Tulum Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Tulum tours, the jewel of Mexico’s Riviera Maya: the dramatic clifftop Mayan ruins above a turquoise Caribbean beach, swimming and snorkelling in mystical jungle cenotes, day trips to the wonder of Chichén Itzá, snorkelling with sea turtles at Akumal, the eco-adventure parks of Xcaret and Xel-Há, and laid-back beach clubs and sailing. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Riviera Maya trip.
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Explore Tulum by interest
Whatever brings you to Tulum — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Tulum ruins
Clifftop Mayan city.
ExploreCenotes
Sacred jungle pools.
ExploreChichén Itzá
A wonder of the world.
ExploreEco parks
Xcaret and Xel-Há.
ExploreBeach clubs
Bohemian beach vibe.
ExploreATV & adventure
Jungle thrills.
ExploreTurtles at Akumal
Snorkel with turtles.
ExploreDay trips
Cobá and beyond.
ExploreTop attractions in Tulum
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Tulum Ruins
Clifftop Mayan city.
Cenotes
Sacred jungle pools.
Chichén Itzá
A wonder of the world.
Xcaret Park
Eco-park and show.
Beach Clubs
Bohemian beach vibe.
Cobá
Jungle pyramid.
Isla Mujeres
Island paradise.
Sian Ka’an
Biosphere reserve.
Tulum in 2 days
- 1Day 1: ruins & cenotes
- 2Day 2: Chichén Itzá
- 3Valladolid
- 4Cenote swim
Tulum in 3 days
- 1Day 1: ruins & cenotes
- 2Day 2: Chichén Itzá
- 3Day 3: Eco-park or Cobá
- 4Maya, sea & jungle
2 hrs awayChichén Itzá
A wonder of the world.
Near Tulum awayCenotes
Sacred jungle pools.
45 min awayCobá
Jungle pyramid.
Riviera Maya awayXcaret Park
Eco-park and show.
Day trip awayIsla Mujeres
Island paradise.
Reserve awaySian Ka’an
Biosphere wildlife.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Tulum visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
November to April brings dry, sunny weather with calm seas — the prime time to visit Tulum for ruins, cenotes and beaches, though also the busiest and priciest.
Dry season (Nov–Apr)
Warm, sunny and dry, ideal for everything; peak season, so book ahead, especially around Christmas and Easter.
Shoulder (May, Nov)
Hot with occasional showers, fewer crowds and better value, with plenty of sunshine.
Wet & hurricane season (Jun–Oct)
Hotter and more humid with afternoon storms and some hurricane risk, but quieter, cheaper and lush — also whale-shark season.
Sargassum seaweed
Seaweed can wash up on Caribbean beaches mainly from April to August; cenotes and tours are unaffected.
Whale sharks
June to September is the season to snorkel with gentle whale sharks off the coast — an unforgettable highlight.
One day
The Tulum ruins, a cenote and a beach club.
Two days
Add a Chichén Itzá day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: ruins, cenotes, Chichén Itzá and an eco-park.
Four to five days
Add Cobá, Isla Mujeres and more cenotes.
A week
Relax and explore the whole Riviera Maya.
Travelling with kids
Mix turtles, eco-parks and cenotes.
Tours & transfers
Day trips to Chichén Itzá, cenotes and eco-parks include transport and hotel pickup, the easiest way to explore.
Taxis
Taxis are the main way to get between Tulum town, the ruins and the beach strip; agree the fare first as they can be pricey.
Bikes
Cycling is a popular, fun way to get around flat Tulum, especially between town, the ruins and the beach.
Hire car
A rental car gives freedom to explore cenotes and the Riviera Maya at your own pace; roads are good.
Colectivos
Shared vans (colectivos) are a cheap way to travel along the highway to Playa del Carmen and nearby cenotes.
From the airport
Cancún Airport is about 1.5–2 hours from Tulum, with the new Tulum Airport even closer; both have transfers.
Mexican peso
Mexico uses the peso; carry some cash for taxis, cenotes and small vendors, though cards and US dollars are often accepted.
Visit ruins early
Tour the Tulum ruins and Chichén Itzá early to beat the heat and the tour-bus crowds.
Reef-safe sun care
Use only biodegradable, reef-safe sunscreen at cenotes and the sea to protect the fragile ecosystems.
Check for sargassum
Seaweed can affect beaches in summer; cenotes, ruins and tours are unaffected, so plan a mix.
Tipping
Tipping (around 10–15%) is customary in restaurants and appreciated for guides and drivers.
Pre-book popular tours
Chichén Itzá, cenotes and eco-parks fill up — book ahead.
Chichén Itzá trips
Popular world-wonder day trips sell out — book ahead.
Cenote & turtle tours
Akumal and cenote tours are in demand — reserve early.
Eco-parks
Xcaret, Xel-Há and Xplor fill up — pre-book tickets.
Beach clubs & sailing
Catamaran trips are popular — book ahead.
Whale sharks (in season)
June–September whale-shark tours sell out — reserve early.
Winter high season
November–April and holidays are busy — plan ahead.
Tulum ruins
Around €30–70 for a Tulum ruins tour with cenote and turtles.
Chichén Itzá
About €50–110 for a Chichén Itzá day trip with cenote and Valladolid.
Cenote tours
Roughly €30–80 for a cenote and snorkelling tour.
Eco-parks
Around €90–160 for an all-inclusive Xcaret, Xel-Há or Xplor day.
Sailing
About €60–130 for a catamaran trip with open bar.
How to save
Join group tours, combine ruins with cenotes, and travel in the shoulder months.
Tulum through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Sun, calm seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
- Best for
- Sun and value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some seaweed.
- Best for
- Whale sharks, low prices.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Humid; storm risk.
- Best for
- Caribbean heat ~28°C.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Always warm.