Tulum, Mexico is one of the hottest beach destinations and is getting more and more recognition thanks to its countless luxury beach clubs, high-end hotels, distinctive restaurant scene, ultra chic clientele and of course, social media! Looking at the photos, you would think Tulum would cost a fortune but after spending 7 days in this coastal town, in the Yucatan peninsula, we learned it’s totally doable! And with proper planning, you can see most of the gorgeous attractions you’ve been wanderlusting over!
🌟Download a copy of our easy to follow Tulum itinerary!🌴👉🏼 here
Tulum is so beautiful and like no other place we’ve ever been to! All the hotels are eco-friendly and so focused on health and overall wellness! No plastic straws and yoga on the beach every morning. 🙌🏼
If you and your friends are eco-conscious yogis in search of zen and balance, maybe backpackers looking for rich experiences and history, or fashionistas desiring only the best of the best, Tulum truly has it all!
First things first, you have to get to Tulum! From our home in Atlanta, we got an awesome roundtrip deal with Southwest Airlines! When you’re ready to book your ticket, you’ll notice that there isn’t a direct flight into Tulum. Instead, you’ll fly into Cancun International Airport! From there, you’ll have a few options to choose from and the ride to Tulum is about 75 miles (1 1/2hrs). To read more about the options and how to get to Tulum check out our blog post here!
If you’re planning a trip to Tulum it’ll be good to know that there is the “hotel zone”, which is the main strip on the beach. And there is the town of Tulum, about 5-10mins from the beach area. While in Tulum, we wanted to experience both types of accommodations so we booked both a stay at an oceanfront luxury resort and an affordable hotel in the town. If you’re looking for an option with the best value and you don’t mind being in town, we definitely recommend Zendero Tulum!
Check out our blog post here to read more about the hotels!
There’s so many amazing options for hotels in Tulum! Every hotel by the beach is all about wellness and overall well being. Most had yoga classes as an amenity!🧘🏼♀️ Two resorts on the beach that we’d definitely recommend to check out are Nômade Tulum and Coco Tulum.
We ate lunch at Nômade one day and the hotel took our breath away! The prices to stay at Nômade range from $260-500/night. We were told from a few people we met that if you’re a hotel guest your stay includes breakfast, lunch, and yoga classes! Coco Tulum would also be a great option because it’s right on the beach (just a little further down than Nômade) but at a more reasonable price point. Coco Tulum costs around $179-$225/night.
While researching for hotels look and see if they offer any accommodations like complimentary breakfast. This will save a lot of time and is a great option if you have a busy day and need a convenient head start! Also, transportation services is a huge plus even if there’s a fee! If the front desk can call a taxi for you, that will be a big help instead of taking time to figure out how to make international call or text on WhatsApp. And if bikes are available, even better!
Cenotes are natural skin holes which reveal magical turquoise blue water for swimming and diving in. No trip to Tulum is complete without seeing some cenotes, so below are a few easy to get to cenotes around Tulum!
🌟Tip: Cenotes have hours so double check before you go!
Read more about the best cenotes in Tulum in our blog post here.
Grand Cenote
📍Quintana Roo 109, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
📞 +52 998 980 0332
Hours: 8:10am – 4:45pm | Daily
Cost: 180 pesos/$9 USD
The Grand Cenote is definitely one of the most popular cenotes in Tulum. Because it’s so well known the best time to visit is early around 8am before it gets too crowded! Before entering, everyone must use their showers to get off any bug spray/sunscreen in order to help keep the water preserved and clean. This cenote has a park with beautiful flowers and plants where you can hang out in colorful hammocks or relax on their well-manicured lawn. They also have snorkel gear for rent or you can bring your own! The Grand Cenote is the perfect way to spend an afternoon outdoors!
