Essential Guide to Visiting Tulum, Mexico

As oversized all-inclusive resorts began to rise from the sands of Cancún and Playa del Carmen up and down the Riviera Maya, the tiny town of Tulum was still almost unheard of, its bare beaches bordered by dense jungle that hid untouched ruins and cenotes brimming with still, turquoise waters. As word started to get out about its immense beauty and raw, removed feel, it began to morph into Mexico’s next destination du jour.

“Tulum has changed so much in just the last 10 years,” says Brendon Leach, CEO of Colibri Boutique Hotels, a collection of luxe, laid-back beachfront properties in Tulum and Nicaragua. When he first opened Mezzanine two decades ago, he was one of the very first to bring an elevated experience to the beaches of Tulum, rigging up an espresso machine to run off diesel, as there still weren’t even power lines reaching this part of the country. It’s easy to get nostalgic for the days when Tulum still felt like a carefully guarded secret, but “even with all the ways it has grown and changed, there’s still so much to love in Tulum if you know where to look,” he says.

Untouched and undiscovered Tulum is not, but its magnetism is still manifest in its profound natural beauty, immense history, and pristine beaches scientifically proven to be the whitest in the world. “Tulum attracts a global community of artists, wellness seekers, and cultural explorers who arrive for the turquoise waters, remain for the energy, and return for the sense of connection,” says Yves Naman, founder of Namron Hospitality, which operates a handful of hotels and restaurants in Tulum. With more Michelin Guide-listed bars and restaurants than any other destination in this part of Mexico, plus a well-loved wellness scene and a brand-new international airport, Tulum has more going for it than ever, even if the secret is out.

Best Hotels & Restaurants

La Valise Tulum

Fall asleep under the stars at La Valise Tulum, known for its breathtaking second-floor master suite with a king-sized bed that rolls out onto the terrace, allowing guests to bask under the Milky Way. This 11-room luxury boutique hotel sits on a calm stretch of beachfront in South Tulum and offers a mesmerizing menu of activities, ranging from snorkeling and mezcal tastings to yoga, Maya healing treatments, and cacao ceremonies. Dining is also a differentiator, with NÜ Tulum listed in Mexico’s Michelin Guide and acclaimed for its open-fire cooking style highlighting locally sourced ingredients.

Lula

You’ll step onto the soft sands of Tulum the second you arrive at Lula, the newest (and my personal favorite!) from the expertly curated collection of properties from Colibri Boutique Hotels. With 19 rooms and suites, plus an intimate spa, boutique, and pool hidden away among tropical foliage, Lula feels decidedly more wellness-focused than its sister properties. The oversized yoga shala hosts daily activities and events, with stunning sea views and sliding glass doors to unwind to the healing sound of waves. Complete with a wood-fired pizza oven and restaurant serving Baja-meets-Mediterranean cuisine, Lula has, in my humble opinion, the only beach club in Tulum worth visiting if you’re looking for a laid-back day on the sand.

Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya

Tulum is far from a resort-driven destination like neighboring Playa del Carmen and Cancún, but visitors looking for an amenity-rich experience will love Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, a World’s Best Award-winning property just a short 25-minute drive from town. This luxe resort with 349 oceanfront rooms and suites has five different pools, a gorgeous beachfront, no less than 11 unique culinary experiences, including Michelin Guide-listed Autor, and an award-winning spa designed to replicate the look and feel of a cenote.

Azulik

Stepping inside Azulik feels nothing short of entering a liveable piece of art, its tangle of beach wood, stone, and concrete crafting spaces reminiscent of bird’s nests and cocoons across its 48-villa property. Connection to self is central here, with an extensive wellness menu ranging from acro-yoga and tarot readings to energy healings and Mesoamerican temazcal ceremonies. Each villa is lit only by candlelight at night to cut down on light pollution, but fear not: these luxe spaces still have outlets to charge your gear and air conditioning should you crave a little something more than just the sea breezes wafting off the Caribbean.

The Beach Tulum

Nearly 300 feet of private, pristine, and adults-only beachfront make The Beach Tulum one of the quieter escapes on the sands of Tulum. Every room offers a private plunge pool or jacuzzi, with plush bi-level rooms offering both private rooftop terraces and direct access to the beach. Together with its next-door neighbor, sister property Cabañas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa, it boasts a spa, gym, open-air yoga studio, pools, and dining spots like fan-favorite Ziggy’s Beach Club.

Best Things to Do

Swim in cenotes.

The unique geology of Mexico’s Yucatán has left the jungles surrounding Tulum studded with cenotes, sinkholes filled with spectacularly still, crystalline waters. Immersed among dense tropical foliage, they make for an enchanting, almost mystical place for a swim, or even a scuba excursion, in the heat of the day. El Gran Cenote and Cenote Dos Ojos are some of the most impressive cenotes in the area; both are easily accessible from town, so they can get busy during the high season. Naman recommends visiting Cenote Caracol instead, a less-crowded spot with crystal-clear waters surrounded by breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites amidst untouched jungle.

