Outdoors · Tulum · Mexico
8 best outdoor things to do in Tulum
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Playa Paraíso, Gran Cenote and Cenote Calavera. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 14–16 hours across 4 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 14–16 hours
- Areas
- Zona Hotelera Norte, Cobá road and Tankah Bay
Outdoors in Tulum
Beach · Zona Hotelera Norte
1.Playa Paraíso
Go early in the morning for calm water and a quiet beach before the clubs fill up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · Cobá road
2.Gran Cenote
Go at opening time, shower before entering (required), and skip sunscreen to protect the water.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Kids
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Cobá road
3.Cenote Calavera
Use the ladder if you are unsure of the jump; the water is several metres deep.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Tankah Bay
4.Dos Ojos cenote
Bring or rent a dive light for snorkelling into the darker cavern areas.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
- Rainy day
Nature · Cobá road
5.Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
Combine it with a visit to Cobá on the same day, since it is on the way.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Nature · Tankah Bay
6.Casa Cenote
Pair a swim here with lunch at the beach across the road.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · South of Tulum
7.Laguna Kaan Luum
Visit in the morning when the light shows the colour contrast best, and stay in the roped-off shallow area.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · South of Tulum
8.Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido
Go late morning on a weekday for sunlit water and few visitors; bring your own snacks.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Zona Hotelera Norte | Playa Paraíso | Half a day |
| Cobá road | Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera and Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) | 2 hours + 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Tankah Bay | Dos Ojos cenote and Casa Cenote | 2–3 hours + 1.5 hours |
| South of Tulum | Laguna Kaan Luum and Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido | 1.5 hours + 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 5 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Playa Paraíso; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Zona Hotelera Norte): Playa Paraíso, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Cobá road): Gran Cenote → Cenote Calavera → Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha), at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Tankah Bay): Dos Ojos cenote → Casa Cenote, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (South of Tulum): Laguna Kaan Luum → Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- March: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds. Hot and dry; spring breakers and Mexican Easter holidays can raise prices.
- February: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds. One of the best months for weather, with calm seas and clear cenotes; hotels are very busy.
- April: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Very warm and mostly dry; seaweed can start arriving late in the month in some years.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Aldea Zamá — A planned district of condos, cafés and boutique hotels between town and beach
- Zona Hotelera Norte — Beaches and beach clubs between the ruins and the main T-junction
- Tankah Bay — A quiet bay of villas and small hotels 10 km north of Tulum
More of Tulum
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Tulum?
Playa Paraíso. Just south of the ruins, this long stretch of fine white sand and shallow turquoise water is the classic Tulum beach, with palm trees, a few beach clubs and views north to El Castillo.
+Which of these are free in Tulum?
Playa Paraíso.