Tulum, located on Mexico's Caribbean coastline, is renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters and bohemian charm. Once a small fishing village, it's evolved into one of the most desired destinations in Mexico, still retaining it's laid-back, eco-conscious vibe!
It's the perfect place for relaxation, culture and adventure with no shortage of things to do in and around Tulum, whether it's visiting ancient Mayan Ruins, swimming in Cenotes, in the ocean with turtles and sting rays or dancing or dining at world famous boho beach clubs. It honestly has something for everyone - read on to find out my best hot tips and the best places to stay and eat are, not to mention the best activities to indulge in!!
Start by Flying to Cancun International Airport (CUN). It's about 1.5 hours drive from the airport to Tulum.
I suggest getting the heck out of Cancun as fast as possible -it's super touristy and very Americanised. So hop in a shuttle, grab a taxi, rent a car or get the Bus straight from the airport.
By Car:
If you're hiring a car, simply take the Highway 307 South. It's super straightforward, and you'll be cruising along the coast in no time. More importantly - it's very safe to self drive this road.
By Bus:
ADO buses are the amazing bus company that will get you almost anywhere in Mexico and you can catch a bus to Tulum from major cities, for example Cancun, Bacalar or anywhere in between. Super safe, comfortable and clean, these buses come with air conditioning, and USB power points at each seat. -Frankly they're my top choice for how to get around and offer more leg room and usually offer a more comfortable ride than shuttles.
Buses can sell out in advance so book online before you head to the station. I always book my tickets securely online via Bus Bud (I recommend downloading the app so it's easy on the go and you can check bus times) :
Sit towards the front, ideally in the first 2 rows if they're available = away from any toilet smells and close to the driver so you can ask him something if you need to. Sitting near to the driver and towards the front also deters any pickpocketing. On night buses, it's an idea to lock your backpack or hand luggage with a travel lock and keep it by your feet with your feet through the straps, rather than on the overhead shelf - particularly if the bus has several stops and you intend to sleep. I've travelled on public buses through places like India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and of course - Mexico, using this tactic and I've had zero problems and felt very safe :)
What could be more beautiful than a hotel situated over a natural Cenote pool??!
Situated just 200 metres walk from South Tulum Beach, Hotel Shibari - Restaurant & Cenote Club features beautifully designed accommodation with a stunning outdoor swimming pool, cenote, huge spa area hot-tub, day beds, terrace, free private parking, a fitness centre and a beautiful garden.
Among the amazing facilities at this property are a delicious restaurant, bar, room service, 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi throughout the property.
All rooms are air-conditioned rooms and have a coffee machine, minibar, a safety deposit box, flat-screen TV, a balcony and a private bathroom with shower and guests can enjoy a continental breakfast.
This is truly one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen and if you can afford it - don't hesitate!
An absolutely stunningly designed hotel, Muaré is an adult-only luxury. Each room has A/C, a minibar, healthy snacks, 24th security, and room service.
They are only 5 mins away from the sea, and 10mins away from the Archeological Sites and Natural Cenotes.
The hotel has a delicious Signature Cuisine restaurant, a Mixology bar, and a temperature-adjusted pool so you'll never be too hot or too cold in it no matter the time of year!
They also have a beautiful Healing Center offering a therapeutic ice baths, jacuzzi, steam room, and massages - which I thoroughly recommend!
Every room has a private garden with hot or cold plunge pool, and on request, some rooms have hammocks.
The hotel is Pet Friendly, and four-legged guest can feel as welcomed and pampered as their owners, though charges may apply.
Staying here is a dream so if it's in budget don't hesitate to make it yours!
Set in an amazing central location in Tulum and just 3km from Tulum Archeological Site, Botånica Tulum offers stylish accommodation with a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a terrace. It really is set in a prime location in the Tulum City Centre district, and also features a really nice bar.
Every room has air conditioning and a safety deposit box and an à la carte, vegetarian or vegan breakfast can be enjoyed at the property.
It also offers dorms for solo travellers and has a great social friendly vibe.
This hotel is stunningly designed but it's the staff that make it that bit extra special. Super helpful and friendly, they create a really nice vibe for guests. When entering the property it feels like you're walking into a rainforest, it's beautifully decorated and the Cenote-like pool is gorgeous. There’s also a bar so you can get your morning coffee from so you can take it back to your room and drink it at your leisure on your terrace.
