Tulum is a city in southern Mexico and a real pearl of the Riviera Maya . In fact, it has a large number of archaeological sites dating back to the period of the Maya civilization, a paradise for lovers of history and culture. But in Tulum you will not find only this! Being a city still little visited compared to the neighboring Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Cozumel, Tulum has beautiful beaches and wild landscapes, almost in the wild.
Here are 10 things to see absolutely in Tulum !
1 – Tulum National Park
Tulum National Park is an eco-archaeological park on the Yucatan Peninsula. It includes several caves and a complex of ruins dating back to the perfectly preserved Mayan civilization, all immersed in a beautiful landscape overlooking the Caribbean coast.
- How to get there: It can be reached from the center of Tulum in 5 minutes by car or half an hour on foot, along the 307 Cancun-Tulum road heading north – Get directions
- Hours: Always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Tulum Discovery Tours
2 – Tulum Archaeological Zone
The Tulum Archaeological Zone is located within the Tulum National Park. It is made up of the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization and includes several structures. The peculiarity of this archaeological area is that it is located on a cliff overlooking the sea that is truly suggestive!
- How to get there: It can be reached from the center of Tulum in 5 minutes by car along the 307 Cancun-Tulum road heading north. Once in the National Park, enter the park and walk for about 5 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: 8:00 – 17:00
- Ticket price: 65 Pesos (€ 3.00)
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Tulum: guided tour and priority access to the Mayan ruins
3 – El Castillo
El Castillo is the main structure among all the Mayan ruins of the archaeological zone of Tulum. This imposing castle is located right above the sea and is in fact easily observable from the beach below.
- How to get there: It can be reached from the center of Tulum in 5 minutes by car along the 307 Cancun-Tulum road heading north. Once in the National Park, enter the park and walk for about 5 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: 8:00 – 17:00
- Ticket cost: Free
4 – Gran Cenote
It is one of the best known cenotes in Mexico, that is a cave with fresh water inside . The Gran Cenote has such limpid, clear and crystalline water that it turns out to be one of the best places to snorkel even if sometimes you don’t need to dive to be able to observe the underwater life!
- How to get there: From Tulum it can be reached in 5 minutes by car along Route 109 northbound – Get directions
- Hours: 8:00 – 17:00
- Ticket price: 11 Pesos (€ 0.50)
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Tulum, Gran Cenote and snorkeling: 1 day tour
5 – Temple of the Frescoes
The Temple of the Frescoes is another ruin of the Mayan civilization which is located in the archaeological area of ​​Tulum. This building is located in front of the Castillo and was used as an observatory to follow the movements of the sun.
- How to get there: It can be reached from the center of Tulum in 5 minutes by car along the 307 Cancun-Tulum road heading north. Once in the National Park, enter the park and walk for about 5 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: 8:00 – 17:00
- Ticket cost: Free
6 – Templo Dios del Viento
This temple and another ruin dating back to the Mayan civilization in the archaeological area of ​​Tulum. This structure is also perfectly preserved and stands on a hill overlooking the sea offering a beautiful view.
- How to get there: It can be reached from the center of Tulum in 5 minutes by car along the 307 Cancun-Tulum road heading north. Once in the National Park, enter the park and walk for about 5 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: Always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
7 – Paradise Beach
Another attraction of Tulum in addition to the ruins of the Maya, are certainly the beaches. Paradise Beach is the typical long and white Caribbean beach washed by the crystal clear sea and is also the most touristic in the area.
- How to get there: It can be reached in 13 minutes by car along road 15 Av Coba heading south which leads to your destination – Get directions
- Hours: Always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
8 – Playa Pescadores
Immediately after Paradise Beach there is Playa Pescadores, a little less touristy than the previous one, therefore with more preserved and naturalistic landscapes.
- How to get there: It can be reached in 15 minutes by car along road 15 Av Coba heading south which leads to your destination – Get directions
- Hours: Always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
9 – Laguna de Kaan Luum
This lagoon is little advertised and little explored by tourists but hides an immense beauty, so much so that it is compared to a small hidden paradise. Here you will feel completely immersed in wild nature and you will be surrounded only by water and thick vegetation.
- How to get there: From Tulum it is about 25 minutes by car and can be reached by driving south on road 307 which leads to your destination – Get directions
- Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
- Ticket price: 50 Pesos (€ 2.30)
10 – Galeria La Llorona
This is an art gallery, the oldest in the area. Entering this gallery means coming into contact with Mexican antiquity and traditions, thanks to the countless handicrafts and antiques that you will find inside.
- How to get there: It is a 20-minute drive from Tulum and can be reached by taking route 15 heading south until you reach the destination – Get directions
- Hours: 8:00 – 23:00
- Ticket cost: Free
Plan your trip: flights, hotels and tours
Although Tulum has a great historical and cultural heritage, it inherits from the Mayan civilization, which is not too developed for tourism. To play a fundamental role is certainly the absence of its own airport, which is why it is necessary to land in Cancun or Cozumel and then continue for another 2 hours by car or bus. Tulum is in fact chosen more as an excursion to visit the archaeological sites rather than as a real destination. In any case, the general costs of Tulum are low and accessible to everyone, especially those of hostels and hotels whose rooms start from as little as € 5.00 per night.
- Cheap flights: Flights to Cancun (approx. 130 km from Tulum) from € 511.50 – see deals
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 15.00 per night – see the offers
- Card, ticket and recommended tour: Tulum: 5-hour guided tour Tulum, Coba and Cenote: full-day excursion