Float down a natural lazy river.

Centuries ago, the Maya cut a slender channel through dense mangrove forests to facilitate transportation between two technicolor lagoons. Today, this canal is a natural lazy river, at once a testament to the immense history of the land and a relaxing destination to enjoy the unrivaled beauty of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. I’ll admit I was skeptical about taking a 40-minute float down the river, but once I was bobbing along the water with my guide from Boutique Tours Mexico, I instantly saw the appeal of what is one of Tulum’s most unique attractions.

Explore Maya ruins.

The towering Maya pyramids rising from the perfectly white sands of Tulum may be one of the most iconic and easily recognizable images of Mexico, making them a must-visit destination. If you haven’t had your fill of history after exploring these seaside temples, fear not: the ruins of Muyil are just minutes from Tulum, with even more impressive sites like Cobá and Chichen Itza only slightly more afield, but still within day-trip distance.

Enjoy all things wellness.

“Wellness has always been a major draw to Tulum, even when Tulum was only just starting to register on travelers’ radars,” says Leach of what remains an integral part of the Tulum experience. Good luck finding a hotel these days that doesn’t offer daily yoga classes or healing experiences, giving even beginners a chance to experience this side of Tulum. The more mystically curious will find everything from cacao ceremonies to Maya healing rituals and guided temazcal sweat lodge experiences at wellness-focused destinations like Yäan Healing Sanctuary. Naman recommends sound healing sessions at Holistika, with its dome-shaped space specially designed to augment therapeutic vibrations.

Best Restaurants

ARCA

When I sat down to dinner at ARCA, my waiter quickly fixed the positioning of the single blooming lily on my table to face me, the first tiny detail of a dining experience designed to delight from start to finish. The jungle atmosphere of the outdoor dining space at Jose Luis Hinostroza’s award-winning ARCA feels both rich and raw, perfectly complementing the food that highlights local ingredients and traditions and uses fire as a key element for flavor. Would you believe I’ve bonded with multiple colleagues over our shared love of the roasted prawns, a dish that still sticks with me almost a year later? The cocktail menu is not to be missed either; it’s also been ranked by World’s 50 Best as one of the top bars in the world. Reservations required.

Autor

The crowning culinary achievement of Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya is Autor. Recently named one of the best restaurants in the country, the Michelin Guide describes it as “quickly writing itself into Riviera Maya’s history” with its contemporary Mexican tasting menus. Autor is good any time, but if you’re in town for its Culto a México (CuMé) series, you’re in for a real treat. Executive Chef Alan Carias’s passion project brings together celebrated chefs for a transformational culinary event. Reservations required.

Mezzanine

Thai cuisine in Tulum? It’s been an unexpected beachside staple at Mezzanine for two decades. Thai chefs lead the team for a menu featuring favorite dishes that seamlessly blend authentic flavors with an abundance of locally sourced ingredients. The elevated dining terrace suspended over the beach is dreamy any time of day, especially so when lit with string lights after pink skies subside and night falls. Reservations recommended.

Taqueria Honorio

The tacos of Tulum may not compare to those of Mexico City, but they’re certainly nothing to scoff at. In downtown Tulum, the best tacos are at Taqueria Honorio, known for its cochinita pibil and lechón, though you really can’t go wrong with whatever you order. The spot is so popular it just keeps expanding, but come during the lunch rush and you still might find a line.

Chef’s Table at La Zebra

I’ve eaten a lot of great food in Tulum, but the eight-course tasting menu at La Zebra by Chef Eleazar Bonilla might be the most memorable experience of all. I won’t give away every surprise you’ll encounter along the journey, best experienced when expertly paired with local craft beers and wines, though I will say it seems to magnify every flavor and texture you’ve ever loved about Mexican cuisine, made only better by Bonilla’s immense passion for his work. Get there early for sunset drinks at the colorful Frida’s Lounge. Reservations required.

Best Nightlife

Papaya Playa Project

Tulum has long been known as the place to party on the beach in Mexico, with Papaya Playa Project as one of the most well-known places to stay and play. Papaya Playa’s full moon parties are just as festive as you’d imagine, but the music is good enough to draw droves of revelers every day. Entry is pricy, but partiers affirm it’s one of the best spots seaside to dance well into the wee hours of the morning.

Gitano Jungle

Set back off the sand, the jungle-immersed hotel and restaurant spaces at Gitano transform into Gitano Jungle come nightfall. DJ sets and live music at Saturday Ceremonia parties are a hit, punctuated by pulsing lights and sounds that make it memorable.