Cenote Calavera
📍Quintana Roo 109, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Hours: 8am – 4pm | Daily
Cost: 100 pesos/$5 USD
Cenote Calavera, also known as The Temple of Doom, is only a few minutes from the Grand Cenote, which makes it really easy to do both in one day! This cenote has a completely different vibe. It’s less commercial and extremely laid back, it felt like we were hanging out in someone’s backyard! There’s three holes, one huge opening and two smaller ones with signs around that say “Jump here!”. Calavera means “skull” in Spanish and when you jump in the water and look up you can see the 3 holes as a
Read more about Cenote Calavera in our blog post here.
Cenote Dos Ojos
📍Cenote Jaguar Rd, Quintana Roo, Mexico
🖥 http://www.cenotedosojos.com/
Hours: 9am – 5pm | Daily
Cost: 100 pesos/$5 USD
Another very popular cenote that’s a great spot to go snorkeling and cave diving is Cenote Dos Ojos. Dos Ojos means two eyes in Spanish and the cenotes were given this name because the two flooded caves connect into a large shared cavern. If you decide to dive, you’ll love to know that Dos Ojos is the deepest known cave passage at 396 feet of depth! The water in these cenotes are crazy clear and you can hear bats chirping from above. If you’re like us and you’ve never been cavern diving before, this would be an amazing first because of all the stunning photos we’ve seen!
Cenote Suytun
📍Carretera Ticuch Km 8 s/n, 97780 Valladolid, Yuc., Mexico
🖥 http://www.suytun.com/
📞 +52 998 241 9957
Hours: 8am – 7pm | Daily
Cost: 70 pesos/$3-4 USD
This gorgeous cenote is outside of Tulum but is so worth the visit if you can make it there! We planned to visit while on our road trip to Chichén Itzá and the Coba Ruins (more about them later in the blog post) because it’s right in between both, and would make a good pit stop to go for a quick dip before seeing the next ruins! Sadly, we didn’t make it because we made too many spontaneous pit stops. This mystic cenote is probably the most photogenic of them all! It’s inside of a cave and there’s only a small beam of light that shines in from the top making an epic photo op! We’re looking forward to it the next time we’re in the Yucatan Peninsula!
Cenote Yokdzonot
📍Calle 20 s/n, Yokdzonot, Yuc., Mexico
🖥 http://cenoteyokdzonot.weebly.com
📞 +52 1 985 121 2328
Hours: 9am – 6pm | Daily
Cost: 150 pesos/$8 USD
After an amazing day of visiting the Chichén Itzá ruins, why not go for a dip in Cenote Yokdzonot to cool off from the Mexico heat! A life jacket is included in your entry fee and is mandatory. Since you’re required to wear a life jacket you can’t really dive under but it’s a great cenote to just float around and hang out in the water. This is an open cenote so the main part isn’t in any caves, but you can go snorkeling to get a closer look at the fishes swimming around you or even zip line over the entire cenote!
Cenote Ik Kil
📍Yucatan, Mexico (about 5mins from Chichén Itzá, the address should pop up if you put it in your maps)
Hours: 9am – 5pm | Daily
If you’re planning to visit Chichén Itzá for the day, another cenote to add to your itinerary is Cenote Ik Kil! It’s surrounded by vines and mini waterfalls satisfying any wanderlust seeker. Although this cenote in particular is highly visited by tourists, it’s absolutely gorgeous and you won’t want to miss it. There’s also a platform to jump off of into the clear blue water for those that are daring, and it would be great way to spend an afternoon after exploring the ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula!
Clan-Destino
📍Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico (on the main strip by the beach, close to Raw Love Tulum)
📞 +52 984 169 5353
Hours: 12pm – 4am | Daily
This was the first cenote we visited in Mexico! We heard from some locals that this place was fun so we had to check it out, it’s basically part cenote, part restaurant, part bar! Above the cenote are gorgeous chandeliers hanging and we couldn’t help but dip our toes in it! It’s also cool because it’s a 24/7 cenote right on the main strip of Tulum by the beach! Right in the middle of everything! We went after dinner on one of our first nights in Tulum and Clan-Destino was popping. They have cheap food, drinks, and a huge dance floor with karaoke on Tuesday nights! The energy was amazing and everyone was having a great time!
