The Top Things You Must Do On Your First Trip to Tulum, Mexico

Because of Tulum’s fame and notoriety these days, it might go without saying that Tulum is a tropical dream. Of course, Tulum’s world-renowned beach and countless cenotes are each must-do activities in their own right, and I’ve included some of my favorite ways to best experience each below. But in addition to that, there’s so much more to see and do in Tulum and the surrounding areas that is worth your time, especially if it’s your first time visiting this part of Mexico!

When you’re in Tulum, you’ll want to get a good overview of the beach and the jungle, the ancient Mayan history, and the gastronomical and wellness scenes that make Tulum such a coveted destination for people from all over the world. 

Here are the top things you must do on your first trip to Tulum to really get a taste of what this part of Mexico has to offer those in search of relaxation, rejuvenation, inspiration, and adventure!

RELATED: The Ultimate One-Week Guide to Tulum, Mexico

The Top Things You Must Do On Your First Trip to Tulum, Mexico

1. Spend Time (Lots of Time!) On Tulum’s Beaches

The beach in Tulum is really spectacular, and it’s not hard to see why. Creamy white sand, turquoise calm waters, and pastel pink sunsets make the beach here truly unforgettable and immediately calming. For anyone visiting Tulum, especially for the first time, the beach is an undeniable must-do. 

You can experience Tulum’s beach in three main ways:

By Staying in a Tulum Beach Hotel 

The beachfront hotel zone in Tulum is dotted with hotels and resorts that offer “private” access to the ocean. I say “private” because technically, you can walk wherever you want once you’re actually on the sand, but getting onto the beach itself typically involves staying in a Tulum beach hotel or visiting a beach club for the day. 

The hotels on Tulum’s beachfront are generally much pricier than the rest of the accommodations in town, but if you can swing it even if only for a night or two, it’s worth it to be able to wake up just steps from the water. If you want a full list of hotels I recommend, you can find them all listed on this post!

By Visiting One of Tulum’s Beach Clubs 

If you aren’t staying on a beachfront property, you can still visit a beach club for the day and lounge around near the water. Some beach clubs I visited or have heard good things about over the years include: 

• Taboo Tulum: Taboo is known as one of the most lively beach club party spots in Tulum.
• Papaya Playa Project: Picture hatched roofs covering open-air seating right on the beach. At Papaya Playa, you can chill out in a more secluded part of the Tulum beach strip.
• Mia Restaurant & Beach Club: At Mia, you can relax by the pool or on the beach depending on your vibe. This spot is casual but can quickly come to life with its day parties and DJ parties into the night.
• Nomade Tulum: “La Popular” is their beach restaurant under the palm trees. It’s entirely open-air and serves Caribbean-inspired dishes. The Nomade also has a Japanese restaurant, Kuu, and Mediterranean restaurant, Macando, onsite, so you can rest assured you’ll eat well as this beach club.
• Habitas Tulum: A modern, glass-walled indoor/outdoor building with low seating in the coastal jungle. Moro serves latin cuisine with Middle-Eastern inspiration.
• Ziggy Beach: This is your classic, casual hotel beach bar complete with sun loungers and easy bites & cocktails. Ziggy is known as one of the more chill, family-friendly beach clubs you can bring a book and be unbothered.
• Coco Tulum: The contrast of the all-white driftwood beach shack-like structure and the striking turquoise waters is magical at this relaxing, bachelorette party-friendly beach club.
• Ahau Tulum: You can choose to enjoy Kapok’s Mexican seafood cuisine in their restaurant or at the Ahau beach grill. Or, if you’re feeling something lighter, their Raw Love cafe onsite serves smoothies, soups, bowls and other plant-based dishes. Ahau Tulum is also the location of the famous Ven a La Luz art installation you may have seen on social media.
• Diamante K: A chill beach club with its own private, rocky beach outcrop. This is a nice place to get away from crowds and simply enjoy the Caribbean sea.
• Gitano Beach: Another popular party spot with a chic vibe, Gitano Beach is considered one of the most popular beach clubs in Tulum along with Taboo and Bagatelle.
• Bagatelle Tulum: An upscale, French Riviera-inspired beach club that’s very much a scene.
• Vagalume: A nice balance of party and chill, Vagalume has a really fun energy to it. It’s also known for its iconic open palms pool bridge (which is, yes, a really cool photo opp!).
• Distrito Panamera: Distrito Panamera is a newer addition to the Tulum beach scene, but quickly becoming one of my favorites if you’re seeking a chilled out beach day. It’s a beautiful hotel with a stunning pool (see below!) and a rooftop bar you can grab sunset cocktails at when the beach club closes for the day.

Generally, you can just show up and ask for a cabana or a table, but if it’s the weekend, or if there’s a big event or festival in town, you may want to make a reservation well in advance to guarantee yourself a spot. 