Best Shopping

La Troupe

La Troupe is a Tulum favorite, known for its luxe curated collections of beach-ready womenswear handcrafted by more than 150 female makers in southern Mexico. Thoughtful, hand-embroidered designs and a growing selection of home goods root the shop deeply in the region.

La Tiendita

Locally-produced pieces like pottery, stoneware, clean beauty products, health and wellness tools and treatments, and accessories line the walls at La Tiendita. Muted, earthy tones and textures fit perfectly into the beachy, bohemian Tulum design aesthetic, made even better by the shop’s dedication to fair trade principles and local, ethical sourcing.

MexicArte

Look no further than MexicArte for a wide array of everything from kitschy keychains and souvenirs to more high-end, handcrafted art pieces, jewelry, and home decor from a wide array of artisans. There are now four different MexicArte outposts located across Tulum and nearby Akumal.

Areas to Visit

Tulum Beach

It’s the stunning white sands that stretch up and down the coast that drew development to Tulum in the first place. The heart of Tulum’s beachfront is now lined with bohemian boutique hotels, restaurants, shops, yoga studios, and beach clubs galore, even if sections of the other side of the street still retain their jungle-coated, untouched feel. There’s just one real road that runs up and down this slender stretch of coast due to Tulum’s quick growth, making navigating a breeze (but traffic is nothing less than hectic for much of the day).

Downtown Tulum

Just a 15-minute drive from the beach, downtown Tulum still feels relatively small and is dotted with spaces that may be perfect for longer-term stays, like coworking hubs, grocery stores, Airbnbs, and more affordable eateries. However, there is an increasingly impressive array of stylish spots that might tempt you to stay off the beachfront, like the brand-new collection of 10 villas at Trobbu Tulum, offering a luxe private experience and even the option of all-inclusive dining.

Parque del Jaguar

Much of the northern stretch of Tulum’s beachfront has been transformed into the Parque de Jaguar, a protected area encompassing Tulum’s beautiful beachside ruins, as well as a small museum dedicated to Maya artifacts, a tangle of hiking trails, and an observation tower offering spectacular ocean views. Just a handful of eco-luxe boutique hotels and restaurants line this stretch of shore, giving the area a tranquil vibe. The park is open from 8:00 AM – 5:00 p.m., but restaurant and hotel guests can enter outside of these hours, so make sure to make a reservation in advance.

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

In Mayan, the name of the 1.3 million-acre Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve means ‘a place where heaven begins.’ This sprawling UNESCO-protected reserve south of Tulum truly seems divine in origin, with its miles of untouched white-sand beaches, twisting rivers, multi-colored lagoons, and ancient ruins still being unearthed from amidst the verdant jungle. It sits along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, and tempts visitors with activities ranging from snorkeling and diving to paddling in long-hidden cenotes.

Best Time to Visit

“Tulum is a year-round destination, but the experience shifts with the seasons,” says Naman. The best time to visit Tulum for good weather is December through April, when sunny skies and warm temperatures make for ideal beach weather. In May, prices at hotels and resorts start to drop and crowds thin, meaning “travelers enjoy milder weather, fewer crowds, and good value, making it one of the best times to visit for a more personal and comfortable experience.”

Travel in the off-season, from June through November, for even more affordable rates. This is Atlantic hurricane season, so check in on hotel cancellation policies and add purchasing travel insurance to your pre-departure to-do list. Warmer weather also means there will be a higher chance of blooms of yellow-brown sargassum seaweed washing ashore. Hotels do their best to keep beaches clear, but it’s a climate change-driven reality to keep in mind whenever you travel.

How to Get There

Tulum’s brand-new Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport received its first international flight in March 2024, instantly making this beach town much more accessible to travelers. Served by multiple major airlines from cities across the East Coast and Midwest, the new airport cut down what was a 1.5-hour drive from Cancún. However, some will still find this airport to be easier, given the unmatched flight availability to and from Cancún.

Both downtown Tulum and the airport also have stops on the newly debuted Tren Maya, a major railway project that was fully completed at the end of 2024. The train now spans five different states in Mexico, connecting beachside hotspots like Tulum and Playa del Carmen with lesser-visited gems like the colonial city of Mérida and ancient ruins like Chichen Itza and Palenque.

How to Get Around

Tulum has just one principal seaside street, meaning that during high season, traffic near the beach can be unbearable. Many visitors prefer to simply walk or bike up and down the beachside road, often saving time in the process despite there being little to no demarcation for sidewalks.

Traffic aside, most visitors to Tulum rely on taxis for the duration of their stay, including to and from the airport, though fares can be surprisingly expensive. Renting a car is great for day trips, but is mostly unnecessary for those planning to spend the majority of their vacation by the beach. The budget-conscious should consider using ADO buses to pay a flat, affordable rate between town and the airport, which will save a significant amount on the cost of an airport taxi.