We don’t think we had a bad meal while in Tulum, everything is so fresh and healthy and delicious we loved it! The food scene here ranges from world-renowned chefs to simple and fresh dishes made from local ingredients!
For a fuller review of each restaurant, check out our Foodie’s Guide to Tulum post here!
Raw Love
📍Carretera Tulum Boca Paila KM 7.5
🖥 http://www.rawlovekitchen.com/menu
Hours: 9am – 6pm | Daily
Cost: $
Instagram: @rawlovetulum
You’ve probably seen this popular vegan restaurant and their hard to resist smoothie bowls all over social media! It’s tucked away right next to the Ahau Hotel. The menu at Raw Love is pretty extensive and vegan/vegetarian-friendly! Besides their acai bowls, you’ll have a hard time choosing between nutritious and raw entrees, juices, desserts and more! Next time we visit, we’re looking forward to trying their Zucchini Alfredo and Nearly Raw Pad Thai!
Matcha Mama
📍QROO 15 470 Zona Hotelera • 77780 • Tulum, Zona Hotelera, 77780 • Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.facebook.com/matchamamatulum/
Hours: 8am – 8pm Daily
Cost: $
Instagram: @matchamamatulum
Time to update your Instagram, because you won’t want to leave Matcha Mama without grabbing a fun pic on their wooden swings! This small yet highly popular smoothie shop is the perfect stop to get a healthy start to your day! On the menu you have options like superfood açai bowls, kombucha, vegan ice cream and more!
🌟Tip: There’s only 6 swings so get there early if you want a pic!
Kin Toh
📍Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila KM 5 , A, Zona Hotelera, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico (at Azulik Tulum Resort)
🖥 https://www.azulik.com/gastronomy/kin-toh
Hours: 5:30pm – 11pm |Daily
Cost: $$$$
Instagram: @kintohtulum (restaurant) @azuliktulum (resort)
Just a few steps into Kin Toh Restaurant and you’ve been transformed into an epic treehouse paradise. Located inside of the Azulik Tulum Resort, this is a restaurant you don’t want to miss if you want the true Tulum experience! To dine at Kin Toh, we highly recommend booking a reservation as their picturesque view and romantic jungle ambiance really brings in a crowd, especially during their champagne sunset!🥂🌅
🌟Tip: There is a $50 (USD) minimum spend at Azulik if you’re not a resort guest!
Read more about our dinner at Kin Toh and Azulik Hotel in our blog post here.
Gitano Tulum
📍Tulum Beach Road KM 7.5 Boca Paila, Tulum QRO, Mexico 77780
🖥 https://grupogitano.com/gitanotulum-about
Hours: 6pm – 3am | Daily
Cost: $$$
Instagram: @grupo.gitano
Look out for the disco ball amongst the palms and you’ve made it to the Jungle Room! The party starts here at Gitano, a vibrant restaurant and Mezcal bar that is dimly lit with candles! The first thing we noticed is how open the concept is, it’s literally outdoors within the trees! On their menu you’ll find Mexican plates like tacos and ceviches but with a contemporary twist. And we can’t forget to mention their wide range of Mezcals to choose from that they also incorporated into their fun cocktails like Gypsy Disco, Jungle Fever, and Stardust!
Dinner is served at 6pm daily and they have dance parties on Fridays and Saturdays! 💃🏼
Macondo at Nômade Tulum
📍KM 10, Carr. Cancún – Tulum, 77880 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico (inside Nômade Tulum hotel)
🖥 http://www.macondotulum.com/
Hours: 7:30am – 11:30am | Breakfast * 12:30pm – 10:30pm | Lunch/Dinner
Cost: $$ |Lunch
Instagram: @macondotulum (restaurant) @nomadetulum (hotel)
Located at the dreamy Nômade Hotel, Macondo is decorated with Moroccan influence with their exotic and colorful details and furniture. They also want you to experience a more traditional way of eating by having you sit on the floor! You can’t make a wrong choice at Macondo because everything on their menu focuses on superfood ingredients that are packed with so many nutrients! Each dish we ordered was vibrant and presented gorgeously, which made for Instagram-worthy photos!!
