9 Best Things to Do in Tulum Right Now

Tulum is a hot destination right now. As one of the quieter destinations in the Riviera Maya, Tulum offers the best of many worlds. Whether you want to chill on a quiet beach, adventure in the jungle, or get some culture and history of the area, Tulum is a great place to see it all.

Here are a few things to do in Tulum that we recommend checking out if you’re staying in the area. If you are looking for a hotel or place to stay, we recommend visiting Reservations.com and Last Minute Travel. If you need help getting to Tulum from the Cancun airport, you can read our post at https://therivieramaya.org/cancun-to-tulum/.

To read about hotels and places to stay in Tulum, check out Our Favorite Hotels in Tulum.

1. Tulum Ruins

The ruins, or Zona Arqueologica de Tulum, are one of the biggest draws to the area, and a must-visit. They aren’t our favorite ruins in the Yucatan, but they are still something you should see when you’re in town. As one of the most recent Mayan cities, Tulum is relatively well-preserved. The ruins are just outside of town, and you can easily take a colectivo or taxi to get right to the entrance. In addition to beautiful ruins, you can take a dip in the water just below the buildings for a special swim.

Tulum is one of the more highly-visited sites in the Riviera Maya and Yucatan peninsula. When you visit the Tulum ruins, we recommend going as early as possible. The crowds aren’t too insane, but it is much mellower in the mornings and on weekdays. Keep in mind that the zone is not well-marked. The buildings are labeled and there are placards, but it may be worth your time to print some information ahead of time or do some research. Another option is to pause and listen to other tour guides to get some more information while you are there.

There are options for tours with cenote swims and packed lunches. However, you really can hit the Tulum ruins by yourself. It’s relatively easy to find, to navigate, and see the whole thing. Sidetracked Travel Blog offers some great tips for visiting the ruins in their article here that we recommend.

To learn a little bit about the history of the Maya people, check out our post Best Books About the Maya – Mayan History Books.

2. Sian Ka’an Biosphere (and Muyil Ruins)

Sian Ka’an Biosphere is a park and World Heritage Site located just a few minutes south of Tulum. With over one million acres, this reserve is an environmentally-conscious place to spend some time. As the third largest protected area in Mexico, Sian Ka’an is twice as big as Rhode Island. If you’re staying in Tulum or even visiting, you must visit.

There are many ways to check out Sian Ka’an. You can head to the park and walk around yourself, or go with a tour. There are tons of tours available. Some are tours with snorkeling that include a look at the ruins and some time in the water, while others offer some education about the flora and fauna.

Right at the Sian Ka’an Biosphere rests the ruins of Muyil. Muyil is a smaller site compared to other places where you can find ruins, and it’s definitely worth seeing. Located at the edge of Sian Ka’an, Muyil is an easy trip, and you can guide yourself through the ruins. To learn more about visiting the Muyil ruins, you can read our post at https://therivieramaya.org/muyil/.

3. El Gran Cenote

There are absolutely a ton of cenotes in the Yucatan, many of which are close to the town of Tulum. One of the most well-known cenotes is El Gran cenote. It’s located just a few kilometers outside of Tulum, and offers a wonderful introduction to cenotes. With crystal clear waters, multiple connected swimming holes, and beautiful surrounding jungle, El Gran is one of our favorite ways to get outside and be in nature.

Unfortunately, this is one of the more popular cenotes in the area. This means you should get there early and try to go on a weekday if possible. It also costs a little bit more than many other cenotes, but is well worth the expense in our opinion. It opens at 10:00am every day, has bathrooms and lockers, and some food stands right outside the entrance. You can take a taxi to the cenote simply by mentioning the name to your driver!

4. Coba Ruins

The Coba ruins are one of the lesser-known ruin sites in the Riviera Maya, but they are becoming more well-known in recent years. Unlike the big sites like Tulum and Chichen Itza, you can actually climb the buildings and really be with them at Coba. Located just northwest from Tulum, you can take a colectivo, taxi, or drive yourself up to this spot.

Like Muyil, you can investigate these ruins by yourself easily. However, there are a handful of useful guides you can hire to learn more and dive deeper into this site. If you do take a tour, we recommend taking a morning guided tour as the ruins are quieter in the morning (and you can beat the heat). There are also several cenotes near Coba you can check out!

5. Snorkel & Dive

Like many places up and down the coast here in Mexico, there is some fantastic snorkeling and diving. One of the most popular spots is the Tulum Reef. Located just a few hundred meters off the coast, there is incredible snorkeling and diving for those who want to see some marine life.

You can find diving tours and snorkeling tours online or in town at one of the local dive shops. Whether you’re just visiting or staying in Tulum, take the time to go snorkeling. Tulum has some of the best snorkeling in Mexico, and is sure to provide a fun activity for the whole family.

6. Get Adventurous

This is definitely more of a tourist activity than many of the other items on this list, but it is one of the most fun things to do in Tulum for sure. We can be adventurous and go on excursions almost anywhere we visit, but Tulum offers unique environments and opportunities. Whether you take an ATV tour or go ziplining, there are great ways to get outside and have some fun.

We recommend picking one activity for a day, and just going for it. We all have different comfort levels when it comes to adrenaline and excitement, so find something that feels right for you. You can go out on the water, but we recommend taking some time to see the jungle around Tulum. You’ll likely spend time at the beach and in the water, so seeing a new environment can be fun.

7. Visit an Eco-Park

Okay, if the last thing to do on this list was touristy, then this one is extra-touristy. The eco-parks in the area surely have locals and tourists from within Mexico, but they are a more touristy activity. That being said, we love them! They can be expensive, but they generally provide a full day of fun and activity. From snorkeling and floating down rivers to diving in caves and ziplining, these parks are amazing. Think of your normal amusement park, but set entirely around water and nature.

There are quite a few of parks up and down the coast near Tulum. Our favorite eco park close to Tulum is Aktun Chen. Located just up north from Tulum, this is a relatively new park. There are many others worth checking out. Two of the most popular ones are Xel-Ha and Xcaret. You can read our post about these two parks and how they compare at https://therivieramaya.org/xel-ha-vs-xcaret/.

8. Chill on the Beach

Tulum has beautiful beaches, as does a lot of the Riviera Maya. In fact, Tulum made our list of our favorite beaches in Mexico. One of my favorite places to swim is right below the Tulum ruins. You’ll have to pay an entrance fee for the park, but there is something magical about swimming next to the Mayan structures. You can also head just a bit north to the beautiful Xpu-Ha beach.

There are many beaches worth checking out. Some are more active and popping, while others are quieter. Culture Trip has a great article about the best beaches in Tulum that we love. It may seem silly to say, but you have to hit the beach in Tulum! With all of the other activities, we can forget about the beautiful Caribbean waters and coastline.

9. Explore the Town, Art, and Food

Finally, Tulum is an awesome town with quite a bit of culture. The artistic, hippie community in Tulum makes it one of the best places to visit in Mexico. We’re not sure why it’s become this, but it makes it a great place to eat, drink, and check out local art. You can walk around town and taste food, take a food tour, or visit one of the many art galleries or street artists.

One of our favorites is the Tulum Art Club. It perfectly represents the art scene in Tulum. You can shop, explore, or stay at their studio hotel. Like many places in Tulum, you’ll find fresh organic and healthy fare to keep your body rocking in the heat!

To read about hotels and places to stay in Tulum, check out Our Favorite Hotels in Tulum.