Tulum is not just an archaeological site and a few picturesque beaches.

Its greatest attraction is the combination of swimming, cenotes, nature, Mayan ruins and excursions that you can all experience during a single stay.

We were most impressed by the beaches in the Zona Hotelera, our first proper swim in a cenote and the varied programme at Aktun Chen.

However, if you want to see turtles, dolphins or the more remote parts of the Sian Ka’an reserve, it’s worth setting aside a day for an organised excursion.

View excursions in Tulum

Take a dip in a cenote

In our opinion, swimming in a cenote is one of the experiences you shouldn’t miss on your first trip to the Yucatán.

There are dozens of them around Tulum, but there’s no need to visit several very similar places in a single day.

Of the best-known cenotes, we’d recommend the following:

• Gran Cenote is the best place to get your first taste of cenotes. It’s close to Tulum and combines open water, caves, fish and freshwater turtles.
• We recommendDos Ojos mainly for its more striking cave environment. It is also one of the best-known diving spots.
• Aktun Chen offers the most varied experience. We enjoyed the combination of a walking tour of a dry cave, a mini-zoo and a swim in an underground cenote teeming with fish.

If you have a car, choose one cenote and combine your visit with other nearby attractions. Without a car, organised cenote tours may be a good option, as they include transport, entrance fees and usually equipment as well.

Certified divers can, for example, do two dives at Dos Ojos.

For standard dives in the illuminated cave sections, a basic Open Water certification is usually sufficient. True cave diving beyond the reach of daylight requires special training.

Is it worth visiting the smaller cenotes?

It depends on what you’re expecting, but in my opinion, probably not.

There are dozens of small cenotes around Tulum. Perhaps even hundreds. They really are literally everywhere.

Entrance fees to the small cenotes are usually around 130 mxn, but we visited one in the Zona Hotelera and they’re really just small forest ponds.

So there was no ‘wow’ factor, unlike in the larger cenotes such as the Gran Cenote.

Enjoy a day on the beaches

In the peak winter season, we reckon Tulum has the best easily accessible beaches in the whole of the Riviera Maya. The sand is exceptionally fine, the coastline is lined with palm trees and, in good weather, the sea is a striking turquoise colour.

The most famous public beaches can be found along the Zona Hotelera.

The Mexican beaches themselves are public, but some access routes lead through hotels or beach clubs.

A day pass is only worth it if you want to use the sun loungers, toilets, showers, swimming pool or staff services. We wouldn’t buy one just to get onto the sand.

Outside the peak season, the east-facing beaches in Tulum are prone to sargassum. Some hotels clear the seaweed regularly, but no beach in Tulum is reliably protected against its presence.

You’ll get the most out of the Zona Hotelera atmosphere if you stay there for at least one night. Once the day-trippers have left, you can stroll down the main street, go for dinner and be among the first on the beach in the morning.

Book a hotel in the Zona Hotelera, Tulum

Go swimming with the turtles in Akumal

One of the most popular activities in the whole of the Riviera Maya is swimming with sea turtles in Akumal Bay, about a 30-minute drive from Tulum.

A reliable route to the beach leads through Tsúuk Akumal Nature Park, and for international visitors, 7 usd is available.

However, the entry fee itself does not include swimming in the protected areas above the seagrass beds, where the turtles most often feed. Access to these areas is permitted only with a guide.

Tours often combine a visit to Akumal with a trip to a cenote or the ruins at Tulum. Before booking, check whether the price includes transport, beach access, a guide, equipment and any fees for entering the protected area.

• 👉 Compare prices for swimming with turtles in Akumal Bay

Head to the Sian Ka’an Nature Reserve

TheSian Ka’an Nature Reserve begins practically on the southern edge of Tulum, but the reserve is vast and offers two very different excursions.

Muyil and a swim through the Mayan Canal

Muyil is the better option if you only have half a day. You’ll explore some smaller Mayan ruins, walk through the jungle to a lagoon and take a boat to a natural waterway, where you can float along wearing a life jacket.

If you don’t have a car, you can book a half-day trip to Muyil from Tulum.

Punta Allen and a boat safari

Punta Allen is a full-day trip focused primarily on wildlife. During the cruise, you can see wild dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays and many species of birds.

The journey along the unpaved road is long and slow. That is precisely why Punta Allen is one of those activities where an organised trip makes sense even for travellers with a hire car.

A full-day boat safari from Tulum usually includes transport, the boat trip, snorkelling and lunch at Punta Allen.

• 👉 Check prices for trips to Sian Ka’an

Explore the Mayan ruins

The Tulum Archaeological Zone is the town’s main historical attraction. If you’re staying in Tulum itself, we don’t think there’s much point in booking an expensive organised trip just to visit the ruins. Head there on your own first thing in the morning, when it’s not so hot yet.

If you want to discover a much less touristy and more authentic Mayan city, head to Cobá, which is about a 45-minute drive away.

A day at the Xel-Há theme park

The Xel-Há nature theme park is about a 20-minute drive from Tulum and is one of the best activities for families with children.

The entrance fee is high, but it includes snorkelling equipment, most of the water attractions, food, drinks, a towel and a locker. It’s therefore worth arriving first thing in the morning and staying until the afternoon.

We wouldn’t choose Xel-Há just for the snorkelling. Its biggest advantage is the combination of many activities in one place, with no extra charges and no constant travelling between locations.

Go on day trips to other places

From Tulum, you can also head to the larger Mayan ruins further inland.

Chichén Itzá is the most famous site in Yucatán, but it’s a long way away and you should allow for a full day’s trip. In our opinion, the best combination is Chichén Itzá, a swim in one of the cenotes and a short stop in Valladolid.

Playa del Carmen is another resort on the Riviera Maya with a much livelier town centre, more shops and restaurants. You can easily visit it in half a day.

Bacalar is home to the unique Seven-Coloured Lagoon, but it’s about a 2.5-hour drive away, so you should plan for at least a full-day or two-day trip.

What should you do if there’s seaweed on the beach?

Sargassum doesn’t mean your whole stay in Tulum is ruined. Thanks to the cenotes and caves, there’s plenty to do in the area even on days when the sea doesn’t look great.

The best alternatives are Aktun Chen, Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote or the inland part of Sian Ka’an near Muyil. The archaeological zone or a trip to Cobá are also good options.

During heavy rain or storms, do not plan to swim in the cenotes or go on boat trips. The dry cave at Aktun Chen may still be accessible in poorer weather, but during a tropical downpour it is better to wait for conditions to improve.

Is it possible to explore Tulum without a car?

Yes, if you only want to visit the ruins, the beaches and one or two organised activities. You can get around the town by taxi or bicycle, and there are colectivos running to places along the main road 307.

• 👉 Our experience with transport in Tulum

Uber doesn’t operate in Tulum and taxis are expensive. If you want to visit the cenotes, Akumal, Aktun Chen, Cobá and other places on the Riviera Maya over the course of a few days, a hire car will give you considerably more freedom.

Compare car hire prices at Tulum Airport