Read more about dining at Macondo in our Foodie’s Guide to Tulum here.
After lunch stop by to check out their wind chime installation next to their mediation tent. We love that Nômade, and honestly most of the hotels in Tulum, really want their guests to experience positive spirituality and mental health. We could spend an entire day exploring their beautiful property!
Rosa Negra Tulum
📍5, Zona Hotelera, 77503 Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://rosanegra.com.mx/en
📞 +52 1 984 205 7491
Hours: 1pm – 1am |Daily
Cost: $$$ | Dinner
Instagram: @rosanegratulum
Rosa Negra is the first restaurant we visited in Tulum and it didn’t disappoint! We actually stopped in with the intentions of getting a cocktail but stayed a little longer because we feel in love w
I Scream Bar
📍Carretera Tulum Bocapaila | Next to Casa Jaguar, Tulum
🖥 https://www.facebook.com/IScreamBar/
Hours: 8am – 3am| Daily
Cost: $
Instagram: @iscreambartulum
We decided to check out I Scream Bar after a few locals raved to us about it, so of
Burrito Amor
📍Av Tulum Pte Mz 3 Lote 5 Local 1, Tulum Centro, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 http://www.burrito-amor.com/index.php/en/
Hours: 8am – 10pm|Daily|Closed on Tuesdays
Cost: $
We loved Burrito Amor so much that we dined here twice during our week vacation. This restaurant is located in the town, which is perfect for anyone that wants to experience Tulum and still get fresh food without paying the prices you’ll find around the beach. We highly recommend the vegan and vegetarian burritos wrapped in banana leaves! And you can’t get one without trying them in a gluten-free handmade coconut tortilla. For being plant-based, they were incredibly flavorful and we ended up getting the same order during our second visit. Burrito Amor is also committed to being more eco-friendly with recyclable containers and 100% biodegradable straws made with agave fiber!♻️ We got so much food for a fraction of what we paid for a simple meal around the beachfront resorts!
Mi Amor
📍Carretera Tulum-Bocapaila Km. 4.1, Zona Costera, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.tulumhotelmiamor.com/
📞 +52 1 984 188 4273
Hours: 7:30am – 10pm |Bar is open til 11pm
Cost: $$
Instagram: @miamortulum
As you walk up the wooden steps to Mi Amor, our eyes went immediately straight to the ocean!😍 We can’t put into words how breathtaking this hotel is! We actually found Mi Amor on accident but some things are just meant to be! There’s truly nothing like enjoying lunch in the sun while listening to the waves crash against the cliffs! Their food was incredible and their Mixed Ceviche was one of the freshest ceviches we had on the entire trip!
The Real Coconut
📍Km 8.1, Quintana Roo, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico (inside of Sanara Tulum Beach Resort)
🖥 https://www.therealcoconut.com/
📞 +52 310 933 6408
Hours: 7:30am – 10pm | Daily
Cost: $$$
Instagram: @therealcoconut (restaurant) @sanaratulum (hotel)
This restaurant gave us total LA Vibes! The Real Coconut is serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the gorgeous Sanara Tulum hotel right off the beach! The Menu is created by Daniella Hunter, famously known for
Mamasan
📍Quintana Roo 15 Km7, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.mamasantulum.com/
Hours: 8am – 11pm | Daily
Cost: $$
Instagram: @mamasantulum
Rooftop jungle bar?! Count us in! It’s right in the middle of the strip and we couldn’t help but notice it the few times we passed it during our taxi rides. From the outside it looks so beautiful and tropical! At nighttime, they have the entire place lit up with string lights and it looks stunning! They serve food items like seafood tequila pasta, fresh white ceviche, tacos, to baked whole fish, and Grilled New York Steak. And on Sundays they have a live DJ where you can enjoy mimosas and brunch! Who wouldn’t want hang out above the jungle treetops!?
