.

Get PADI certified.

Tulum is one of the best places in Mexico to get PADI certified. With warm water year-round and a quick speedboat trip out to the second-largest barrier reef system in the world, Tulum is an international diving hot spot. Be prepared to see turtles, lobsters, eels, reef fish, and a whale shark or two if it's the right season. You can dive inland as well, in the many cenotes, which set the scene for subterranean cavern dives. 

The best time to dive in Tulum is between May and November. For whale sharks, June through September is peak season.

Snorkel Yal-Ku lagoon.

Of course, you don't need to commit to diving to enjoy Tulum's underwater treasures. Snorkeling is just as rewarding in the warm, crystal-clear water. One of the best spots for snorkeling in Tulum is the Yal-Ku lagoon. Located north of Tulum, near the village of Akumal, Yal-Ku is a brackish ecosystem brimming with tropical fish. There is an admission fee, but the lagoon comes with services like restrooms, showers, and life jacket rentals. Visitors can also access the lagoon through the Xcaret theme park, which has a higher admission, but access to a restaurant.

Take a day trip to Mahahual or Bacalar.

For years, Tulum was the last stop for most travelers venturing down the coast of Quintana Roo. But now more than ever, visitors are pushing further south to explore other breezy, beachy gems along the Mexican Caribbean. Bacalar and Mahahual are two popular stops for travelers. These sun-kissed destinations are equidistant from Tulum, but each offers its own vibe.

Bacalar is a small Pueblo Mágico overlooking a giant freshwater lagoon. Known for its eco-chic accommodations, nonmotorized water sports, and laid-back lake clubs, it's one of the region's fastest-growing destinations. On the sea-facing side, Mahahual is a no-frills town with a string of beach bars and restaurants plus small hotels and guesthouses.

With the opening of Tulum's new airport, these areas are about to see a big uptick in tourism, so your best bet is to go now before they get too popular.

Experience Mystika Immersive.

At its core, Tulum is a center for the arts — a haven for the quirky and offbeat. Get back to Tulum's roots at Mystika Immersive. This sensory museum experience takes travelers on an adventure through Mayan cosmology. The venue brings visitors across Mexico to experience its natural and indigenous wonders using large-format photography and multisensory installations. Discover the monarch butterfly migration in Michoacán, the firefly sanctuary in Tlaxcala, and the Mayan ruins around the Yucatan — all from the museum’s 360-degree dome and exhibition halls.

Have a wellness encounter.

With so much creative energy and natural beauty surrounding Tulum, it's no wonder the destination has become an epicenter for wellness and spirituality. From luxury spas and beachfront yoga to cacao rituals, sound baths, reiki, and energy healing, Tulum has every wellness service imaginable — and probably a few you've never heard of, too.