Attractively situated in the La Veleta district, this hotel provides a bar, private parking, a garden and a lovely terrace along with their pool. All rooms are air-conditioned and come with a lovely pool or garden view, desk, fridge, private bathroom with hairdryer, and free WiFi.
The area is popular for cycling, and car hire is available at Hotel Boutique TerraNova.
It's a gorgeous accommodation and the staff really make it.
Trece Lunas Tulum - Enchanted Resort provides rooms with air conditioning and a private bathroom, and with a pool, sun terrace and peaceful inner courtyard this accommodation creates a sense of serene relaxation. The boutique resort features a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi is available throughout the property.
Some of the units feature a cable flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, and an ensuite complete with a shower and a hair dryer.
Barbecue facilities are also included and guests can relax in the garden or enjoy a picnic in the picnic area. It's a really beautiful venue.
Set on the outskirts of Tulum in the heart of the jungle and near to Parque Dos Ojos, this is a little haven for tranquility and a mind & body reset, surrounded by beautiful cenotes and nature.
They offer an experiential stay where you can disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with your inner self.
Included in your stay is a Temezcal experience, American breakfast, free bicycles so you can get to other parts of Tulum, and of course wifi, pool etc.
The rooms are stunningly designed as are the whole boutique hotel and at an affordable price this is easily one of the best places to stay if you want to truly relax and feel at peace.
This place is situated in a great location in the heart of Tulum Centro - right in the action for the best restaurants, bars and shops in central Tulum.
Casa Toloc Tulum has free WiFi, and a kitchen with a stovetop, minibar and kitchenware. There is a private entrance at the aparthotel for the convenience of those who stay and all rooms are air-conditioned and offer a desk, coffee machine, microwave, fridge, safety deposit box, flat-screen TV, a terrace and a private bathroom with shower.
It's a great simple and clean place to stay during your time in Tulum and they have free bicycles which makes it super easy to get around Tulum and out to the beach areas!
Mayan Monkey Tulum is honestly one of the best hostels I've ever stayed in.
It's super sociable and friendly, and the design of the hostel is also amazing - it has incredibly clean facilities, air conditioned rooms/dorms with spacious ensuite bathrooms facilities, mirrors and lockers.
The Pool is large and very clean and honestly so welcome in the heat of the day. They have an air-conditioned co-working area which looks out onto a larger outdoor social area with comfy seating. It's actually semi-outside because although ground level, it's covered at the top floor level so it feels expansive and spacious but it's also protected for weather - you feel like you're almost in an outdoor living area/garden.
Mayan Monkey has daily activities to get to know other guests, including things like yoga, cooking, meet and greets. And not only do they have a great restaurant and bar but they also have a kitchen you can use, and unlimited filtered water for guests. They also provide guests with towels, have bicycle rental on site, and laundry on site which makes life so easy and simple.
What's cool about this hostel is you can make what you want of it, sit in the bar/pool area and enjoy the DJ music and get in the mood to head out dancing, or sit in the inner sanctum of the chill area near the rooms and enjoy the peace and quiet.
I absolutely recommend this hostel and would not hesitate to stay here again. It's also a short walk from a large proper supermarket so if you are wanting to cook your own food it's super easy to pick up supplies! Likewise, directly opposite it are restaurants and cafes so you can easily pick up a bite or a morning latte!
If you prefer to stay in the thick of things, Che is set one street behind the main street in Central Tulum. A street with lots of bars, restaurants and shops. It's a social hostel and can be a little more noisy without the benefit of quiet areas set away from the main pool area but it does have a nice co-working space.
Each bedroom has been modelled to offer natural lighting and features private bathrooms, A/C, Wi-Fi and large lockers. It also has a modern fully equipped kitchen, a 24-hour front desk and a tour desk is also available at the hostel.
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For Groups (of up to 16 people) - Private Villa:
Casa Halo | Luxury Vacation Villa in Tulum | Nearby Beach
If you're travelling in a group this is the most idyllic cool accommodation venue you could ask for.
This properties features include private pool, gorgeous terrace, Sonos Speakers and DJ area, free private parking, and free WiFi.
Guests can also head outside to enjoy the villa's outdoor fireplace or simply kick back and relax.
The spacious villa comes with 6 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, oven, washing machine, microwave and a toaster. There is also a gorgeous seating area and fireplace.
