Maureen Tumuti

10 Best Things To Do In Tulum What was once a sleepy fishing village on the Mayan Riviera, Tulum has recently become one of the most popular destinations on the planet. Featuring long breathtaking white sand beaches and well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city, Tulum offers the perfect blend of history, culture, nature, and cuisine. Although Tulum’s popularity continues to increase, it remains quieter than its neighboring towns, offering a more laid back and authentic experience to its visitors. Here are the 10 best things to do in Tulum. 1. Cenotes Dos Ojos One of the most invigorating things to do in Tulum is to take a dip in a “cenote.” A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole that is a result of the collapse of limestone bedrock that creates a natural pool that is then filled by water flowing from underground rivers and rain. There are several cenotes located not far from Tulum, including El Gran Cenote, Suytun Cenote, and Casa Cenote but one of the most popular is Cenote Dos Ojos. Also known as Two Eyes Cenote, Dos Ojos features incredible rock formation and crystal clear water perfect for a swim, snorkeling, and diving. Location: 22 Kilometers North of Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum or take a taxi. Opening Hours: Every day from 08:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Bathrooms: Yes. Changing Room: Yes Restaurant on site: No, you’ll need to bring your food and drinks. Price: 350 MXN (about $18 USD). You can rent snorkeling equipment for an additional 100 pesos. 2. Ruins Among the last of the Mayan cities, Tulum boasts of some of the most intact evidence of the Mayan civilization on the Yucatán Peninsula. The most emblematic of these archaeological sites are the Tulum ruins. Standing high on a 12-meter (39 ft) cliff with sweeping vistas of the jewel-toned ocean below, Tulum ruins feature El Castillo (the Castle) Tulum’s main pyramid, The Temple of the Frescoes, located in front of El Castillo, House of the Columns, and Temple of the Descending God. Location: 3km from the city center of Tulum Town. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi or walk. Opening Hours: Monday through Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. To beat the hordes of tourists, make sure to be among the first people to get in once they open. You can also visit an hour or two before closing time, but be warned, the heat can be unbearable. Bathrooms: Yes, at the entrance where they issue tickets. Restaurant on site: Yes. Although water and food are more costly here, so plan ahead and bring a bottle of water if you can. Price:70 MXN ($3.50 USD) for foreigners. It will cost you an extra $4 if you want to shoot a video at the site. Entrance is free for Mexican citizens and residents on Sunday. For a slightly less popular option, visit the Coba ruins. While wildly underrated, the archaeological site of Coba offers unique allures. For one thing, you can bike through the thick jungle to reach them. And, for another, this is the only remaining archaeological site that allows visitors to climb some of the structures. Location: 48km from the city center of Tulum Town. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi, or sign up for a tour. Opening Hours: Every day from 8 am to 5 pm, the last admission is at 4.30 pm. Bathrooms: Yes, but make sure to bring your own toilet paper. Restaurant on site: No, but there is a small booth that sells water, juice, and soda. Price: $70 MXN ($3.50 USD) for foreigners. Muyil Ruins archaeological site is another excellent place to visit. Located within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, people of all ages and abilities can explore this enthralling historical site as it has easy to follow trails. Location: 25 kilometers (9.3 miles) south of Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi, or sign up for a tour. Opening Hours: Every day from 8 am to 5 pm, the last admission is at 4.30 pm. Bathrooms: Yes. Restaurant on site: No, but there is a small booth that sells water, juice, and soda. Price: You can visit Muyil ruins for free. However, you’ll need to pay 50MNX per person if you wish to enter the Sian Ka’an biosphere at the end of the park. You will also pay extra for a private tour or a tour guide. 3. Akumal One of the must-do things to do in Tulum is to swim at Akumal Beach, one of the only places in the world where you can swim with wild sea turtles! Location: 27 km north of Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi, or sign up for a tour. Opening Hours: Every Tuesday through Sunday 9 am to 5 pm, the beach remains closed on Monday. The beach remains closed during September and February. Bathrooms/Changing room: Yes, but you will have to pay to access them. Restaurant on site: There are a couple of beach restaurants. Price: Akumal is a public beach; therefore, it is free to swim with the turtles. However, because of conservation efforts, there is now a limit of 300 people that are allowed to swim with the turtles a day. 4. Saan Kaan Biosphere A natural Unesco World Heritage, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is home to thousands of flora and fauna species. The reserve also features a stunning landscape of tropical jungle, mangrove forests, and crystalline