Tulum Guidebook
Sightseeing
There are lots of places in and around Tulum to visit - its not just beaches - here are a few recommendations
A short ten minute drive to cenote Kaan Luum - fresh water and amazingly large cenote - a well kept secret
194 locals recommend
Laguna de Kaan Luum
A short ten minute drive to cenote Kaan Luum - fresh water and amazingly large cenote - a well kept secret
Two Eyes Cenote
great fresh water cenote "dos ojos" - worth the visit
Casa Cenote
casa cenote is a local favorite - beautiful waters
secluded beach area if you want to get away from the main Tulum beach area - drive to the end of the beach road - small entry fee. Check out the reserve as well
188 locals recommend
Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
secluded beach area if you want to get away from the main Tulum beach area - drive to the end of the beach road - small entry fee. Check out the reserve as well
On the way to Coba via Boca Paila road - fresh water and one of the best cenotes - go early around 8:30 am to avoid the crowds
410 locals recommend
Gran Cenote
On the way to Coba via Boca Paila road - fresh water and one of the best cenotes - go early around 8:30 am to avoid the crowds
a must visit - bring your camera. Lots of parking but people will try to upsell you on other trips - suggest you just do the tour of the ruins - you won't regret it. Located at the entrance of Tulum if you are traveling on the highway from Cancun/Playa del Carmen
973 locals recommend
Archeological Zone of Tulum - Mayan Port City Ruins
Km 230 Cancun - Chetumala must visit - bring your camera. Lots of parking but people will try to upsell you on other trips - suggest you just do the tour of the ruins - you won't regret it. Located at the entrance of Tulum if you are traveling on the highway from Cancun/Playa del Carmen
about 20 minutes outside of Tulum - wonderful cenote - just after the Dos Ojos cenote. Underground cave system with amazing jungle wildlife
58 locals recommend
Cenotes Sac Actún --4.7
Xel-Haabout 20 minutes outside of Tulum - wonderful cenote - just after the Dos Ojos cenote. Underground cave system with amazing jungle wildlife
Food scene
There is a great food scene in Tulum - for vegans to carnivores - and the prices vary widely. Here is a list of some of the places we have tried and enjoyed!
our favorite restaurant in Tulum - fusion food with local ingredients - pricy but worth the money. The desserts are to die for!
12 locals recommend
NÜ Tulum
Carretera Tulum-Boca Pailaour favorite restaurant in Tulum - fusion food with local ingredients - pricy but worth the money. The desserts are to die for!
vegan food - yummy - on the main avenue - always well prepared food and reasonable prices
13 locals recommend
VIVO
Libra Survegan food - yummy - on the main avenue - always well prepared food and reasonable prices
superb location at the bottom of Kukulkan avenue at the beach - bring your bikes - great pizza and Italian food - a little pricy but right on the beach. Bring cash as cards not accepted
148 locals recommend
Posada Margherita
Carretera Tulum-Boca Pailasuperb location at the bottom of Kukulkan avenue at the beach - bring your bikes - great pizza and Italian food - a little pricy but right on the beach. Bring cash as cards not accepted
VERDANT
ChemuyilCaribbean food and home grown herbs and spices - very tasty
Holistika
Calle 10 Surgreat breakfasts at Holistika bike or car - walk is about 25 minutes
great market and eating area - live music and lots of good eats from "food trucks", ice creams etc. On Kukulkan avenue just after the Main Street
109 locals recommend
Palma Central
6 Av. Kukulkangreat market and eating area - live music and lots of good eats from "food trucks", ice creams etc. On Kukulkan avenue just after the Main Street
great service and good food at Bejuco - dinners are reasonably priced
14 locals recommend
Bejuco Restaurant
Mza 26 Aldea Zamagreat service and good food at Bejuco - dinners are reasonably priced
RosaNegra Tulum
5 Carr. Tulum-Boca Pailathe place to be seen in Tulum - on the beach and expensive
Boca Nariz by Giada
Esquina 5ta Avenida Surlive music and great tapas in Aldea Zama - reasonably priced
yaax'ik
249 C. Centauro Surauthentic Mexican food at good prices - great service
La Fonda Tulum
Okotvery good seafood and pasta dishes - excellent service
Laylo Tulum Vegan Lounge
Calle Alfa Nortecool vegan spot - reasonable prices and tasty
really good service - Burritos are to die for and you get a very reasonably priced Corona - highly recommended
212 locals recommend
Burrito Amor
Mz 05 Av. Tulumreally good service - Burritos are to die for and you get a very reasonably priced Corona - highly recommended
Taqueria Honorio
authentic and tasty tacos - great prices and great reviews
Vucciria Tulum
18 Calle Centauro Surcentrally located - very good service and excellent Italian fare
great ceviche and cold beer at a very reasonable price - 10 minutes on bike at top of Kukulkan avenue - closed Wednesdays.
