Tulum in Mexico

Do you dream of pristine dream beaches that stretch for miles? Then you are exactly right on the Mexican Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Tulum. In this article, I'll share my favorite places, highlights, and activities that I found most beautiful in and around Tulum. I'll also provide some practical information for your trip to Quintana Roo, where Tulum is located.

Update: Tulum is no longer as relaxed as it was during my first trip to Mexico. It is becoming increasingly touristy here as well. The 'Instagram' travelers are moving in, bringing with them trendy accommodations.

While Cancun and Playa del Carmen are the most well-known beach resorts for all-inclusive vacationers on the Mexican Caribbean coast, Tulum attracts more individual travelers and people who have no interest in the all-inclusive offerings at large hotels.

In Tulum, the vibrant turquoise sea delights all who love spending time in and by the water. The sandy beaches with the finest white sand seem endless, inviting long walks. Hammocks under palm trees are perfect for relaxation.

In the hinterland of Tulum, you will find half-dilapidated Mayan temples waiting to be discovered in the jungle. Boat tours take you to hidden lagoons, and local guides know cenotes that not every tourist finds in the guidebook. All in all, Tulum is rightly awarded the title of Pueblo Mágico-designated for particularly noteworthy villages in Mexico.

Since my first visit in 2015, Tulum along the beautiful Riviera Maya has changed a lot. The once idyllic fishing village has been built up with accommodations to host the many tourists. The charming place I once knew has developed further. It is no longer as peaceful as it once was. But Tulum, with its many attractions, rightly belongs to the most popular travel destinations on the Yucatan Peninsula and in all of Mexico.

I recommend that you stay at least three days in Tulum.

The beach 'Playa Paraiso' (Paradise Beach) in Tulum was voted the most beautiful beach in the world in 2011. I've seen many beautiful beaches and I won't make any predictions. However, the sand at this approximately 10 km long beach in Tulum is very clean and fine. The sea is nice and shallow, and the temperatures are pleasant year-round, making it excellent for bathing and swimming.

With hammocks available all along the beach (and at every accommodation), it's the perfect place to arrive in Mexico and unwind.

Update: Many parts of the beach are now privatized, and fences block the way. This was different and authentically beautiful during my first visit. But that's how tourism goes-beautiful places don't stay undiscovered for long.

The formerly idyllic fishing village of Tulum offers you, in addition to this dream beach, wonderful nature and many historical landmarks. Mayan ruins and snorkeling trips to see turtles or underwater caves (cenotes).

Here are my tips for Tulum.

Did you know that the Mayan ruins in Tulum are among the most photographed Mayan sites in the world? No? I didn't know that before my trip either. Upon my arrival, however, I understand why: The ruins sit directly on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean coast and are among the best-preserved ruins of the Mayans. This Mayan site is, by the way, the only one located directly by the sea.

Did you also know that Tulum means 'Fortress of the Dawn' in the Mayan language?

At the height of Tulum around 1000 - 1300 AD, Chichén Itza and Uxmal were already long deserted. As the Maya had to travel around the entire Yucatan Peninsula by canoe, Tulum was an important trading post.

We walk from our accommodation to the old Mayan city, much to the confusion of the locals. After all, it is quite warm.

The Mayan ruins of Tulum are located about 130 km from Cancun. You can book a day trip from Cancun to Tulum here with Get Your Guide.

Isn't this incredibly picturesque? An ideal postcard motif.

Entrance costs $85 without a guided tour. Guides offer their services at the entrance: A 'Cultural Tour with Guide' costs $410, while a 'Fun Tour' with subsequent swimming in the water and a trip to the beach (also accessible on foot) costs $714 (prices vary depending on the season).

Opening hours: You can visit the ruins daily from 9 AM to 4:15 PM.

The beach is quite crowded, so I advise against such tours. The picture shows my visit in October (low season). I can only imagine how crowded it gets during peak season.

The best time to visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum is early in the morning. It is not very hot yet, and if you're lucky, there is a light breeze. I was there around 10 AM, and it was already quite warm. Since the tourist buses from Cancun arrive later, it is still pleasantly empty at this early hour.

