A 3-Day Tulum Itinerary – Things to Do in Tulum

When coming up with a Yucatan Peninsula itinerary in Mexico, it’s more than likely that you’d want to include a visit to Tulum. If you only have a limited time to visit this stunning part of the country, we’ve put together a fun 3-day itinerary for Tulum that covers most of the main attractions. Of course, you can also base yourself in Tulum for longer and do day-trips that are further afield, as the travel distances aren’t as great here as in other parts of Mexico.

In this guide we’ll also include details on how to get to Tulum, how to get around, where to stay, and some of our favourite places to eat.

If you’d like to see what we got up to during our stay then make sure to watch our dedicated Tulum video. If you’re interested in more Mexico content, check out the Mexico Playlist on our YouTube Channel.

About Tulum

Tulum is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, along the Caribbean Coast, in the Quintana Roo state of Mexico. It’s about a 2-hour drive south of Cancun and about 1.5 hours south of Valladolid.

Tulum has become a very popular tourist spot in recent years thanks to the nearby Maya ruins, cenotes and beaches.

In 2015, Tulum was designated as a Pueblo Magico, or Magical Town. It is one of four Pueblo Magicos in the Quintana Roo state, along with Isla Mujeres, Bacalar, and Cozumel.

3-Day Tulum Itinerary – A Fun Way to Spend 3 Days in Tulum

Day 1: Explore the Tulum Hotel Strip + Tulum Centro

Morning: Tulum Hotel Strip

We started our 3-day stay in Tulum by visiting the popular Tulum Hotel Strip. It’s a good 7 km long stretch of road along Highway 15. It starts from the roundabout at the end of La Costera to the south of Tulum Pueblo, and goes all the way to Arco Maya which marks the entry to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The Hotel Strip became incredibly popular on social media because of the number of artsy hotel and beach club entrances, as well as the many independent shops, small cafes and restaurants.

Things to See along the Hotel Strip in Tulum

Escultura “Ven a la Luz” is one of the most iconic tourist attractions along the Hotel Strip. The sculpture used to stand in front of one of the hotels, but was moved a few years ago now into a small sculpture park. This means that you’ll need to pay an entry fee of 100 MXN pesos to be able to view the impressive 10 m tall sculpture. Within the park there are a few other smaller sculptures, which are beautiful but aren’t quite as impressive as the Ven a la Luz.

Matcha Mama is a popular cafe along the Hotel Strip. The cafe serves some delicious, healthy and refreshing drinks and smoothie bowls that are worth stopping for. Its photogenic setting, with swings, plants and a surfboard that says ‘I love Tulum so matcha’ , make up for the slightly inflated price for the products.

The art installations at the beach club entrances are a big draw for many people. There are many impressive ones that we liked, such as the Vagalume Tulum Beach Club Entrance with its levitating hand, the wooden archway at Selina Tulum, and the giant bunny at Conestesia Beach Club.

Note that not every beach club will have a cool entrance. However, almost all of them will be in a leafy palm tree setting. Taking pictures in front of the entrances is free but you’ll have to spend some money if you want to enter one of them. Check out the up-to-date prices before you walk into one.

As you make your way along the Strip, you’ll see many other iconic signs and smaller art installations such as the angel wings at Plaza Kapen Ha, the “Love Sign” at Hotel BT Live Tulum, or the “Follow that Dream” sign along the road.

How to get to the Tulum Hotel Strip?

The best way to get there is either by cycling or renting a scooter. Unless you’re staying in one of the hotels / resorts along the strip, it’s quite far to walk from Tulum Centro. Going there with a hire car is also an option, however the road is quite narrow to just stop anywhere, so you’d need to park the car somewhere and walk along the Strip.

Note. The Hotel Strip isn’t pedestrianised; in fact it’s very heavily trafficked. Some of the hotel shuttles drive like lunatics, so be careful when walking, biking or scootering. Even if you’re driving a car, they’ll try to pass you if they have the tiniest amount of room available.

Afternoon: Tulum Centro

After we made our way back from the Hotel Strip, we went for some lunch and tried to hide from the midday heat and humidity until a bit later in the afternoon. They have plenty of great restaurants, bars and cafes in Tulum Centro. There’s even a Matcha Mama, in case you’re craving another smoothie bowl.

Once the temperatures cool down a little, we recommend spending some time walking around Tulum Centro. Our favourite activity was spotting beautiful murals. There were a lot along Calle Sol Oriente, but we spotted a few in other places as well. Along Tulum Avenue you’ll also find many gift shops selling all sorts of souvenirs and other trinkets. Later in the evening, don’t forget to grab a marquesita at Parque Dos Aguas as a delicious dessert.