Papaya Playa Project
📍Km 4.5, Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila, Zona Costera Tulum, 77780 Mexico
🖥 https://www.papayaplayaproject.com/
📞 +52 1 984 871 1160
Hours: 7am – 11pm | Daily
Cost: $$
Instagram: @papayaplayaproject
If Miami and the jungle had a baby, it would be The Papaya Playa Project. It’s the perfect mix of modernity with natural elements. We heard this is the spot for nightlife with parties on the beach! They have music festivals that inspire healing, art, and a sustainable lifestyle for guests to dance the day way! How cool and unique?! They also have a Full Moon Party every month on the Saturday closest to the full moon, they’re known worldwide for this epic party!
Batey Mojito and Guarapo Bar
📍Calle Centauro Sur, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.facebook.com/bateytulum/
📞 +52 1 984 745 4571
Hours: 8am – 2am | Daily
Cost: $
Instagram: @bateytulum
In a town that’s all about their mezcal, this unique bar specializes in the best mojitos with fresh sugar cane juice from a hand grinder. Just look out for the VW Beetle! The bar is cash only so definitely be prepared with plenty of pesos! We don’t drink too many mojitos but it would be hard to resist a Maya mojito, which is their take on a spicy mojito with habanero, spearmint, and sour orange. YUM! And for sugar addicts, check out the selections of Guarapos which use the sugar cane juice to make a yummy non-alcoholic beverage! We hear this place brings in a huge crowd especially on the weekends, so you’ll want to hang out, enjoy the live music, and soak in all the cool vibes!
Taqueria La Eufemia
📍Tulum, Zona Hotelera, Boca Paila, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.facebook.com/taqueriaeufemia
Hours: 12pm – 10pm |Daily
Cost: $
Instagram: @taqueriaeufemia
With all the fine dining options on the beach, if you’re looking for cheaper cocktails and eats head over to Taqueria La Eufemia! They have the same owner as the I Scream Bar, so same owner, same menu, amazing, lively and fun atmosphere… but with your toes in the sand! And just like the I Scream Bar, we were told by a few locals to check the place out! Taqueria La Eufemia is dog friendly so you can bring your furry friend with you. If you’re lucky you’ll see the famous bobtail dog, Eufemia, walking around!
Tulum is known for their ancient ruins so they’re a must see when visiting! If you want to know the best way to get to the ruins from Tulum check out our post here about the process of renting a car and everything you need to know!
Tulum Ruins
📍Carretera Federal, Cancun – Chetumal Km 230, 307, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Hours: 8am – 4:30pm| Daily
Entrance Fee: 70 pesos |$3-4 USD
Guided tour: 600 pesos | $30 USD
The Tulum ruins are one of the most photogenic ruins and are the easiest to get to (if staying in Tulum), located right on the Caribbean coast of Mexico! The structures are surrounded by walls in order to protect the ancient Mayan City from intruders since they came from land or sea. When you walk around the ruins, you can almost imagine a village of people that once brought life to this place during the ancient times. This ruin is well preserved with amazing cliffside views and stairs to get down to the beach, so don’t forget your bathing suit! We even spotted a few wild friends like iguanas and Mexican Coatis (apart of the raccoon family)!🦎
🌟 Tip: If you plan on bringing a camera with you, there is an additional photography fee of 45 pesos!
Read more about the Tulum Ruins in our blog post here!
Coba Ruins
📍Carretera Federal Tulum 307, 77793 Cobá, Q.R., Mexico
Hours: 8am – 5pm|Daily
Entrance Fee: 70 pesos |$3-4 USD
What a better way to see Mexico than from the top of an ancient pyramid!😍 The Ixmoja Nohoch Mul pyramid in Coba is the only Mayan
🌟Tip: Get there before 8:30am if you want to avoid the tour buses!
Read more about the Coba Ruins in our blog post here!
