Once a sleepy fishing village, Tulum has turned into a major travel and yoga destination. Tulum is characterized by white sandy beaches and turquoise water. With a vibrant feeling throughout the town that is full of music, dancing culture and yoga retreats, you will probably love exploring this place. We have enjoyed every minute spent in this now bustling beach town and wanted to give you the list of our favorite things to do (mostly on a budget) in Tulum, Quintana Roo.
Our story with Tulum started three and a half years ago when we decided to go on a two-week vacation from our then-home of Portland, Oregon. The funny part about it is that this vacation in Tulum was what convinced us to start our journey of living abroad full-time. When we got back to Oregon, we bought one-way tickets to Cancun airport, without telling anyone for a few months. We saved our money, got rid of most of our stuff and took the leap of moving to the Yucatan Peninsula in 2018. Tulum had been our inspiration!
Tulum is located 2 hours south of Cancun, Mexico at the end of a long stretch of highway lined with giant mega-resorts (one after another). As you travel on this highway it seems like it will never end and then after about two hours, you enter the Puebla of Tulum. The first thing you will notice if driving, is the massive speed bumps that keep traffic slow, but also assist in helping people cross the street.
The town of Tulum is split into two sides: the Puebla and the beach road (Hotel Zone). Even with the close proximity of these two areas, they feel like they are worlds apart.
In the center of the city, the main street is lined with small local stores that sell hammocks, souvenirs and clothing. You will also see dozens of restaurants that have an organic hippie vibe using advertising such as organic, farm to table and local. A lot of the advertising is in English to accommodate the consistent tourist population.
We have spent hours walking, driving or riding our bikes up and down the main strip. One of our favorite activities while staying in the Pueblo is taking a road that we have not traveled down and finding a local restaurant. In this case, we usually follow our ears and nose listening for some live music or the great smell of Mexican Cuisine.
The Pueblo in Tulum does not necessarily have the instagramable pull of the beachside, but it has many wonders to explore plus inexpensive and delicious food. We highly recommend that you try it out and book an Airbnb in the Pueblo. You will save money on your rental to spend on tours or dinners out, plus have a lot more of the local flavor of Mexico.
The beach is obviously the main tourist destination for those who visit Tulum. The expensive and fancy resorts sit on the Caribbean ocean. However, if you are on a budget and want to spend time on the beach you can still find a few affordable stays which typically exist on the “jungle side” of the Beach Road (meaning you will have to walk across the street to get to the beach). It is also tough to find affordable food and beverages along the Beach Road, you will typically find American prices, even on the high end.
We recommend biking and walking if you have the energy because you will bump into many cool things to see and do spontaneously! However it is also a good idea to rent a car so that you can easily go on the many day trips available within an hour or two away.
There is a very nice pathed bike path from the Pueblo to the Beach Road that we love. It is pretty long, about 3 miles, but on a bike it goes fast. Once you are on the Beach Road however, be cautious because the separate bike path stops and you will be on the single road with a lot of traffic, most likely. Stay alert and always have a bike light if you are riding at night.
We love to walk around the Pueblo because we see a lot of typical Mexican cultural activities happening. Especially at the corner of the main strip Avenida Tulum and Calle Centuro Sur.
Go to the many free public beaches on the northern “Old Tulum” beach road (the section closest to the ruins)! Head to a grocery store in the Pueblo (ie Soriana, Chedraui) and pack an iced cooler with your favorite snacks and cold beverages before hitting the beach. Bring sunscreen, beach chairs, towels, a hat, a book and a speaker for music if you want.
This was seriously our favorite way to go to the beach. With the recent sargassum (seaweed) issue that has affected Riveria Maya since 2018, we found these public beaches were much cleaner. The water also was more crystal clear than the beaches along the hotel zone.
We also have recommendations for beach clubs that you can go to for access to the beach, like Ziggy’s Beach Club pictured below. You just have to buy at least one drink. However we preferred being able to access the beach hassle free.
On the free beaches listed below, you will not feel strange about drinking or eating your own food and beverages because you’ll see many other people doing the same thing. We actually liked the vibes better because there are more families, kids running around, but yet it’s still very peaceful, chill and fun.
As noted above the food in Tulum, for the most part, is focused on organic ingredients mixed with local Mexican cuisine and seafood. You can also find many Italian, Sushi and Mediterranean restaurants. We suggest that you walk down the street and see what calls to you. Here is our list of favorite restaurants in Tulum.
Pro Tip: Cash is King in Tulum!
Make sure to go to a bank with an ATM (there are many in the downtown Pueblo near the main Zocalo/square) and take out lots of pesos because for some reason cash is king pretty much everywhere you go in Tulum! Depending on your budget we would recommend taking out several thousand pesos if not more, because every time you make an ATM transaction the bank and your bank back home will charge you a few dollars typically.
Tulum is located at the very southern tip of the road right before you enter into one of the largest bio reserves on the Peninsula— Sian Kaan. This makes it an ideal spot for taking tours to see the jungle where you can see monkeys or take a boat trip out into the Sian Kaan reserve to witness the conservation efforts to help the manatees, turtles and sea birds.
For tours that support the local Mayan economy and show you authentic Mayan village life (ie making tortillas, handicrafts, etc) we have been recommended:
Popular and Recommended (we haven’t been yet):
The Tulum Ruins are a wonderful way to spend a morning or sunset. Our advice would be to try as hard as you can to avoid the heat in the middle of the day because you will be searching for shade. However, if you do go in the hot part of the day be sure to walk past the main buildings until you reach the very edge of the cliff overlooking the aqua sea. There are steps leading down to the beach where you can jump in to get a much-needed refreshment. Bring a towel and wear a swimsuit under your clothes.
The Tulum ruins were developed in the 13th century by the Mayan people living there. It was used as an hub for international trade and center for distribution of goods throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Similar to what a port would act like today. The only one of its kind, Tulum is epically positioned high up on a cliff it also acted like a fort and gate from any possible intruders or enemies who might wish to enter the Mayan city state.
It was originally named Zamá which is Mayan for “Dawn,” because it is facing the morning sunrise over the Caribbean Sea. The Tulum Ruins are a must-see for anyone visiting the area. Even though the area is small and it won’t take more than a couple of hours to walk through, it is very memorable and beautiful. The history and preservation of the stone structures is remarkable as well.
You cannot go to many places in Tulum without bumping into a store to buy something. You will find sustainably-minded stores almost everywhere. We have loved spending the day walking around the local stores in Tulum’s Pueblo. We enjoy buying reusable and sustainable items and find it very important for the environment as well as supporting the local economy. Here are some local items to keep your eye out for while in Tulum:
In Macario Gomez (a village 20 mins west of Tulum on the way to Coba) you will find a small, authentic local Mayan artisan community lined with countless shops of these artisan pieces mentioned. You will most likely have the chance to meet the maker of what you buy and hear a little about who they are. We have been so happy to buy a dream catcher for example, from a local Mayan family who were so gracious and welcoming. Highly recommend taking an afternoon to explore Macario Gomez!
If you opt for the most budget-friendly experience, book one of these hostels
Regardless of what you may have heard of Tulum and its growing popularity, we think Tulum is an amazing place to vacation and go and explore. We have figured out ways that we can make a week or two completely affordable and still enjoy all there is to see and do in Tulum. Check out our video below for more ideas and visual inspiration about Tulum.
Let us know if you have any questions or recommendations of your own for more things to do in Tulum!
We recommend spending about $50-$60 per person per day in Tulum. This includes food, drinks, activities, transportation and accommodation.
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