What Spots You Need To Visit In TulumHere are eight things you must do on your first trip to Tulum to truly experience what this part of Mexico offers those seeking relaxation, rejuvenation, inspiration, and adventure!AuthorsRachelOffDuty
DestinationsTulumItinerary

Public Beaches ⛱️

Paradise Beach
The beach in Tulum is really spectacular, and it’s not hard to see why. Creamy white sand, calm turquoise waters, and pastel pink sunsets make the beach here truly unforgettable and immediately calming. For anyone visiting Tulum, especially for the first time, this beach is an undeniable must.
See More
Playa Las Palmas
Lined with palm trees and surrounded by lush vegetation, Playa Las Palmas offers a sense of privacy and tranquility, making it perfect for those seeking a quieter alternative to Tulum’s busier beaches, especially considering it’s public.
See More
Playa Ruinas
Playa Ruinas stands out as one of the most distinctive public beaches in Tulum because it is nestled directly beneath the iconic Tulum Mayan ruins!
See More

Private Beaches 🏝️

Taboo | Best Beach Club Tulum
Taboo is known as one of the most lively beach club party spots in Tulum.
See More
Papaya Playa Project
Picture thatched roofs covering open-air seating right on the beach. At Papaya Playa, you can chill out in a more secluded part of the Tulum beach strip.
See More
Book
Mía Beach Club and Resort
At Mia, you can relax by the pool or on the beach, depending on your vibe. This spot is casual but can quickly come to life with its daytime parties and DJ sets that go into the night.
See More
Book
Nômade
"La Popular" is their beach restaurant under the palm trees. It’s entirely open-air and serves Caribbean-inspired dishes. The Nomade also has a Japanese restaurant, Kuu, and a Mediterranean restaurant, Macando, onsite, so you can rest assured you’ll eat well at this beach club.
See More
Book
Habitas
A modern, glass-walled indoor/outdoor building with low seating in the coastal jungle, Moro serves Latin cuisine with Middle-Eastern inspiration.
See More
Book
ZIGGY - Beach Club & Restaurant
This is your classic, casual hotel beach bar, complete with sun loungers and easy bites & cocktails. Ziggy is known as one of the more chill, family-friendly beach clubs, where you can bring a book and be unbothered.
See More
Ahau Tulum
You can choose to enjoy Kapok’s Mexican seafood cuisine in their restaurant or at the Ahau beach grill. Or, if you’re feeling something lighter, their Raw Love café onsite serves smoothies, soups, bowls, and other plant-based dishes. Ahau Tulum is also the location of the famous Ven a La Luz art installation, which you may have seen on social media.
See More
Book
Diamante K
A chill beach club with its own private, rocky beach outcrop, this is a nice place to get away from crowds and simply enjoy the Caribbean Sea.
See More
Gitano Beach
Another popular party spot with a chic vibe, Gitano Beach is considered one of the most popular beach clubs in Tulum, along with Taboo and Bagatelle.
See More
Bagatelle Tulum
An upscale, French Riviera-inspired beach club that’s very much a scene.
See More
Vagalume Tulum
A nice balance of party and chill, Vagalume has a really fun energy to it. It’s also known for its iconic open palms pool bridge (which is, yes, a really cool photo opp)!
See More
Distrito Panamera: Restaurant, Rooftop, Beachclub & Art
Distrito Panamera is a newer addition to the Tulum beach scene but is quickly becoming one of my favorites if you’re seeking a chilled-out beach day. It’s a beautiful hotel with a stunning pool (see below!) and a rooftop bar where you can grab sunset cocktails when the beach club closes for the day.
See More
Book

Cenotes 🏞️

Two Eyes Cenote
(One of my favorites) This massive underwater cave system is an epic introduction to the world of cenotes. It’s hard to even imagine the scale of these caves until you see the flashlight from a scuba diver beaming up from a hidden cavern beneath the surface. Dos Ojos is a very popular cenote where you can swim, float with a life jacket, and snorkel around to explore.
See More
Cenote Cristal
This and Cenote Escondido are two cenotes across the highway from one another, so you’ll have to dart across the road to get from one to the other—be sure to look both ways! I love these cenotes because they offer incredible snorkeling (better than Dos Ojos, in my opinion) and a wooden jumping platform. You may see turtles here!
See More
Cenote Zacil-Ha
A more developed property built around an open-air cenote that is fully exposed to the sun, it’s essentially like visiting a natural swimming pool, complete with a restaurant, lounge areas, a zip line, and a jumping platform!
See More
Cenote Calavera
This sunken cenote is a cool photo opportunity you may have seen online. You can only enter by jumping down into the water, and to get back up, you climb a fixed ladder.
See More
Gran Cenote
A stunning cenote with wooden platforms built around it for easy access in and out.
See More
Cenote Car Wash
Another open-air cenote, it’s popular and quickly accessible from Tulum town.
See More
Casa Cenote
This cenote is about 30 minutes outside of Tulum town, but it’s worth the drive! Beautiful snorkeling here, with lots of baby tarpon and crabs to see. If you don’t want to swim, you can rent a clear kayak to float through the mangroves.
See More
Vesica Tulum | Cenote Club
Unlike the other cenotes on this list, Vesica is a day club with ample amenities: day beds, a bar and restaurant, daily DJ sets, and onsite massages.
See More
Private Cenotes tour
See More
Book