Chichén Itzá
📍Yucatan, Mexico (Chichén Itzá should pop up as a destination in your GPS)
Hours: 8am – 4:30pm|Daily
Entrance Fee: 254 pesos |$13-14 USD
Chichén Itzá is more like a park with different vendors and they even have on-site restaurants and bars. This ancient city contains some of most beautifully preserved structures (there’s about 17 total) and is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World! The most iconic is called El Castillo or Kukulkan Pyramid (which used to be climbable but not anymore). Each side has 91 steps, or 365 steps total, to symbolize the days in a year. The ancient Mayans would use parts of the main pyramid as a way to tell between Spring or Fall solstices. We made it just in time for the sunset and it’s probably one of most majestic sites we’ve ever seen in person!🤩
Read more about Chichén Itzá in our blog post here!
Destilería Artesanal de Agave Mayapán
📍Libramiento Norte, 97780 Valladolid, Yuc., Mexico
📞 +52 985 858 0246
Hours: 8am – 5pm Daily
We found this cute brightly colored distillery right off the highway. This one was not on our itinerary but we couldn’t help ourselves when driving by the beautiful agave fields!😍 We stopped to check it out and were tempted to do a tasting of their various tequilas, but we still had a long drive ahead of us. Next time! They also sell individual bottles inside their gift shop!
Akumal Beach
About 30 minutes from Tulum is where you’ll find Akumal Beach aka sea turtle heaven! 🐢 We talked to one of the tour guides and he said that there wasn’t many out at that time. We probably would’ve taken the chance to spot one but Tulum was experiencing a cold front while we were there. So it’s definitely on the list for the next time we go!!
Take a Tour
Book a tour to experience Mexico in a whole new way! There are so many different tour options and sadly, we didn’t get a chance to take any during our trip. But here’s a few tour companies that we’ve researched and are looking forward to the next time we go!
Edventure Tours
📍PLAZA, TULUM RUINS, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 http://edventuretours.mx
📞+52 984 871 2209
Hours: 8am – 4pm Daily|Closed Sundays
Cost: ~$115 – $165 USD
We found this tour company through another blogger who wrote about her experience and 100% recommends them! You can read her blog post here.
You can see all the best spots that the Yucatan Peninsula has to offer from Mayan ruins to snorkeling! They even have packages that include a few of these activities and lunch for a full day of excitement! The most adventurous would be the Xtreme package that includes 9 zip lines, 5 walk bridges over the jungle, rock climbing, swimming in cenotes, an ATV ride through the jungle, and a visit to swim with the sea turtles! How amazing does that day sound?!🙌🏼
Koox Diving
📍Av. Tulum Mz2Lt4, Centro, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.kooxdiving.com/en/
📞 +52 984 980 0544
Hours: 7:30am – 9pm|Daily
Cost: ~$120 – $260 USD
Who wouldn’t want to go diving in crystal clear cenotes or an underwater cave?! With Koox, you’ll get to explore life underneath the surface! They offer tours like diving with bull sharks, a crocodile night tour, or visiting the beautiful Cozumel Reef! And if you forgot your GoPro at home, they offer free rentals & lights so that you can relive the adventure forever!
You know it’s all about the ‘gram!😉 With the gorgeous turquoise water, breathtaking historic landmarks, and plenty of colorful foods to make your followers drool! Here’s the best Instagram worthy spots in Tulum!
Read more in our blog post here!
Crooked Palm Tree
📍Carretera Boca Paila Mz 3, Tulum Ruinas, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.elparaisohoteltulum.com/el-paraiso
The infamous crooked palm tree can be found at hotel El Paraiso’s Playa Parasio Beach Club right on the beach. We were able to park our bikes right on-site, and to validate them we needed to buy food or drinks from the bar. It’s a public beach and this is a hot spot for tourists so be sure to go early to get the best pic! Just look for the blue umbrellas!
Pablo Escobar’s Mansion
📍Carretera Fed.Tulum, Av. Boca Paila km 9.5, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 http://www.casamalca.com/en/
Instagram: @casamalca
Pablo’s Mansion aka Casa Malca is an Instagrammer’s dream! The entire property is so picturesque from the enchanting exterior with glamour drapes and couch swings. The inside has art work everywhere you turn and even on the ceiling! There’s a bunker that leads to an underground pool and a rooftop with the most beautiful views of the beach! Definitely one of our favorite places we visited in Tulum!