waters. Location: 25 kilometers (9.3 miles) south of Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi, or sign up for a tour. Opening Hours: Every day from 8 am to 5 pm, the last admission is at 4.30 pm. Bathrooms: Yes, but make sure to bring toilet paper. Restaurant on site: No, you’ll need to bring food. Price: 50 MNX per person. You will pay extra for a private tour and a boat. Only a few boats are currently allowed to go to the lagoon, therefore make sure to be there early in the day or consider booking a tour that includes a boat ride. 5. Laguna Kaan Laguna Kaan is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for things to do in Tulum that are somewhat off the beaten path. This hidden treasure is a place of extraordinary nature decorated with turquoise and emerald waters surrounded by jungle and mangroves. Location: 12km from Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car (there is adequate parking space), use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi or sign up for a tour. Opening Hours: Every day from 9 am to 4 pm. Bathrooms: Yes, these are fine for when you really have to go and are not suitable for changing. Restaurant on site: No, you’ll need to bring your own food. Price: 100 MNX per person. You will pay extra for a kayak or a paddle. 6. Eco parcs (Xel-Ha, Xplore, Xcaret) Tulum offers several ecological nature villages that are both fun to explore and promote sustainable tourism. Xel-Ha is an all-inclusive Park where you can enjoy water activities, ecological attractions (like cenotes, lagoons, and caves), restaurants, and the best sceneries. Location: 18km from Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi, or buy transportation with your ticket and take advantage of their pickup service. Opening Hours: Every day from 8.30 am to 7 pm. Bathrooms: Yes. Changing Rooms: Yes, inclusive of lockers. Restaurant on site: Yes, there are buffets all-round the park. Price: Around $90 for adults and $45 for kids, you can, however, get cheaper tickets if you book in advance of 21 days. Meals and drinks are included (including alcoholic beverages). Xplor is another popular aqua park with enough activities to keep you busy for a whole day, especially if you are the adventurous type. Location: 55km from Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi, or buy transportation with your ticket and take advantage of their pickup service. Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bathrooms: Yes. Changing Rooms: Yes, inclusive of lockers. Restaurant on site: Yes, there is a buffet open from 11 am-5 pm. Price: All-inclusive tickets go for $130, but you can save up to 15% when you book 21 days in advance. Xcaret Park is another theme park that features more than 50 natural and cultural attractions. Location: 56km from Tulum. Getting there: You can rent a car, use a Colectivo (shared bus) from Tulum, take a taxi, or buy transportation with your ticket and take advantage of their pickup service. Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Bathrooms: Yes. Changing Rooms: Yes, inclusive of lockers. Restaurant on site: There are several large buffet-style restaurants in the park. Price: The prices fluctuate with the exchange rate, and it depends if you want general admission or some add ons for your day there. Xcaret Plus ticket is $139.99, but you can save up to 15% when you book 21 days in advance. 7. Snorkeling-diving Tulum is the perfect destination for snorkeling and diving. There are so many places you can marvel at the underwater life, including Tulum’s cenotes; the Dos Ojos Cenote is particularly perfect for both snorkeling and diving. You can also explore marine life at Sian Ka’an Reserve, Xel-Ha Eco-park, or take a day trip to Akumal, where you’ll get to swim with turtles. If you forget to pack your snorkeling gear, most of these places have some that you can rent at a fee. 8. Bike tour in Tulum Taking a guided bike tour is a great way to discover Tulum’s hidden gems. A typical tour will take you to the Mayan’s ruins, several Tulum’s hidden cenotes, local villages, tropical forests, breathtaking beaches, and will also offer a brunch/lunch stopover. The price of the tour will depend on your interest points. 9. Beaches Your trip to Tulum is incomplete without a day or two at the beach. With so many beaches to choose from, you can lounge under a parasol with a cocktail in hand close to town or venture out to a secluded beach with unspoiled surroundings. Great beaches to visit include Playa Paraíso (which translates to Paradise Beach), Playa Ruinas (which boasts well-preserved Mayan ruins overlooking the Caribbean Sea), Las Palmas Public Beach, Akumal Beach (where you can swim turtles) or venture deep into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to Secret Beach. 10. Yoga There are hundreds if not thousands of Yoga retreats in Tulum, so you are sure to have plenty of options. Bookyogaretreats.com is an excellent website to help you decide the best resort to book. This is an excellent tool for you who want to book ahead, arrange airport transfers, read reviews, and pay through a safe website. If you are looking for a retreat with accommodation, it is essential to note that those that offer accommodation at the beach will generally cost you more than those in town.