Tulum Travel Guide
Tulum was one of my favorite travel destinations. From its picturesque beaches and cenotes to the lively nightlife and extravagant dining experiences, Tulum has everything you can ask for on your next adventure! Follow along for the ultimate Tulum travel guide.
Where To Stay
On our trip to Tulum we stayed in a boutique resort near downtown Tulum called Kan Tulum. I cannot speak highly enough about this resort. This was the most beautiful and my all-time favorite hotel I've stayed at. The staff, architecture, and food were absolutely phenomenal. The hotel is nestled in the jungle of Tulum. At the resort, they do have a restaurant, speakeasy bar, spa, boutique store, pool, and its very own cenote. The staff was so helpful with booking us tours, taxi rides, car rentals, and giving us recommendations in the area. Kan is located in La Veleta which is the area in between downtown and the hotel zone. We did rent a car and it took us approximately 8 minutes to get to the closest beach.
The hotel zone is the area of Tulum where most tourists decide to stay; however, it is the most expensive. The downtown area of Tulum is much cheaper but not as close to the beach (approximately 10-15 minutes). I enjoyed both areas of Tulum which is why I felt Kan to be in the perfect location in between both downtown and the hotel zone.
One thing to keep in mind is that this is not an all-inclusive so all food and drinks you do have to pay for separately. I personally do not recommend staying at an all-inclusive in Tulum. I felt extremely safe in Tulum and highly recommend you leave the resort to explore the city. There are so many amazing restaurants, beach clubs, and shops to explore in Tulum. You would be truly missing out by not exploring Tulum off the resort.
Transportation
There's different ways to get around Tulum. My recommendation is to rent a car. It's reasonably priced and much cheaper than relying on taxis. We made the mistake of relying on taxis only and taxis can be extremely expensive ranging from $40-60 USD for a 10 minute drive. Our car rental for 6 days was around $300 total which we set up with our hotel. I highly recommend this to get around Tulum and if you plan to visit any Mayan Ruins while you're there. Bikes, scooters, and ATVs are also an option. They typically recommend scooters and ATVs only if you are an experienced driver.
Where to Eat
Fine Dining:
1. Ilios Greek Estiatorio: This was my all-time favorite dining experience. The food, fire show, and service were amazing. Ilios brings a Greek flair to Tulum. I highly recommend making a reservation around 7 or 8 pm for the fire show at 9 pm (only on specific days of the week). Ilios is definitely on the pricier end; however, this is a place you have to experience if you're going to Tulum.
2. Mot Mot: Located at Kan Tulum resort, this restaurant had some of the best food we tried in Tulum. The chef is from Mexico City and creates some of the most amazing authentic Mexican dishes. You can visit the speakeasy downstairs to try their famous mezcalitas.
3. Chambao Tulum: the best steakhouse and seafood restaurant in Tulum. This restaurant offers a bohemian chic charm with a live DJ and exclusive cocktails and food.
Beach Dining:
1. Gitano Tulum: There is both Gitano Beach Club and Gitano Restaurant/Bar. I highly recommend both. The DJ plays mostly EDM/80s Disco. Gitano has such a fun atmosphere and the food/drinks are amazing!
2. Mezzanine Thai Restaurant: We did the floating breakfast as well as lunch. I would not skip the floating breakfast at this restaurant. The floating breakfast was a continental American-style breakfast with pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, coffee, and mimosas. This was one of my favorite days on the trip. Booking a floating breakfast gives you access to their beach lounges all day. For lunch, we tried the Thai food, and I highly recommend trying the Thai-inspired cocktails.
3. La Buena Vida: A beachfront restaurant located outside of Tulum at Akumal Beach. One of our favorite spots! We ended up going twice. The prices are cheap since you are out of the touristy areas of Tulum and the shopping area/beach is beautiful. Definitely a must do!
4. Taboo Beach Club: This is a super popular beach club but also had some of the BEST food we ate the entire trip! It is definitely on the pricier end but an absolute must while you're in Tulum.
Nightlife
Hotel Zone
1. Gitano Tulum: 80s disco jungle themed restaurant/bar
2. Vagalume: EDM jungle themed beach bar
3. Ilio's: (peek at fine dining for more info!)
4. Taboo: (peek at beach dining for more info!)
5. Casa Jaguar
6. Bonbonniere
7. Others that I was recommended to visit but did not get the chance to include Papaya Playa Project, Kin Toh, Bagatelle, etc.
La Veleta
1. MotMot: Neon papaya themed speakeasy at Kan Tulum with some of the best cocktails.
2. Raum: More of a local spot in Tulum but one of my favorites!
Akumal Beach
1. La Buena Vida: beautiful beach bar in Akumal if you want to escape the business of Tulum. Cheap drinks and amazing food!
Must Do's/Activities:
1. Explore the Cenotes
My favorite cenote to visit was Gran Cenote. The scenery was so beautiful and you can swim with turtles/fish in these turquoise waters.
Some other cenotes to visit include:
Cenote Azul: this was such a pretty cenote with beautiful greenery and great cliff jumping spots!
Cenote Ik Kil: located close to Chichen Itza and filled with so many unique fish!
2. Visit Chichen Itza
This was one of my favorite experiences of the trip! We rented a car and drove about 2 hours ourselves to get here but you can also book a tour guide! The Mayan Ruins are a must do while in Tulum and definitely make your way over to Cenote Ik Kil afterwards.
3. Floating Breakfast at Mezzanine
One of a kind experience in Tulum! Take a look at Beach Dining for more information!
4. Visit the famous Beach Clubs
There are tons of beach clubs to pick from in Tulum whether you want more of a chill atmosphere or party vibes. My favorites were Gitano Beach, Taboo, and Mezzanine! Gitano Beach and Taboo had more of an upbeat/party vibe while the Mezzanine was more of a relaxed atmosphere. Others I was recommended to visit were Papaya Playa Project, Bagatelle, La Zebra, Be Tulum.
Travel Tips
1. There are a ton of tourist traps in Tulum so be cautious and make sure to bargain with taxi drivers because they will try to scam you.
2. Rent a car to save on taxi rides! It’s much cheaper to do so especially if you plan to go off your resort.
3. Don’t just stay on the resort. Explore off the resort you stay at! There are so many amazing areas of Tulum. I felt super safe everywhere we went!
The home for unique & authentic travel