🌟Tip: They have a 1000 pesos ($50 USD minimum) per person if you’re not a hotel guest.
Read more about Pablo’s mansion in our blog post here.
Mía Tulum Beach Club
📍Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila Km 7.5, Zona Hotelera, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
📞 +52 984 133 9662
Hours: 7am – 11pm|Daily
Instagram: @miatulum
Check out La Cebolla (the onion) at Mía Tulum Restaurant & Beach Club right before you enter the restaurant from the beach. And if you get the framing right, you’ll get the perfect amount of palm trees for a symmetrical shot to impress all your Insta-fans! The setting is so gorgeous, you’ll want to lounge in it all day! The entrance also makes a beautiful photo op with its jungle vibes and it’s an arrangement of massive dreamcatchers.😍
Azulik Tulum Resort
📍Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila KM 5, Zona Hotelera, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.azulik.com/
📞 +52 984 980 0640
Instagram: @azuliktulum
Speaking of jungle vibes, you have to check out this real-life treehouse Azulik! There are so many photo ops here, the hammock nets looking out above the Mayan jungle, Ik lab (their incredible art gallery), the nests above Kin Toh (one of their amazing restaurants), and of course the wooden bridge that’s suspended above treetops!🤩🌴🌿🍃 They also have a champagne sunset 5:30-6:30pm where you can mingle and hang out in the nests! (Highly recommended for that perfect golden hour shot!)
🌟Tip: There is a minimum spend of 1000 pesos/$50 USD per person if you’re not staying at Azulik.
We love this eco-friendly resort, check out our blog post here to read more!
Tulum Jungle Gym
📍Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila Km. 7.5, Tulum Beach, 77766 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://tulumjunglegym.com/
📞 +52 998 243 4533
Hours: 8am – 5pm| Daily
Instagram: @tulumjunglegym
“A Real Life Flintstone Gym”! Get your Fred Flintstone on by bench pressing wooden dumbbells right on the beach!💪🏼 Most of the gym is located indoors now but they do beachfront classes or private lessons throughout the day! You can get a day pass to the gym for $25 USD. And it’s cash only, so don’t forget your pesos!
Coco Tulum
📍Carretera Tulum Boca Paila Km 7, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://cocotulum.com/
📞 +52 984 688 8592
Instagram: @cocotulum
This was on our itinerary but since there is a minimum spend at most hotels in Tulum (if you’re not staying there) and we had a lot of other places to visit, we weren’t able to go. So we’ll share some of our favorite pics from other bloggers and it’ll definitely stay on our Tulum itinerary for our next trip!😉
| @georgia_americano | @laurareidd | @leoniehanne | @verbalgoldblog |
Follow That Dream Sign
📍Carretera Tulum – Boca Paila, Hotel Zone Tulum Km 8.5, Tulum, Quintana Roo Mexico 77780 (closest address)
This popular sign can be found at Lolita & Lolita boutique. The easiest way to find it is by putting in Sueños Tulum hotel in the GPS and it’s directly across the street. This sign gains a crowd but it’s a pretty quick photo op and definitely worth the visit so that you can include that inspirational quote you’ve been holding on too!
Raw Love
We already mentioned Raw Love above in this blog post under “Restaurants & Bars” and you definitely have to try their healthy bowls, but the entire property itself screams Insta-worthy! Everything from vibrant colorful hammocks, to their wall of dreamcatchers, and don’t forget the row of pretty blue bikes right outside before you walk in!🚲🌴
Tulum Sign
📍Carretera Federal, Cancun – Chetumal Km 230, 307, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico (closest address)
This specific sign can be found right on the way from town to the Tulum ruins, at the Tulum Ruins entrance to the park! We also spotted the same design in the main center of town but that one can be more crowded with locals and tourists walking around.
