Are you the type of person that LOVES staying busy on vacation? I am! If so, this post and my overall blog is for you! There are so many amazing things to do in Tulum Mexico! I am a pro at staying busy on vacation and with that here are my top 11 Must Do Things in Tulum Mexico on Vacation!
1 | Experience Sunset at Azu Lik
Above the jungle sunsets are iconic and Azu Lik has one of the best things to do in Tulum Mexico. They open at 5:30pm and as of April 2021 it was $55 for about 90 minutes. That cover is a bit steep but the view is incredible and that covers entry and one drink. There are so many photo spots for those that love Instagram photos and a great place to experience sunset with fun vibes and a DJ playing music. Its one of the few paid things on my list of 11 Must Do Things in Tulum Mexico on vacation.
2 | Go to as many Cenotes as possible
Honestly there are hundreds if not thousands near Tulum so its hard to recommend just one. My favorites are Grand, Dos Ojos, Calavera near Tulum. About an hour from Tulum is Suyton Cenote which is incredible. Ik Kil is probably my all time favorite. It is pretty popular since its about 10 minutes from Chichen Itza. Clan Destino (see #9 below) is another fun one too.
3 | Visit a Beach Club
There are so many Beach club options in Tulum. They all have different vibes. Taboo is definitely the most party atmosphere where as Casa Malca and Ziggys are more relaxed. Most have an entry fee and minimum consumption per person. I’ve noticed it changes based on the day of the week. Currently Taboo is a $130 minimum, $65 of that goes to entry fee and Casa Malca has a $150 minimum and $50 of that is an entry fee. I definitely recommend researching each one you go to due to the cost fluctuations. Ziggys and Papaya Playa Project are my favorites.
4 | Tulum Ruins
The ruins in Tulum are so beautiful and sit on a cliff over the ocean. They are easily at the top of my list of the 15 Must Do Things in Tulum Mexico. It is a gorgeous site that gets VERY busy around 10am. I highly recommend getting in line at 8:45 AM to beat the crowds and heat. There are guided options but we found most of the information online while walking through the ruins. We spent about 2 hours here exploring and taking photos. Even if you plan on going to Coba or Chichen Itza you should definitely make time for the Tulum ruins.
5 | Take Instagram Photos
This might be a bit controversial for some but I love good vacation photos. Photography is a passion so of course I stalked Tulum on Instagram for months before the trip. If you love good photos then Tulum is the perfect spot for you. Just get up early because it gets pretty busy after 10am! If you’re like me you’ll definitely want to check out my guide on the best insta-worthy photo spots in Tulum. Its really hard to not take a good photo in Tulum.
6 | Enjoy the Public Beach
Believe it or not even with all the beach clubs there are still 100% Free beach spots in Tulum too. If you’re looking for a relaxed experience where its FREE to sit as long as you’d like this is the place for you. All beaches in Mexico are public. There are no private beaches in Mexico and it is illegal to block public access to the beach. That said, they make it extremely difficult in Tulum for the public to access the beach along the hotel zone. So yes it seems like its the only way to get to the beach by spending a ton of money but I promise its not. The best beaches in Tulum without having to pay:
- Playa Paraiso – this is on the north side of the beach road, one of the best beaches in the world, theres plenty of parking.
- Las Palamas – a bit more secluded then Playa Paraiso. This is where you go to escape the crowds. There are no vendors here so definitely bring what you want to enjoy.
- Playa Pescadores – the best beach in Mexico, just north of Playa Paraiso.
- South Playa – This is where most of the hotels are. We simply walked through the hotel out to the beach at Ziggys and Papaya Playa Project and had no issues when all we wanted to do was walk on the beach.
- Secret Beach – just outside Tulum in Sian Ka’an Biosphere. If you have time you should absolutely go, its stunning but a bit further out then the other beaches.
- Note: Playa Ruinas is typically a public beach but its currently closed as of April 2021. I believe it was due to the pandemic but couldn’t get a clear answer. The staircase to go down to the beach at the ruins is closed off. There was extreme wind and waves with a ton of seaweed leaving very little room for any actual sand for beach activities.
7 | Rent a yacht for an afternoon
One of our favorite parts of our trip was our 4 hour cruise on a yacht with H2OH Cruises. The crew was so much fun! They have price points for all size groups too so dont see “yacht” and think its out of your budget! They do everything from 2 hours up to full day cruises!
8 | Take a Yoga Class
While I am not a yoga-fanatic I know that Tulum is a very health centric area with lots of Yoga classes, some of which are on the beach! If you love Yoga this is definitely something you should do.
9 | Clan Destino
Want to combine a cenote, swing and bar together? Then this is the place for you! Usually this place is missed by tourists. Its only 400 feet away from Raw Love. Raw Love is the restaurant where Ven A La Luz. My suggestion would be to get up early one day and get your Instaphotos out of the way, grab breakfast at Matcha Mama while you’re out then work up an appetite and head to Clan Destino for Lunch and a swim in their cenote.
10 | Visit the Coba Ruins near Tulum Mexico
Coba is another set of amazing ruins near Tulum which I highly recommend visiting. Due to the panorama they aren’t currently open to being walked on but in previous years you could actually walk up to the very top. I definitely recommend stopping here and visiting the site.
11 | Chichen Itza
Although Chichen Itza isn’t in Tulum its still on my list of 11 Must Do Things in Tulum Mexico. Why? Its a world wonder first off. Secondly, who knows when you’ll be back in Mexico! You should cross it off your bucketlist this trip! Its a MUST for anyone traveling to Mexico! It is a 2 hour drive but if you make it out of Tulum around 7am you’re there when it opens which gives you plenty of time to stop at a bunch of different Cenotes on the way back to Tulum. While you’re out visiting Chichen Itza you can stop by the Ik Kil & Suyton cenotes in the same day on the way home.
If you’re still figuring out where to stay in Tulum, I am more then happy to help you there too. Feel free to DM me on Instagram or send me an email at [email protected] – I’m a travel agent so I am more then help you find the perfect hotel with as many extra perks as possible for your stay in Tulum Mexico.