Day 2: Visit Tulum Ruins + Beaches

Morning: Tulum Ruins

Once again, we set off early on our second day in Tulum to visit the Tulum Ruins. They are located right on the Caribbean Sea, just outside Tulum Centro. Although there are many impressive archeological sites in Mexico, this is actually the only Maya city that was built on the coast.

The site is open every day from 8AM until 5PM, although the last entry is at 3:30PM. You’ll need to pay for two separate tickets to enter the ruins. 60 MXN pesos for the Jaguar National Park, the second largest conservation area and reserve in Quintana Roo, and 95 MXN pesos for the ruins themselves.

We’ve put together a short guide with all the essential information you should know about prior to your visit to the Tulum Ruins. It details all the different ways you can reach the site, as well as more information about entry fees, opening times and when the best time of year to visit is. In addition, we’ll tell you about the best structures to see within the ruins.

Afternoon: Tulum Beaches

Since we’d already paid our entry to the Jaguar National Park, we carried on cycling along the road that runs parallel to the Tulum Beach Zone. Along this stretch of road, we found some beautiful public beaches such as Playa Paraiso, or Paradise Beach. There are a couple of other points of interest here that you may also want to stop at:

• Faro de Tulum (Tulum Lighthouse)
• Playa Santa Fe
• Playa Pescadores

You can spend the rest of the day beach-hopping and sunbathing before riding back to Tulum Centro.

Day 3: Day Trip to Coba Ruins + Cenotes

Morning: Coba Ruins + Coba Cenotes

On our third day in Tulum we decided to rent a car and visit a few places located further north of the town. We drove along Highway 109 all the way to Coba to visit another ancient Maya city.

Just like at Tulum Ruins we had to pay two separate entry fees. 100 MXN pesos to enter the territory of the local communities called Ejido, and 95 MXN pesos to access the ruins themselves. For parking we also paid 60 MXN pesos.

We have a dedicated guide on Coba Ruins that includes all the essential information you should know about prior to your visit. It details all the different ways you can reach the site and get around it. You’ll also find information about entry fees, opening times and when the best time of year to visit is.

After touring around Coba Ruins in the humid jungle, we decided to visit some of the nearby cenotes for a refreshing dip. There are three completely enclosed underground cenotes you can visit:

• Tamcach-ha
• Choo-ha
• Multum-ha

They’re located about 5-6 km to the east of Coba Ruins, so ideally you would need a scooter or a hire car to reach them. Alternatively, if you have a bike and don’t mind cycling you can get to the cenotes that way too. Some tours also include a visit to these cenotes after visiting Coba Ruins.

Depending on how much time and money you want to spend, you can visit just one or all three cenotes. Although you’ll have to pay 100 MXN pesos for each one, even if you visit all three, it’ll still be more affordable compared to one entry to a popular cenote like the Gran Cenote near Tulum.

Afternoon: AZULIK City of Arts + ATIK Tulum Park

There are many fantastic places you can stop at along Highway 109 on your way back to Tulum. Some of the most popular cenotes, such as the Gran Cenote, are also along this road. We could only fit in a visit to the AZULIK City of Arts and ATIK Tulum Park. However, you can also visit Cenote Calavera or Cenote Zacil-Ha instead of Cenote ATIK Tulum.

AZULIK City of Arts

AZULIK City of Arts is located halfway between Coba and Tulum. It is a unique museum which combines art, nature, technology and ancestral wisdom. The indoor area is a massive space with wooden pathways leading you through the upper and lower parts of the building. There’s also an outdoor area which we recommend walking around too. It was one of our favourite places to visit around Tulum.

How to get to the AZULIK City of Arts? – It’s not the most advertised or signposted place. You’ll have to turn off here onto a street called Cam Blanco, and just follow the road straight ahead. The tarmac turns into a dirt road about 2.3 km from the destination. After we turned off this road onto a side road, the road became even worse. We questioned whether it was worth the drive, but in the end it totally was. Just make sure to drive carefully!

Entry Fee is 400 MXN pesos per person. We also had to sign a form saying that we understood the rules of visiting the place. Unfortunately, if you want to take a professional camera or even just a GoPro, including accessories such as tripods, you need to pay an additional 2,000 MXN pesos! Luckily, you can take your phone in to take photos and record videos for free.

ATIK Tulum Park

There are many popular cenotes around Tulum. Quite a few of them are located along Highway 109, so it’s easy to stop at one, or more, on your way back from Coba. We decided to check out ATIK Tulum Park, although it didn’t feel as natural as some of the other cenotes we visited. However, it does have a small skull museum with some picturesque fountains, and it felt like we were walking through the jungle at times. The only downside was that there was not a lot of space to put our stuff down, or even a dedicated changing room, so we had to make do with the toilets.

