Things to do · Tulum · Mexico
13 best things to do in Tulum
13 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Tulum are Tulum archaeological site, Playa Paraíso and Gran Cenote. Of the 13 picks below, 3 are free, 1 work on a rainy day and 7 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Tulum archaeological site
- Free sights
- 3
- Good on a rainy day
- Dos Ojos cenote
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulum archaeological site | Zona Hotelera Norte | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Playa Paraíso | Zona Hotelera Norte | Half a day | Free |
| Gran Cenote | Cobá road | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Beach road and Zona Hotelera | Zona Hotelera Sur | Half a day | Free |
| Cenote Calavera | Cobá road | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Dos Ojos cenote | Tankah Bay | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) | Cobá road | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Casa Cenote | Tankah Bay | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Laguna Kaan Luum | South of Tulum | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido | South of Tulum | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Xel-Há | Xel-Há | Full day | Expensive |
| Tulum Pueblo and Avenida Tulum | Tulum Centro | 2 hours | Free |
| Cycling the ciclovía to the beach | Tulum Centro | Half a day | Low cost |
The 13 best things to do
Historic site · Zona Hotelera Norte
1.Tulum archaeological site
The walled Maya port city of Tulum flourished from around the 13th to the 15th century, and its main temple, El Castillo, stands on a 12-metre cliff above a small beach. Visitors follow a path past the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God; the buildings themselves are viewed from outside. The site lies within the Parque del Jaguar national park, which charges its own entry fee.
Arrive at opening time, before tour buses from Cancún, and bring water and a hat; there is very little shade.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Beach · Zona Hotelera Norte
2.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. Snorkelling trips to the nearby reef leave from the beach.
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
3.Gran Cenote
About 4 km from town on the road to Cobá, the Gran Cenote is a semi-open cavern system of clear blue water, stalactites and small turtles, with wooden walkways and platforms. It is one of the most popular cenotes for snorkelling, and cave divers explore the tunnels below.
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
Street · Zona Hotelera Sur
4.Beach road and Zona Hotelera
The single-lane coastal road south of the junction is lined with thatched boutique hotels, design shops, juice bars and restaurants set among palms and jungle, with beach access between properties. Cycling it end to end towards the Sian Ka'an gate is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend an afternoon.
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
Nature · Cobá road
5.Cenote Calavera
The 'skull' cenote is a small, deep pool reached through three holes in the jungle floor, which visitors jump through or climb down by ladder. It has fewer facilities than larger cenotes and is a favourite for a quick swim near town.
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
6.Dos Ojos cenote
About 20 km north of Tulum, the 'two eyes' are two linked cenotes opening into one of the world's longest underwater cave systems. Snorkellers float in the clear caverns with flashlights, while certified divers take guided cavern dives.
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
7.Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
An open-air cenote on the road to Cobá, named because taxi drivers once washed their cars in it. Lily pads, fish and an underwater garden of algae make it good for snorkelling, and it is usually less crowded than the Gran Cenote.
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
8.Casa Cenote
A long, mangrove-lined cenote in Tankah Bay connected underground to the sea a few metres away, so freshwater and saltwater mix. Snorkellers drift past roots, small fish and the occasional crab, and kayaks and paddleboards can be rented.
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
1.Laguna Kaan Luum
A shallow turquoise lagoon about 10 km south of town with a dark blue sinkhole more than 80 metres deep in its centre. Wooden walkways, swings and platforms let visitors wade and swim in the warm shallows around the edge.
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
2.Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido
Two open, jungle-ringed cenotes on either side of the highway about 4 km south of town, sold on a single ticket. Cristal has a jumping platform, while Escondido is long and narrow, with clear water good for snorkelling and fewer facilities.
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
Theme park · Xel-Há
3.Xel-Há
About 15 km north of Tulum, this all-inclusive eco-park is built around a natural inlet where a river meets the sea. Visitors snorkel among tropical fish, float down a river on tubes, ride zip-lines and jump from cliffs, with food and equipment included in the ticket.
Buy tickets online in advance, which is usually cheaper than at the gate, and arrive early to make the most of the day.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Book online ahead in peak season; tickets are sold for specific dates.
- Kids
- Active
- Nature
Neighbourhood · Tulum Centro
4.Tulum Pueblo and Avenida Tulum
The town's main avenue and the streets behind it are where locals and budget travellers eat: taco al pastor stands, Yucatecan cochinita pibil in the mornings, marquesita carts in the evening and the central park where families gather. It is a different and much cheaper side of Tulum from the beach road.
Eat cochinita pibil tacos for breakfast in town; many stands sell out by mid-morning.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- After dark
Experience · Tulum Centro
5.Cycling the ciclovía to the beach
A paved cycle path runs from town along the Cobá road towards the beach and up to the ruins, so a rented bike is the easiest way to reach the coast, cenotes on the Cobá road and the archaeological site. Many hotels lend bikes to guests.
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
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| History | Tulum archaeological site |
| Views | Tulum archaeological site |
| Outdoors and nature | Playa Paraíso, Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera and Dos Ojos cenote |
| Food and markets | Beach road and Zona Hotelera and Tulum Pueblo and Avenida Tulum |
| After dark | Beach road and Zona Hotelera and Tulum Pueblo and Avenida Tulum |
| With children | Tulum archaeological site, Playa Paraíso, Gran Cenote and Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) |
| On a rainy day | Dos Ojos cenote |
What to book ahead
- Xel-Há: Book online ahead in peak season; tickets are sold for specific dates.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Tulum?
Tulum archaeological site. The walled Maya port city of Tulum flourished from around the 13th to the 15th century, and its main temple, El Castillo, stands on a 12-metre cliff above a small beach.
+What can you do for free in Tulum?
Playa Paraíso, Beach road and Zona Hotelera and Tulum Pueblo and Avenida Tulum. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Tulum when it rains?
Head indoors to Dos Ojos cenote.
+What is there to do in Tulum at night?
Beach road and Zona Hotelera and Tulum Pueblo and Avenida Tulum are best after dark.