By Heading to One of Tulum’s Public Beaches

To visit the beach without paying for beach club access or a cabana, you can bring your own towel and drinks and head to one of Tulum’s public-access beaches: 

• Las Palmas
• Playa Paraiso
• Playa Ruinas 

These hotels offer a wider stretch of sand, a more chill, laid-back vibe, and more parking than the hotel zone if you’re renting a car while in town. 

Parking in the hotel zone is practically impossible (or costly) unless you’re staying at one of the hotels. 

2. Visit as Many Cenotes as Possible

Derived from the Mayan word “dzonot,” which means “sacred well,” cenotes are fascinating freshwater underworlds that dot the Yucatan Peninsula. The entire peninsula is made up of limestone rock, which characterizes everything about the unique environment here, from the cenotes to the thick jungle that spreads far, but not very high, in comparison to other jungles in this part of the world. A local guide explained to me that this is because the trees here have to search deeper underground for nutrients, which “stunts” their growth above ground. 

Cenotes in the area can either be open, semi-open, or cavernous (entirely underground and accessible only by hole or tunnel). Many of them are connected by networks of subterranean cave systems, and were largely regarded in ancient Mayan culture as the gateway to communicating with the gods. 

I could go on and on about cenotes, and how fascinatingly beautiful they are, but we’ll start with what will be close to you when you’re in Tulum. There are tons of gorgeous cenotes in this part of the peninsula alone, and I encourage you to visit at least one or two while you’re here!

Some of the best cenotes in Tulum include:

• Dos Ojos (one of my favorites): This massive underwater cave system is an epic introduction to the world of cenotes. It’s hard to even imagine the scale of these caves until you see the flashlight from a scuba diver beaming up from a hidden cavern beneath the surface. Dos Ojos is a very popular cenote and you can swim, float with a life jacket, and snorkel around to explore.
• Cenote Escondido y Cenote Cristal (my other favorite!): These two cenotes are across the highway from one another, so you’ll have so dart across the road in order to get from one to the other – be sure to look both ways! I love these cenotes because they offer incredible snorkeling (better than Dos Ojos, in my opinion), and a wooden jumping platform. You may see turtles here!
• Zacil-Ha: A more developed property built around an open-air cenote, which is fully exposed to the sun. Essentially, it’s like visiting a natural swimming pool, with a restaurant, lounge areas, a zip line, and a jumping platform!
• Cenote Calavera: This sunken cenote is a really cool photo opp that you may have seen online. You can only enter by jumping down into the water, and to get back up, you climb a fixed ladder.
• Gran Cenote: A stunning cenote with wooden platforms built around it for easy access in and out.
• Carwash Cenote: Another open-air cenote that’s popular and quickly accessible from Tulum town.
• Casa Cenote: This cenote is about 30 minutes outside of Tulum town, but it’s worth the drive! Beautiful snorkeling with lots of baby tarpon and crabs to see. If you don’t want to swim, you can rent a clear kayak to float through the mangroves.
• Vesica Cenote Club: Unlike the other cenotes on this list, Vesica is a day club with ample amenities – day beds, a bar and restaurant, daily DJ sets, and onsite massages.

Keep in mind that cenotes usually will charge you an entrance fee (usually between 50 – 300 pesos per person, cash only), and you can also expect to pay extra if you want to bring a DSLR camera or a drone. Be respectful of any rules, as you are typically visiting people’s private property that they have generously opened up to the public.

Bring goggles and / or snorkel gear, because while cenotes are stunning from above, they are even more mind-blowing underwater! 

The exception to some of these tips is Vesica Cenote Club, which charges a higher entrance fee (500 – 1,000 pesos per person, reservable online with card) that counts towards your consumption and guarantees you a day bed. This cenote is less about snorkeling and more about enjoying the vibe.

3. Wander Around Ancient Mayan Ruins

Ancient Mayan civilizations throughout Mexico flourished in the years 250 – 900 A.D, and many of the structures the Maya people built have survived the test of time, making this one of the most unique and unmissable things you can do when visiting Tulum. Tulum is within driving distance of several impressive archeological sites, including one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, Chichen-Itza. 

Here are some ancient ruins you can visit from Tulum: 

• Tulum: The only waterfront ruins in Mexico, Tulum’s Mayan ruins are are a must-see when visiting Tulum. Be prepared to pay a bit more than you’d like, as they have gotten incredibly popular, but it is beautiful and well worth it.
• Coba: The Coba ruins are about 45 minutes outside of Tulum and one of my favorite archeological sites in Quintana Roo. The entire area is interconnected with ancient sacbes (raised pathways in Mayan) and you can rent bikes to explore the grounds.
• Chichen-Itza: The famous world wonder is about two hours from Tulum and easily doable in a day trip, though it will be a long day! Plan to spend 1 – 1.5 hours here, and visit the cenotes nearby!
• Uxmal: While I don’t recommend Uxmal as a day trip, if you are planning to spend some time traveling around the Yucatan Peninsula, you must add Uxmal to your list. Uxmal is about one hour south of Merida, and some of the most impressive ruins in the area in my opinion. You’ll also enjoy much fewer crowds than the archeological sites on the eastern part of the peninsula.
• Ek’ Balam: Ek’ Balam is about 3.5 hours from Tulum and another impressively preserved example of what ancient Mayan peoples, and perhaps even royalty, were able to realize in their time.
• Muyil: These ruins are part of the protected Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, and can be visited on a day tour or on your own.