Ruins 🗿

El Castillo
The only waterfront ruins in Mexico, Tulum’s Mayan ruins are a must-see when visiting the area. Be prepared to pay a bit more than you’d like, as they have become incredibly popular, but they are beautiful and well worth it.
See More
Coba archaeological site
The Coba ruins are about 45 minutes outside of Tulum and are one of my favorite archaeological sites in Quintana Roo. The entire area is interconnected with ancient sacbes (raised pathways in Mayan), and you can rent bikes to explore the grounds.
See More
Chichén Itzá
The famous world wonder is about two hours from Tulum and easily doable as a day trip, though it will be a long day! Plan to spend 1 to 1.5 hours here, and be sure to visit the nearby cenotes!
See More
Uxmal Archaeological Zone
While I don’t recommend Uxmal as a day trip, if you are planning to spend some time traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula, you must add Uxmal to your list. Uxmal is about one hour south of Mérida and has some of the most impressive ruins in the area, in my opinion. You’ll also enjoy much fewer crowds than at the archaeological sites on the eastern part of the peninsula.
See More
Zona Arqueológica de Ek Balam
Ek’ Balam is about 3.5 hours from Tulum and is another impressively preserved example of what ancient Mayan peoples, and perhaps even royalty, were able to accomplish in their time.
See More
Zona Arqueológica de Muyil
These ruins are part of the protected Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and can be visited on a day tour or on your own.
See More
Coba Ruins and Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve Day Tour from Tulum
See More
Book

Yoga & Wellness 🧘🏽‍♂️

Sanara Hotels & Residences
The hotel features a spacious beachfront yoga studio with daily classes. The studio is designed to maximize natural light and ocean views, creating a serene atmosphere for practice.
See More
Book
Yäan Wellness
It is celebrated for its integration of mind, body, and soul, offering guests a tranquil escape that blends natural elements with holistic therapies in a lush jungle setting.
See More
Empower and Create: Women's Art, Yoga, and Dance Retreat in Tulum
See More
Book

Experiences

Holistika Hotel
I attended a temazcal ceremony at Holistika with my friend, who was going through a difficult time. Not only did I watch her experience a cathartic reckoning with her emotions, but I also felt a bit lighter after the entrancing few hours we spent sweating together to the sound of drums.
See More
Book
Sian Ka'an Adventure Full Day Trip to Punta Allen
We were able to see manatees, crocodiles, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, ospreys, and more. We weren’t able to snorkel, unfortunately, because the overcast weather made the water visibility pretty much nonexistent, but everything else was just awesome. Being able to have lunch in ultra-remote Punta Allen (which many say is an example of what Tulum might’ve been like 20+ years ago) was also pretty neat.
See More
Book

Food & Drink 🍹🌮

RosaNegra | Best beach club Tulum
Driven by live percussion, resident DJs spinning Latin beats, dazzling sparklers and fire shows, and vibrant, tribal-inspired décor, the restaurant encourages guests to dance and celebrate, creating a unique party vibe unlike any other in the area.
See More
Hartwood
All food is cooked over an open wood fire or in a wood-burning oven—a necessity due to limited power sources but also a deliberate choice that imparts a distinctive smoky flavor and rustic appeal to each dish.
See More
MEZE Tulum
The entrance features a majestic bougainvillea-filled archway that leads to an elegant stone bar and outdoor seating surrounded by lush vegetation—perfect for al fresco dining under the stars.
See More
Ilios | Greek restaurant in Tulum
The menu at Ilios showcases authentic Greek dishes made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional techniques. Favorites include classics like moussaka, lamb chops, tzatziki, roasted lamb, and whole fresh fish, often prepared tableside for added flair.
See More
La Taqueria
For a more affordable meal while staying in the hotel zone, look for La Taqueria. This spot, along with the surrounding food trucks and bar, offers some of the cheapest food on the strip, and everything I tried was pretty good. At the bar, if you like passionfruit, be sure to order a passionfruit mojito. I’m pretty sure I had three entire servings of fruit with my rum, and I wasn’t mad about it.
See More
Raw Love Cafe
Raw Love is a popular spot at the Ahau Tulum hotel for acai bowls, smoothies, and other healthy bites.
See More
Clandestino RoofTop
Another more affordable meal in the hotel zone is at Clan-Destino, a burger joint built above a cenote (so bizarre, but pretty cool!) tucked away behind a building and easy to miss. I visited on a weekend and was delighted to see that, in addition to karaoke, salsa dancing is encouraged, a perfect way to practice your moves in between burger bites!
See More
Burrito Amor
Burrito Amor is widely recognized as one of Tulum’s must-visit eateries, consistently earning rave reviews from both travelers and locals for its fresh, flavorful food and welcoming atmosphere.
See More