For couples · Tulum · Mexico
Romantic things to do in Tulum
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Tulum is one of Mexico's most popular honeymoon spots, with candlelit beach cabañas, jungle restaurants and sunrise over the Caribbean. The best moments are quieter ones, at a cenote early in the morning or on a boat in Sian Ka'an. Couples tend to stay in Aldea Zamá.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 3
- Area for couples
- Aldea Zamá
- Best months
- November
Romantic ideas
1.Sunrise at the ruins
Arrive at opening time to see El Castillo in the soft morning light above the sea.
2.Jungle dinner on the beach road
Book a table at a wood-fired restaurant lit by candles under the trees.
3.Float in Sian Ka'an
Drift together down the Maya canals of Muyil on a reserve tour.
4.Early cenote swim
Have a quiet cenote to yourselves by going at opening time on a weekday.
5.Temazcal ceremony
Several hotels offer the traditional Mesoamerican sweat-lodge ritual, often at sunset.
Sights couples love
Beach · Zona Hotelera Norte
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
Street · Zona Hotelera Sur
Beach road and Zona Hotelera
Cycle rather than drive; traffic often stands still on the narrow road, and parking is scarce.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Couples
- After dark
Experience · Tulum Centro
Cycling the ciclovía to the beach
Use lights after dark and lock the bike to something solid; bike theft is common.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Outdoors
- Couples
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for couples, families and quiet stays
Aldea Zamá
Aldea Zamá lies between the town and the Zona Hotelera, with apartment complexes, small hotels, yoga studios and restaurants built into the jungle along tree-lined streets. It is a popular choice for longer stays and rentals, about 10 minutes by bike from both the beach and the town centre.
- Good
- Between beach and town; Modern apartments with pools; Quieter than the centre
- Watch out
- Construction work in places; Needs a bike or taxi for most trips
- Nearby
- Zona Hotelera, Tulum Centro, Cenote Calavera
Romantic day trips
- Sian Ka'an and Muyil (About 30 minutes to Muyil) — The UNESCO-listed Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve protects lagoons, mangroves and reef south of Tulum.
- Akumal (About 25 minutes by car or colectivo) — A bay where green sea turtles feed on seagrass in shallow water.
- Valladolid (About 1.5 hours by car) — A colonial Yucatecan town of pastel streets, the San Bernardino convent and Cenote Zací in the town centre.
- Bacalar (About 2.5 hours by car) — A long freshwater lagoon famous for its seven shades of blue, with kayaking, sailing and swimming at Cenote Azul and the Los Rápidos channel.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Sopa de lima, Tikin xic and Ceviche and aguachile. Check whether service is included, which is more common in hotel-zone restaurants.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Tulum romantic?
Tulum is one of Mexico's most popular honeymoon spots, with candlelit beach cabañas, jungle restaurants and sunrise over the Caribbean. The best moments are quieter ones, at a cenote early in the morning or on a boat in Sian Ka'an.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Tulum?
Sunrise at the ruins: Arrive at opening time to see El Castillo in the soft morning light above the sea.
+Where should couples stay in Tulum?
Aldea Zamá: A planned district of condos, cafés and boutique hotels between town and beach.