With it’s gorgeous beaches, eco-boutique hotels, beach clubs, incredible restaurants, and boho-chic culture, Tulum is one of the most popular spots to vacation. Yet this destination often stirs up mixed reviews from visitors. Some say Tulum is the most beautiful, eco-friendly, magical getaway there is, while others refer to Tulum as overrated, overpriced, and ruined. This trendy destination had been on my bucket list for years, but I had heard such contradictory viewpoints- some loved it, and some hated it! I didn’t know what to expect, but that’s the best thing about travelling. You get to discover somewhere new for yourself and have your own unique experience. So, let me share with you what I got up to in Tulum and what I think about this vacation hot spot. Let’s go!
THINGS TO DO IN TULUM
Tulum Beach
Tulum Beach is one long stretch of white sand that is about 6-miles long and it is divided into three parts. The Middle beach zone, lined with eco-hotels, restaurants, bars, and beach clubs is where most the action is. Here you will find the popular party spot, Taboo Tulum and you can also stop in for a beach workout at Tulum Jungle Gym. Playa Paraiso is a popular public beach where it is heaven to simply buy a coconut and lie down on your beach towel. South Tulum Beach is a more exclusive area. Here you will find mainly luxury hotels and can only access the beach though a hotel. North Tulum Beach stretches from the intersection of Avenida Coba on the beachfront road through to the Tulum Ruins. The beach here is called Playa Ruinas; it’s small but unique and popular because Tulum’s largest ruins, El Castillo, is right behind it.
Beach Clubs
Beach clubs are a great way to spend the day in Tulum, especially if your accommodation is not right on the beach. They typically ask that you spend on average of $50-80 USD, which can be used as a credit for food and drinks. Most open around 10-11am and you typically get access to amenities such as sunbeds, towel service, and washrooms. Most also have a DJ or music, a beachside bar and restaurant, and some become a party spot/club at night!
Depending on the type of vibe you want, these are my beach club recommendations in Tulum:
Party vibe: Taboo Tulum
Chill vibe: Coco Tulum
Family friendly vibe: Le Zebra Tulum
Other Beaches
Akumal Beach: Akumal Beach is just a 20-minute drive from Tulum off of Highway 307. There is a small entry fee to get in, but here you will have access to facilities and restaurants to purchase food and drinks.
Las Palmas: Las Palmas is one of the best public beaches to relax, unwind, and swim. It is more secluded than the others and you can bring your own drinks, snacks and beach towel.
Cenotes
There are tons of cenotes in the Tulum area, so the options are endless! It is really a matter of which cenotes you think you’d love to experience and how far you are willing to drive to get there. If you’ve rented a car you can go on your own or hire a guide to take you for the day. I recommend visiting at least one cenote during your stay in Tulum. Or you can plan to go cenote-hopping and visit 3 cenotes in one morning, which is what I did!
Whichever cenotes you choose, you will have to pay an entrance fee plus an additional fee for any camera or drone you bring in with you. Plan to arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds, especially if you want to take photos. I recommend looking up the opening times and planning to visit the cenote you are most hyped about first and map your route accordingly so you don’t backtrack! I found myself spending between 45 minutes to two hours at each cenote I visited depending on how big they were and what the vibe was like! Some of my favourite cenotes I recommend are: Cenote Azul, Gran Cenote, and Cenote Ik Kil.
Explore Tulum Town
While the beach area is more expensive and boho-chic, Tulum town is comparably more chill, local, and affordable. It is a great place to spend some time walking around, shopping, and eating lunch or dinner at a much more reasonable price than you’ll find at the beach. You may also want to plan to stop and take pictures at all the famous Instagram spots in town such as the Follow That Dream sign (located in front of Lolita Lolita boutique) and the Ven A La Luz sculpture (located in front of Ahau Hotel). Something to note is that the beach and town areas are about 20-45 minutes apart by car or bike. The time varies so much because traffic along the road from the beach to the town can be terrible depending on the time of day.
TIP: Consider dividing your hotel time between staying at the beach and staying in town to experience the best of both worlds and make your vacation a bit more affordable overall. I bounced back and forth while I was here. (See Where to Stay section below.)
Mayan Ruins
To have a cultural experience while in Tulum, consider visiting one of the many Mayan Ruins in the area and learning about Mayan history. You can visit the Tulum Ruins if you don’t want to go far, but if you are up for an adventure consider renting a car and take a day trip to Chichen Itza. It is best to arrive around 7:30am, about a half hour before opening time! By arriving early, you can enjoy the ruins without the crowds and avoid the heat of the afternoon sun. You will be ready to leave by the time it starts to get very hot, and the throngs of tourists arrive on large group tours!
I also recommend hiring a personal guide at the entrance to take you around Chichen Itza. The guides are very knowledegable about the Mayan history and culture but are also very dynamic, so the experience is a lot more fun and engaging, than reading about what you are looking at on your phone. After visiting Chichen Itza, I suggest cooling down at the nearby Cenote Ik Kil before heading back to Tulum.