376 locals recommend
El Camello Jr.
great ceviche and cold beer at a very reasonable price - 10 minutes on bike at top of Kukulkan avenue - closed Wednesdays.
clean and very tasty ceviche and fresh fish. Good service and reasonable priced
65 locals recommend
La Barracuda
Mza. 2 Av. Tulumclean and very tasty ceviche and fresh fish. Good service and reasonable priced
great vibes, clean and superb middle eastern food - we love this place. Good parking outside as well - easy to find on the Main Street - 10 minute bike ride or 5 minutes in the car
46 locals recommend
Pasha Turkish And Middle Eastern Cuisine Tulum DOWNTOWN
great vibes, clean and superb middle eastern food - we love this place. Good parking outside as well - easy to find on the Main Street - 10 minute bike ride or 5 minutes in the car
La Hoja Verde
great vegan and vegetarian food - reasonable prices
Hartwood
7 Carr. Tulum-Boca PailaMeat is terrific - cool outdoor vibe
Mur Mur
100% Tulum - good craft beer. Octopus and pork very good
Gypsy Bar
Mz 2 Neptuno Orienteplace to go for Friday drinks - cool spot recently remodeled
great restaurant on the Main Street - designed with bamboo - food is very good and reasonably priced
74 locals recommend
Humo
Avenida Tulumgreat restaurant on the Main Street - designed with bamboo - food is very good and reasonably priced
Pizzeria Manglar
Calle Asuncióngreat pizza in the heart of Tulum - best prices in town by far
great seafood - tostadas are great as well as the tiki tiki cucumber starter
181 locals recommend
Los Aguachiles
Chetumal-Cancungreat seafood - tostadas are great as well as the tiki tiki cucumber starter
great new restaurant - wonderful chef and family owned - best ceviche I have eaten in Tulum. served with a complimentary fine tequila or mezcal - wonderful place close to Xperience Tulum.
Restaurante La Choca Tulum
mza 30 Calle Chichen Itzagreat new restaurant - wonderful chef and family owned - best ceviche I have eaten in Tulum. served with a complimentary fine tequila or mezcal - wonderful place close to Xperience Tulum.
Raw Love
very tasty açai bowls and soups!
Restaurante La Choca Tulum
mza 30 Calle Chichen ItzaGood Italian good at reasonable prices. Service very good and outdoor patio is family friendly
7 locals recommend
Tótem Restaurant & Jazz Lounge
Aldea ZamaGood Italian good at reasonable prices. Service very good and outdoor patio is family friendly
Great ceviche. Service is a little slow but it’s worth the wait. Reasonable prices too!
15 locals recommend
La Negra Tomasa
14 Andromeda OteGreat ceviche. Service is a little slow but it’s worth the wait. Reasonable prices too!
Really reasonable pricing. The octopus is excellent and you pay $2 for a cold beer. Great service. Highly recommended
8 locals recommend
Pescaderia Estrada
Calle Centauro SurReally reasonable pricing. The octopus is excellent and you pay $2 for a cold beer. Great service. Highly recommended
Tulum.Casa
Excellent food and reasonable prices. Located in town centre on Avenida Tulum
Asian Bodega
Great vibe and tasty Asian food - Thai and Japanese
City/town information
a beautiful town with an amazing cenote in the centre of town. Full of artisanal works and local art. Its a two hour drive but worth it if you have the time.
409 locals recommend
Valladolid
a beautiful town with an amazing cenote in the centre of town. Full of artisanal works and local art. Its a two hour drive but worth it if you have the time.
good selection of foods and wine/liquor and reasonably priced. On Boca Paila road in Tulum
609 locals recommend
Chedraui
good selection of foods and wine/liquor and reasonably priced. On Boca Paila road in Tulum
Digital Jungle is built specifically for digital workers. Super fast WiFi, dedicated workspaces and all the offices tools you will need. Also has coffee and restaurant facilities on site - a short bike ride from DK tulum apartment
20 locals recommend
Digital Jungle
Calle TulumDigital Jungle is built specifically for digital workers. Super fast WiFi, dedicated workspaces and all the offices tools you will need. Also has coffee and restaurant facilities on site - a short bike ride from DK tulum apartment
Tulum Beach Clubs
The best way to access the South Beach is via a Beach Club - they usually have a minimum spend - some more than others so check out before you enter - a USD$50 spend per day is normal. Here are some examples of places we have tried
La Zebra is located on main beach - nice location with good service and great cocktail selection. Reasonably priced
187 locals recommend
La Zebra Hotel Tulum
Km 8.2 Carr. Tulum-Boca PailaLa Zebra is located on main beach - nice location with good service and great cocktail selection. Reasonably priced
great and popular beach club with night time parties - recommended
297 locals recommend
Papaya Playa Project
Km 4.5 Carr. Tulum-Boca Pailagreat and popular beach club with night time parties - recommended
great tacos, electronic beat music at night, swings and great beach area
30 locals recommend
Coco Tulum
Carretera Tulum-Boca Pailagreat tacos, electronic beat music at night, swings and great beach area
Super trendy and must take photo outside! It fills up quickly so book early
112 locals recommend
Ahau Tulum
Super trendy and must take photo outside! It fills up quickly so book early
great beach club - a little expensive but great place to party - better to book ahead!