What’s better than a day of pampering with your bestie? Tulum is filled with some of the most salons and spas to make any girl relaxed and ready to take on the world! From traditional Mayan techniques to the latest beauty treatments, the list of salons & spas is endless! We didn’t spend a lot of time relaxing because our itinerary was filled with exploring but next time, we’ll add more places for getting massages and Mayan healing treatments (all for research right?! 😉)
Prep Tulum
📍Av. Boca Paila KM 9.5, Zona Hotelera, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 https://www.preptulum.com/book-tulum
📞 +1-204-955-0934 (WhatsApp)
Hours: 10am – 10pm |Daily
Instagram: @preptulum @prephair
Located inside of the Akiin Beach Plaza (next to Akiin Beach club), Prep Tulum can get any gal beach glam ready! Their experienced stylists can do a full range of services from color, highlight, cut and create styles from beach waves, boho braids to a bronzed goddess makeup look! Karina (@karina.makeup.hair) styled both of us and even taught us a few tips and tricks to take back home with us! We decided to both get two braids with textured waves, and effortlessly, Karina was able to capture the inspiration to create what we were envisioning!😍 The style lasted us all day and even into the next day without using heavy products or hairspray. It was basically the beach hair of our dreams lol! We loved our experience here and the beachy boho atmosphere!
Follow the hair magic on Instagram! @preptulum @prephair 💕
Mayan Clay Spa
📍Carr Boca Paila, Zona Costera, Solidaridad, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
🖥 http://mayanclayspa.com/
📞 +52 984 807 9376
Be prepared to relax and zen out as you go through a unique healing experience at the Mayan Clay Spa. Their specialty is massaging clients from head to toe in golden clay to detox and energize the skin, it absorbs impurities and exfoliates any dead skin to reveal that glow you’ve been dreaming of! And if you’re looking for a treatment like no other, then step into a bath of Mayan clay and soak up all of its amazing benefits.🙌🏼 This is a perfect way for couples or girlfriends to take a few hours to do something good for the body and take a break from the busy world!
Since we stayed in the town or Pueblo of Tulum for a few nights, we got to explore the other side of Tulum! Away from the beaches and tourist areas, the town was super fun to explore because it gave us more of an authentic Mexican experience! There’s plenty of shops, restaurants, and nightlife. It’s definitely worth checking out! So here are a few of our favorite things to do in town!
Tulum Ruins
(see above under “Ruins & Attractions”)
Before Tulum had top-notch beach clubs and a luxe boho-chic way of living, visitors came from all over the world to explore the ancient ruins of Tulum located right off the Caribbean coast! It’s very easy to get to the ruins from town, and we reccomend taking the bike path!
Tulum Craft Center
(Centro Artesanal Tulum according to google maps)
📍Carretera Cancun-Tulum 307, Crucero Zona Arqueologica, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
📞 +52 984 871 2044
Hours: 9am – 5pm | Daily
This quaint yet colorful shopping area is filled with festivals, celebrations, sombreros, pretty hanging carpets, monkeys, flowers, swings, and pineapple drinks! We made our way here a couple of times before entering the Tulum Ruins, and it’s a great spot to grab a couple souvenirs or a tropical drink!
You can even find Häagen-Dazs, Starbucks, and Subway here if you’re missing a piece of home. And if you have some time, definitely grab a seat at the swings under the palapa bar! We got some fun cocktails in pineapples and coconuts, and when we told our friendly bartender that we were visiting for our birthday and he treated us to shots of mezcal with a 20-year-old worm!🐛🤷🏼♀️ #wheninMexico
If you’ve read to the end, than you’ll know we’re looking forward to coming back again! Tulum has been number one on our travel list for a while now and we’re so happy to have made it to this tropical paradise! We honestly love the overall vibe of Tulum, the energy it gives off is incredible and there’s no place like it!🤩✨ We hope our guide and tips will show how a dream trip to Tulum can be attainable with proper planning!
🌟Download a copy of our easy to follow Tulum itinerary!🌴👉🏼 here
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