Like many attractions in this part of Mexico, you can expect to pay an entrance fee per person and a separate fee for any camera and/or drone you’d like to use during your visit. Entrance costs vary depending on the site. 

4. Take A Yoga Class (or Two)

Tulum is a haven for yogis, and it seems like the scene has only continued to grow and expand in recent years. You can find everything from more laidback studios to luxury beachfront shalas offering classes from vinyasa to breathing techniques.

If you’re staying in a hotel in Tulum, there’s a decent chance your hotel will offer yoga classes onsite for free or by donation. Otherwise, it’s not hard to find a studio near you to sweat it out in the jungle heat.

Some highly recommended places to practice yoga in Tulum include: 

• Holistika Tulum (they have a cute cafe onsite which has delicious breakfasts, smoothies, and coffee!)
• Sanara Tulum
• Yäan Wellness Energy Healing Spa Tulum
• Yoga Shala Tulum
• Amansala

5. Experience a Temazcal Ceremony 

Temazcales are essentially Mayan sweat lodges, and the ceremonies are led by a shaman and said to purify your mind and body. This ancient Mesoamerican ceremony can actually be found all over Tulum (in some cases, your hotel may even have a Temazcal onsite), and is a quite popular spiritual experience. The Temazcal kind of looks like a giant pizza oven, and in addition to sweating it out, you can expect chanting, singing, and intention-setting throughout the ritual. 

I attended a temazcal ceremony at Holistika with my friend who was going through a difficult time, and not only did I watch her experience a cathartic reckoning with her emotions, I myself also felt a bit lighter after the entrancing few hours we spent sweating together to the sound of drums.

If you do a temazcal, go into it with an open mind and be sure to drink lots of water afterwards!

6. Sample Tulum’s Multifaceted Foodie Scene 

The food scene in Tulum is unique and exciting, whether you’re a foodie or not. I’ve been told countless times that the food in Tulum is not authentic at all, but offers up some of the best meals in the world, thanks to the international crowd it attracts. There is a number of fine dining restaurants in the Tulum hotel zone, with three or more dollar signs next to their names when you look them up online. I’ve paid more than a good meal in Los Angeles on more than one occasion while in Tulum, and most of these fancy meals weren’t even Mexican at all, but dang, were they good. 

As a general rule of thumb, in the hotel zone, you’ll find great, exciting, and pricey restaurants that are “the place to be seen” while in Tulum. On the flip side, in Tulum town, you’ll find a more casual dining scene, with local joints and more affordable international fare – all of which will be significantly more affordable than anything on the beach.

When planning your trip, I recommend choosing at least one or two nice restaurants on the beach to enjoy the food, the cocktails, and what’s bound to be a fun night out. Mix this in with more affordable meals in town, to give yourself the best of both worlds. 

Some of my favorite meals on the beach (pricier, fancier) were at: 

• Rosa Negra (Tulum beach)
• Hartwood (Tulum beach) 
• MEZE (Tulum beach) 
• Mezzanine (Tulum beach) 
• Ilios (Tulum beach) 

PRO TIP: For a more affordable meal while staying in the hotel zone, look for La Taqueria. This spot, and the surrounding food trucks and bar, offered some of the cheapest food on the strip, and everything I tried was pretty good. At the bar, if you like passionfruit, be sure to order a passionfruit mojito. I’m pretty sure I had three entire servings of fruit with my rum, and I wasn’t mad about it. 

Raw Love is a popular spot in the Ahau Tulum hotel for acai bowls, smoothies, and other healthy bites.

Another more affordable meal in the hotel zone is at Clan-Destino, a burger joint built above a cenote (so bizarre, but pretty cool!) tucked away behind a building, and easy to miss. I visited on a weekend, and was delighted to see that in addition to karaoke, salsa dancing is encouraged. Perfect way to practice your moves in between burger bites! 

On the flip side, in town, some of my favorite meals can be found at: 

• Uno Japanese Noodles (Tulum town) 
• Taqueria Honorio (Tulum town) 
• Burrito Amor (Tulum town) 
• Palma Central (Tulum town) 
• Bonita (Tulum town) 

PRO TIP: If you see the paleta man at the entrance to Palma Central, STOP and get one (or three!!!). Forgo all your dinner plans and start with dessert, because these were the most delicious, refreshing paletas I’ve ever tasted, and they’ll only cost you 35 pesos a pop. 