Okay, it's not an activity, but Tulum is definitely the perfect place to start a trip to Mexico, acclimatize yourself, and combat jet lag.

A hammock, swimming in the refreshing sea, and a cold Mexican beer are waiting for you here. Relaxation and unwinding at its finest.

In Tulum, you'll find numerous restaurants, especially along the beach and the small 'main street.' Many accommodations also offer food.

We were particularly recommended the 'El Tabano', just 200 m from our Posada Lamar. There is no lighting along the street, and the short path is adventurous and pitch dark. I can't see my own hand. So I had to rely on my iPhone's flashlight again.

At El Tabano, there is typical Mexican food for the region. Relatively expensive, like everything in Tulum, but here I've definitely had the best avocado-tomato salad in Mexico. Fresh fish is also on the menu.

The Posada Lamar Tulum is located directly on the spacious beach of Tulum. An important price difference: the affordable hostels and restaurants are located in the town center, which is about 5 km away from the beach and the Mayan ruins. We decided on the beach. Our further journey takes us inland.

The staff is excellent and has great tips for tours, restaurants, and logistics. Additionally, the accommodation is very clean. Light and electricity are available from 6 PM to 6 AM. However, the light is not strong and almost unusable. Flashlights are handy.

After having no power outlets at all on our first day (but free Wi-Fi everywhere...), we were provided with a power outlet in our Posada without asking until our return on the second day. During the day, electronic devices can be charged at the reception. It was also nice to simplify our needs down to just the essentials.

Our only requirement for accommodations on this Mexico trip is: private bedroom, hot water, and a private bathroom must be available; everything else is not important and is luxury that we are happy to forego.

Breakfast is brought directly to the table in front of the Cabana. The coffee is excellent; we also have fresh orange juice, warm bread, and delicious fruit and muesli.

In conclusion: The accommodation in Tulum ended up being the most expensive of our trip and also the lowest in standard. This is because Tulum really had the most beautiful beach and eco-tourism prevents mass tourism. Fortunately.

You can stay in Tulum, about 5 km away from the center, in more beautiful accommodations. Here you can find affordable lodgings away from the sea. The Mayan ruins of Tulum are also about 5 km from the center. The pictures of the accommodation were taken before it was renovated and completely updated.

In Yucatan, there are quite a few underwater caves that you can visit. Some are easy to access, while others are not so easy to reach. The most famous cenote is the Gran Cenote between Tulum and Coba.

Thanks to our taxi driver, whom we hired for the whole day, we were able to visit additional cenotes that had hardly been discovered by tourists until then.

More about visiting the Gran Cenote and other unknown underwater caves.

If, like us, you don't have much time to travel, I recommend hiring a trustworthy taxi driver. We befriended taxi driver Juan on the first day. We learned that an Australian couple booked a trip to Akumal, including a cenote visit, through a local provider for $180 (What?), to which Juan said he would take us on a private tour to Chichen Itza, including lunch, visits to various cenotes away from the crowds, and a detour to Coba, for the same amount.

In the end, we paid $140. These sights were already on our plan, so we spontaneously agreed. It can't get cheaper or more convenient without a rental car in just one day.

Note: Juan's number doesn't work anymore, so I can't provide you with his phone number.

If you land in Cancun and, like us, want to travel directly to Tulum, I recommend booking a private transfer. I have had good experiences with this provider worldwide. They have professional drivers who are guaranteed to be licensed and will safely take you to your destination. Since we arrived late at night from Germany and Tulum was the first stop on our journey, the private transfer was the most convenient and fastest way to reach our accommodation.

Duration of private transfer: About 1 hour for the 117 km, duration by bus (including a stop in Playa del Carmen): 2 - 2.5 hours.

If you arrive in Tulum during the day, you can also travel comfortably by ADO buses.

In Tulum itself, you don't need a car. For activities in and around Tulum, it's best to rent a bike or scooter. The beach in Tulum is 3.5 km from the center. The Mayan ruins are about 4 km away. We did everything on foot, but a bike would have been the better choice in this heat.

For the cenotes and Chichen Itza, it is worthwhile to book a tour or a driver. Having your own car could also be beneficial. However, we found that the private driver showed us places that no guidebook would lead you to.

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