It's the perfect spot to spend time with a group of friends or family for a truly unforgettable stay.
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What To Do:
The 3 best things to do in Tulum, aside from soaking up the famous bohemian wellness vibes, are:
- A guided tour of the Tulum Mayan fortress - the only Mayan ruin complex built overlooking the sea!
The site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The ruins are situated on 12-meter-tall (39 ft) cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya and achieved its greatest prominence between the 13th and 15th centuries. Maya continued to occupy Tulum for about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico, but the city was abandoned by the end of the 16th century. Tulum is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, and today a popular site for tourists.
To get the most out of visiting this site and bring it to life I really suggest you get a guide.
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- Swim in mystical ancient Cenotes - natural pools that Mayans believed were a spiritual entry to the paradise of the underworld!
- Snorkel with sting rays and sea turtles!!
Tulum Mayan Ruins:
It's not essential to get a guide but I highly recommend it, it turns a heap of ruins into a super interesting look into ancient tribal history. You can turn up and get a guide at the entrance, but your experience will only be as good as your guide so I suggest going with word of mouth recommendations from your accommodation or combining several Must Do activities with these tours:
If you've been in Mexico for a while and feel you've seen enough Mayan ruins but fancy a cooling dip in a magical cenote, I suggest you skip the insanely touristy Tortugas Cenote and Gran Cenote, and head to the more outside ones such as Dos Ojos which are really beautiful.
For Cenote adventures I really recommend these 2 tours:
I highly recommend snorkelling as part of one of the ruins tours listed above, but if you want to skip the ruins, I also snorkelled with Tito who arranges snorkel tours from the beach by El Paradiso Resort (which is the meeting point). You can arrange snorkelling directly with him via Whatsapp on: +529845938902 his guides are fab and speak English as well as Spanish. -They take you to a reef and then to an area with a high chance of seeing turtles and sting rays :)
Check out what activities Azulik offers - they often run wellness mornings or afternoons, cocoa ceremonies or socials. I have heard mixed reviews about staying there but the atmosphere for a day trip or activity or even having lunch or dinner in their restaurant is a great way to see the world renowned architecture and soak up the natural wellness vibes.
There are lots of amazing places to eat throughout Tulum, in the evening they light up with pretty fairy lights and fire lanterns and they all have pretty decent cuisine. However, the following are in my opinion the tastiest places.
A super cool ramshackle bohemian restaurant/bar, with hidden rooms, crannies and terraces. It's a really unique find and has great food, and drinks and a super sociable vibe. In the evening it features live music or DJs and it's a really cool place to hang out.
Nestled in the jungle, this high-end, open-air eatery is perfect for a romantic night out. They serve creative dishes and it's a popular spot so booking ahead is a must.
A little way out of the centre of Tulum, and not a beach club but in peak season Zamna becomes one of the main party venues with a nightclub set in the middle of a cenote and killed DJs. Check their "what's on" on their website for their latest events!
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Hot Tips:
- Remember to pack reef safe sunscreen and apply it at least 1 hour before going in the water - cenotes and the reef here are thankfully very protected but that does mean you will not be able to re-apply just before getting in the water.
- Carry cash - while most places accept card, some of the best local spots will be cash only.
- Always negotiate and agree on a price before actually getting into a taxi.
- Bring a water bottle and electrolyte tablets - hotels and hostels offer drinking water fountains so it's a good idea to bring a bottle and fill up - it's very hot and humid so get ready to get your hydration game on!
Hi, I'm Alice! I have a fondness for seeking out unique, once in a lifetime, once in a destination experiences. I've personally explored 32 countries to date. My favourite destinations so far have been Flores in Indonesia, Varanasi in India, Nyungwe in Rwanda and Chiapas State in Mexico -because they were all a little off the beaten path and totally magical!
I'm an experienced solo traveller and a small group travel leader! I love trying new things, connecting with locals, hiking through nature & seeing different cultures unique and quirky traditions! I work as a freelance Travel Coordinator for the global adventure travel company WeRoad ( https://www.weroad.co.uk/ ) leading small group adventure tours to worldwide destinations several times a year. If small group travel with fab vibes is your jam, you're welcome to use my discount code: INCOORLEAKEALI for 10% OFF ANY of their tours. If you prefer doing your own thing and customising your own bespoke trip, read on... because you're in safe hands with these guides!
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