Find my full, ever-expanding list of food favorites in Tulum in my one-week guide to Tulum next!

7. Go on a Sian Ka’an Biosphere Expedition

One of the most unique natural attractions in Tulum is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, a 2,000+ square-mile reserve that protects a network of freshwater marshes, mangroves, lagoons, and barrier reef and serves as a home base for tons of wildlife. 

Because of how massive this reserve is, you’ll need to choose between one of the two main areas that can be explored in Sian Ka’an: Punta Allen or Muyil. 

Visiting Sian Ka’an via Punta Allen

Punta Allen is the area in Sian Ka’an that is closer to the ocean and saltwater lagoons, which is perfect for wildlife viewing and snorkeling. Here, you get to see tons of animal activity, but the trade-off is that Punta Allen is harder to access, due to really horrible road conditions. 

To experience this part of the reserve, I was told that taking a tour was one of the least complicated ways to go about it, so I booked a day-long tour with Mexico Kan Tours (quick disclosure: I received a media discount in order to share my experience with you!). I chose Mexico Kan Tours because of their great reviews and commitment to nature conservation and responsible tourism, and truly found the experience to be one of the highlights of my entire month in Mexico.

Our tour guides were lovely and passionate, and in just a span of a few short hours of cruising around mangroves and open ocean by private boat, we were able to see manatees, crocodiles, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, ospreys, and more. We weren’t able to snorkel unfortunately, because the overcast weather made the water visibility pretty much nonexistent, but everything else was just awesome, and being able to have lunch in the ultra-remote Punta Allen (what many say is an example of what Tulum might’ve been like 20+ years ago) was also pretty neat.

Day-long tours to Sian Ka’an via Punta Allen, like the one I took, will cost you $145 – $170 USD per person, and include lunch and round-trip private transportation from wherever you’re staying in Tulum, which is another huge selling point of taking a tour versus attempting the visit on your own. 

Visiting Sian Ka’an via Muyil 

For those looking to do a more accessible version of Sian Kaan, Muyil is a great choice. It’s the inland region of Sian Ka’an, and while you won’t get the ocean or as many wildlife sightings, you will get to see wetlands, mangroves, winding man-made canals that used to be used for trade in ancient times (which you can float along!), and Mayan temples. 

You can drive to Muyil on your own, and I believe you can get a boat to take you out for the day if you show up early. Or, book a day tour to Sian Ka’an via Muyil here.

8. Rent a Car and Hit the Road

While it’s definitely not difficult to get to Tulum from the airport by ADO bus or private transportation, and you can certainly book tours to see different sites, I always recommend renting a car to visit this part of Mexico. In addition to being able to freely visit cenotes and Mayan ruins on your own schedule, having your own car means you can take day trips or weekend getaways to other cities while you’re here, and there is SO much to see beyond the hip, zen oasis of Tulum. 

Some great places to visit include:

• Cozumel: An island off the coast of Playa del Carmen, accessible by ferry and known for its world-class dining. It’s chill, charming, and fun for a day trip or overnight. Read my full weekend guide to visiting Cozumel here!
• Valladolid: A colonial town known for its colorful, charming city center and good food scene. While many skip over Valladolid to head straight to Chichen-Itza, this city is well worth a stop in its own right. 
• Merida: Another colorful colonial city with beautiful streets to get lost in, plus incredible nightlife and lots to experience for the culture-seeking traveler. In fact, Merida is the culture capital of the Yucatán Peninsula!
• Izamal: One of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos, or “magic towns.” Izamal is a cultural immersion of its colonial, religious, and Mayan heritages, and the entire town center is bright ochre yellow. It’s a visual feast and so unlike anything else I’ve ever seen! 
• Isla Holbox: An island just two hours away from Cancun and accessible by ferry. This island is known for being ultra laidback and relaxed, and it’s also famous for those looking to see and swim with whale sharks. 

Ready to Go to Tulum?

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There you have it! Which of these things are you most excited to do on your trip to Tulum? Tell me below!

Book Activities In or Near Tulum Here:

Read This Next:

• The Ultimate One-Week Guide to Tulum, Mexico
• Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the Yucatán
• Where to Stay in Tulum: Hotel Bardo
• A 3-Day Guide to Merida, Mexico
• The Top Things to Do in Merida, Mexico
• A 3-Day Guide to Cozumel, Mexico
• Where to Stay in Cozumel: Villas El Encanto
• The Coolest Woman-Owned Boutique Hotels Mexico City
• Things to Do in Mexico City for Solo Female Travelers
• 6 Incredible Places to Visit in Mexico for First-Timers

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