What to do in Tulum: 12 must-sees, from the ruins to the cenotes

Perched on a cliff above the Caribbean Sea, the Maya ruins of Tulum are one of the few Maya sites built on the coast. The walled city, whose name means "wall" in Maya, was an active trading port around 1200 AD until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.

What to see on site:
- El Castillo: the main building at the cliff edge, likely used as a lighthouse or temple.
- Temple of the Frescoes: its Maya wall paintings are well preserved.
- Temple of the Descending God: dedicated to a winged deity shown upside down.

A staircase leads down from the site to Playa Ruinas, a small beach below. Plan 1 to 2 hours; shade is scarce.

Cenotes are natural freshwater sinkholes formed when limestone caves collapse; the Maya saw them as gateways to the underworld. Around Tulum the water is clear and cool, ideal for swimming, snorkeling and sometimes diving.

The main ones near Tulum:
- Gran Cenote: the most accessible, great for beginners, with small turtles.
- Cenote Calavera: more adventurous, with its light shafts.
- Cenote Dos Ojos: an underwater cave network popular with divers.
- Cenote Zacil-Ha: a small, quiet open cenote.

Bring a mask; only biodegradable sunscreen is allowed to protect the ecosystem.

About a 2h-2h30 drive from Tulum (153 km), Chichen Itza is one of Mexico's most famous Maya sites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

How to get there:
- By rental car: full freedom; leave early (6-7am) to avoid heat and crowds.
- By guided tour: transport included, often paired with a cenote swim and a Valladolid stop.
- By ADO bus: cheaper but longer and less flexible.

What to see: the Kukulcan pyramid (El Castillo), the Great Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors, the Skull Platform and the El Caracol observatory.

On the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve covers about 528,000 hectares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Its name means "origin of the sky" in Maya. It brings together mangroves, coral reefs, lagoons and tropical forests.

Wildlife is abundant: jaguars, pumas, howler monkeys, hundreds of bird and fish species, and it is a sea-turtle nesting site.

You explore the reserve by boat, on guided hikes or snorkeling on the reef. Two ways in from Tulum: the coastal road to Punta Allen, through the Sian Ka'an arch south of the Zona Hotelera, and Muyil for the lagoons and Maya canals. Go with a certified guide: there is almost no tourist infrastructure.

About forty kilometres north-west of Tulum, in the jungle, Coba was one of the great Maya cities of the northern Yucatán, linked to its neighbours by a network of white causeways, the sacbés. You explore it on foot, by hire bike or by pedicab, from one group of temples to the next.

Its main temple, Nohoch Mul, reopened for climbing in late 2025 after six years of closure, via a wooden staircase laid over the original steps. From the top, the view stretches across the canopy to the Coba lagoons.

Playa Paraiso is one of Tulum's best-known public beaches, just south of the archaeological site. White sand, turquoise water and a generally calm sea make it a good spot for swimming and snorkeling.

A few cafes and restaurants line the beach, but prices climb quickly. Bring cash in pesos, water and biodegradable sunscreen. Being exposed, its condition depends on sargassum between May and October: check before heading out.

Tulum Pueblo is the town center, a few kilometers from the coast. More affordable and more local than the hotel zone, it has traditional restaurants, taquerias, small hotels and hostels, craft markets and a lively nightlife.

It is also the transport hub: the ADO bus station sits right downtown. Bikes, scooters and taxis are easy to rent here for the beaches, the ruins, the cenotes or Sian Ka'an. Carry cash, as many shops don't take cards.

About ten kilometers north of Tulum (the Tankah area), Casa Cenote (or Cenote Manati) is an open cenote connected to the Caribbean Sea. That link creates a mix of fresh and salt water that draws tropical fish, turtles and, at times, manatees.

Lined with mangroves, the site is calm and easy to reach, with parking. People come for snorkeling, kayaking and swimming. Arrive early in the morning for clearer water and fewer people.

About 15 minutes south of Tulum, Kaan Luum Lagoon combines a large, shallow turquoise lagoon with a deep-blue central cenote that drops to around 80 meters (divers only). The contrast between the two is striking.

The lagoon is fine for swimming and snorkeling; you can spot birds and small fish. An entrance fee helps maintain the site. Reachable by car or taxi from Tulum, it is a quieter alternative to the crowded beaches.

Playa Ruinas is the small beach at the foot of the Tulum archaeological site. You reach it from inside the site (ticket required), down a wooden staircase from the cliff.

The setting is what sets it apart: Maya temples overlook turquoise water and pale sand. The cove is quiet, with no hotels or services, which makes it a fine photo spot, especially early morning for the light and calm. Bring water and cash.

Twenty to twenty-five minutes north of Tulum on Highway 307 towards Akumal, Cenote Taak Bi Ha lies inside the Dos Ojos park. It is an underground cenote with deep-blue water, quieter than the busiest sites.

You can swim and snorkel here, sometimes dive. Reach it by car, scooter, organized tour or by bike for the more active. Bring your snorkeling gear or rent it on site, and come early to enjoy the calm.

About twenty kilometres south of Tulum on Highway 307, Muyil is one of the oldest Maya sites on the coast, occupied from 350 BC until the 13th-15th centuries. Its steep-walled Petén-style pyramids stand by the Sian Ka'an lagoon, once linked to the Caribbean by canals.

The city traded jade, obsidian, cacao, honey and salt with Coba, 44 km to the north. Far quieter than Tulum, it is also the way into the lagoons and canals of the Sian Ka'an reserve.