82 locals recommend
Taboo Tulum
great beach club - a little expensive but great place to party - better to book ahead!
Orchid Beach Club
Great food and service
Recommended by guests. I have not visited but they liked the vibe and service
9 locals recommend
Casa Violeta
Recommended by guests. I have not visited but they liked the vibe and service
Beach Locations
There are a number of beach locations to choose from - the most well known are the beaches in the hotel zone known as South Playa where the hotels are located. As you go down Kukulkan Avenue take a right at the beach road and look for a public access point. They are sometimes difficult to find but you can also choose a beach club or a hotel to enter - Just let them know you are interested in a drink or something to eat. The rest of the photos and recommendations in this section are for those beaches that are NOT on the South Beach - these can be a little different vibe (quieter), but all of the beaches in Tulum are great!!
On the north side of the beach road. Playa Paraiso is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, not just in Tulum. It’s why they named it paradise beach after all! Access is easy here but there is a cost ($58 pesos) and you will find plenty of places you can enter easily.
159 locals recommend
Paradise Beach
On the north side of the beach road. Playa Paraiso is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, not just in Tulum. It’s why they named it paradise beach after all! Access is easy here but there is a cost ($58 pesos) and you will find plenty of places you can enter easily.
Another beautiful Tulum beach on the northern side. This beach is the perfect one to visit if you are also visiting Tulum ruins as it’s right below the archeological site. There have been some access restrictions due to COVID so check before you arrive.
27 locals recommend
Playa Ruinas
Another beautiful Tulum beach on the northern side. This beach is the perfect one to visit if you are also visiting Tulum ruins as it’s right below the archeological site. There have been some access restrictions due to COVID so check before you arrive.
If you want to eat the best ceviche in Tulum this is the beach to visit! You can find this beautiful beach just north of Playa Paraiso. It has dreamy views of the ruins and it’s also a good beach to take a snorkeling tour from. However, Tulum doesn’t have the best snorkeling. But if you book a tour they will take you out to the reef in a boat.
46 locals recommend
Playa Pescadores
If you want to eat the best ceviche in Tulum this is the beach to visit! You can find this beautiful beach just north of Playa Paraiso. It has dreamy views of the ruins and it’s also a good beach to take a snorkeling tour from. However, Tulum doesn’t have the best snorkeling. But if you book a tour they will take you out to the reef in a boat.
Slightly more secluded than Playa Paraiso with no restaurants or vendors it’s quieter here than the other beaches. If you want some peace and quiet and to escape the crowds this is the beach for you. There are facilities a short walk away on the other beaches, so if you do get hungry then you can always take a walk to the next Tulum beach along.
12 locals recommend
Las Palmas Public Beach
Slightly more secluded than Playa Paraiso with no restaurants or vendors it’s quieter here than the other beaches. If you want some peace and quiet and to escape the crowds this is the beach for you. There are facilities a short walk away on the other beaches, so if you do get hungry then you can always take a walk to the next Tulum beach along.
beautiful beach in turtle sanctuary - quiet, no bars, no music, no beach vendors - clear water, amazing place
22 locals recommend
Xcacel
beautiful beach in turtle sanctuary - quiet, no bars, no music, no beach vendors - clear water, amazing place
Parque del Jaguar is the new national park in Tulum. Access via Boca Paula road. Best to use the bikes as it is much easier to park at one of five entrances to the 5km long playa paraíso beach. Entrance fee is $58 pesos per person. There are modern showers and bathrooms at all the beach entrances. Beach clubs are rustic but cheap - between $200-$350 pesos and some offer a few beers in that price. Worth the ride!
Parque del Jaguar
Parque del Jaguar is the new national park in Tulum. Access via Boca Paula road. Best to use the bikes as it is much easier to park at one of five entrances to the 5km long playa paraíso beach. Entrance fee is $58 pesos per person. There are modern showers and bathrooms at all the beach entrances. Beach clubs are rustic but cheap - between $200-$350 pesos and some offer a few beers in that price. Worth the ride!