Tip: If you decide to take a day trip to Chichen Itza, note that there is a one hour time change on the way there- it can work in your favour if you forget. I actually arrived an hour earlier than I had planned to because I didn’t know about it!
Day trip to Playa Del Carmen
Playa Del Carmen is another great day trip option. The drive is about an hour depending on traffic. You can also combine visiting Playa Del Carmen with visiting one of the Cenotes that are on the way such as Cenote Azul. Once there, check out 5th Avenue, a pedestrian friendly street that runs parallel to the beach and has shops, restaurants, and street entertainment. Afterwards you can easily walk over to the beach and spend some time relaxing.
Other Excursions
Sfer Ik Uh May: Sfer Ik Uh May is a contemporary art gallery in the middle of the jungle designed by @roth.azulik. Walking barefoot through the winding pathways of the museum feels like a dream: there are trees growing out of the floor, vines hanging from the giant domed ceiling, and circular windows looking out on the jungle. You can also walk outside on the rooftop and there you will find incredible views of the jungle. The whole museum is made out of natural materials. After visiting go have lunch at Chechen Mayan Cuisine, it’s nearby on the main road.
Holistika’s Art Walk: If you are love art and are looking for a free activity, check out Holistika’s Art Walk. Art installations are set up in the jungle, and as you walk along a path, you discover them as they appear. Each unique. Click here to see my IG reel!
WHERE TO STAY
My accommodation in Tulum looked like this: 3 nights at a hotel on the beach and 3 nights at an Airbnb in the La Veleta neighbourhood. I typically am a hotel person but decided to do an Airbnb for half of my trip because it’s a lot more affordable in Tulum (hotels here, in my opinion, are overpriced). I must say I had a great Airbnb experience! 4 things that matter to me when choosing an Airbnb are: 1) location – I loved the La Veleta neighbourhood with its great bars/restos; 2) outdoor space – I loved my private plunge pool & hammock and the main pool; 3) safety – there was 24 hr security. Click here for a tour of my Airbnb!
As much as I loved my Airbnb, I equally enjoyed my time spent at my hotel in Tulum. I stayed at Coco Unlimited Tulum and enjoyed the beachside dining, the pool, and comfortable beach chairs and beach club service (included when you stay). My room was comfortable and I had a hammock on the porch for relaxing after hours spend laying out in the sun.
WHERE TO EAT
In Tulum food can be cheap or expensive! You can find cheap tacos on the street at $2 USD each or do fine dining on the beach for $100 USD and up. I mainly ate at moderately priced restaurants as well as some cheap eats (local taco spots). While at the beach, I really enjoyed Raw Love for breakfast, and Posada Margherita on the beach for lunch. In town, I loved Del Cielo for breakfast, and Burrito Amor or the local taco spot, Antojitos La Chiapena for lunch. Definitely stop in at Don Churro for dessert! In the La Velata neighbourhood my favourites were La Taqueria and Tres Galeons for dinner. The food at Coco Tulum beach club was delicious and well worth using the beach club!
TULUM TIPS
In order to get the most out of your trip to Tulum, and enjoy it as much as possible, consider the following tips!
- Visit from November to March. Otherwise, there will be seaweed all over the beach!
- Tulum is expensive, so set a budget and do your research because the cost of partying, food and drinks can really add up and easily blow your budget.
- Consider if you want to stay on the beach or in town or divide your stay between both so you can plan excursions when you stay in town and then do most of your partying or dinner reservations when at the beach.
- How to get around: Bikes are everywhere in Tulum, are easy to rent and a great way to travel from the beach to the town. Your hotel might even lend you bikes during your stay. You can easily hire a taxi as well to get around. If you are wanting to to do day trips (Cenotes, Mayan ruins etc.), I recommend renting a car, which is what I did. If you just want to visit Playa Del Carmen or get to Cancun, you can take the ADO bus which is very cheap.
- ATM’s are hard to find, often have line ups and sometimes run out of cash. I recommend bringing enough cash with you and getting it before arriving in Tulum. If you have to visit an ATM there, try to only do it once. Not everywhere takes credit cards so cash is necessary.
So, did I love Tulum? Would I go back and do I recommend visiting?
My verdict: There are things I both loved and hated about Tulum. Would I return? Yes absolutely! Overall, I enjoyed my time in Tulum!
What I loved: Cenotes, the gorgeous stretch of white sand beach, incredible food (both cheap tacos and world class restaurants), laid back vibe, Mayan ruins and culture, wellness focus- lots of access to yoga, spas, and healthy food.
What I hated: Traffic, potholes, line-ups at bank machines, some places can feel somewhat trendy/touristy, bills can add up, distance from town to the beach.
If you are considering visiting Tulum, bookmark this blog post so you can refer back to it!
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