There weren’t any signposts towards this cenote either and we nearly missed the entrance. Luckily, no-one was driving behind us when we had to break sharply for the turn-off. Again, we had to drive along a short section of dirt road with lots of rocks. There wasn’t really a dedicated parking area either so try to get there earlier or later in the day.

The entry fee is 550 MXN pesos per person and they will also charge an extra 300 MXN pesos if you want to bring your camera in. Phones are allowed in free of charge.

How to Get to Tulum

There are multiple ways you can get to Tulum, depending on your budget and where you’re coming from.

By Plane. If you’re just arriving to Mexico, then you may be able to fly direct to Tulum. Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport (TQO) officially opened in December 2023. You can check out all the places you can fly direct from here. From the airport you can get a hire car, a taxi, an airport shuttle, or an ADO bus to Tulum.

If there’s no direct flight available to Tulum then the next closest airport is Cancun International Airport (CUN). You can check out all the places you can fly direct from here. From the airport you can hire a car, or take an airport shuttle or ADO bus to Tulum.

By Bus. Our favourite method of getting around Mexico is by bus. Buses are affordable, comfortable, and you can get to most places by using them. The ADO bus company operates in the southern states of Mexico, so if you’re here to travel around the Yucatan Peninsula, ADO will be your go-to company. You can travel to Tulum from popular places like Cancun, Valladolid, Merida and more.

By Hire Car. If you’re planning a road-trip around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, then hiring a car from the airport might be the best way to get to Tulum. However, if you’re on a tight budget, or if you’re not planning on visiting places further afield, then renting a car won’t be worth the money in our opinion.

How to Get Around Tulum

Since many of the attractions are far apart, you’ll likely need to use a few different modes of transport to visit them all.

1. On Foot: Mainly around Tulum Centro, or along the Hotel Strip.
2. By Bicycle: There are dedicated cycle lanes both in Tulum Pueblo and along Coba Avenue (Highway 15), the road that connects downtown Tulum to the Hotel / Beach Zone.
3.  By Scooter: To reach the Hotel Zone, the Tulum Ruins and beaches. It’s also a quick way to visit some cenotes, such as the Gran Cenote to the north of Tulum.
4. By Rental Car: For visiting places further afield from Tulum, such as the Coba Archeological Site, AZULIK City of Arts and ATIK Tulum Park.
5. By Colectivos (Shared Minivans): Flag one down that’s going either towards the Hotel Zone (Cabanas) or the northern beaches (Ruinas) anywhere along the main avenue (Highway 307).
6. By Taxi: A good option if you want to have the freedom to get to attractions located further afield but don’t want to hire a car and drive in Mexico.
7. Organised Tour: Book a guided tour in Tulum, which could take you somewhere further afield. 

Where to Stay in Tulum

Tulum isn’t just one small town. In fact, Tulum is split into a few different areas: Tulum Pueblo, or Centro, the Beach / Hotel Zone, Zama and La Veleta. Most people either base themselves in Tulum Centro or the Hotel / Beach Zone.

Whilst Zama and La Veleta are located just outside of Centro, the Beach / Hotel Zone is located about 5km to the south and stretches for over 10km along the coast. If you want to visit some popular cenotes, they’re mainly located to the north of Tulum Centro along Highway 109.

If you only have 3 days in Tulum, we suggest booking something either in Centro or the Hotel Zone.

Where to Eat in Tulum

There are many places to eat in Tulum. Below are some of our favourite vegetarian / vegan spots:

Matcha Mama. One of the most well-known cafes in Tulum thanks to their photogenic aesthetics. They actually have three locations in Tulum: one along the Hotel Strip, one in Centro, and we also saw one along the Beach Zone area. You can buy delicious smoothies and acai bowls, as well as coffees and kombuchas. Their prices are a bit inflated because of their popularity on social media.

La Vegan Taquería. It’s a great place to have some yummy vegan tacos. We really enjoyed the food here and the owners were super nice too. They have a great selection of flavours such as hibiscus (Jamaica), which you should definitely try out.

Suculenta Tamaleria. As the name suggests you can eat some delicious vegan tamales here, as well as a few other Mexican dishes such as enchiladas and tacos. The owner was once again lovely and very chatty.

El Bajon Vegan Tacos. This was probably our favourite vegan taco place and not just because this was the most affordable vegan taco we had. The tacos were also incredibly delicious.

La Hoja Verde. It’s definitely a bit of a pricier place to eat vegan food, but it was still delicious. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. La Hoja Verde is also great if you want to eat something other than tacos. We went for a vegan burger here.

Final Thoughts on a 3-Day Tulum Itinerary

Before looking into planning our stay in Tulum, we didn’t really realise just how spread out everything was. Based on the photos we’d seen on social media, we thought that Tulum was no more than just the popular Hotel Strip. Staying in Centro was a great idea as we got to enjoy the slightly more local experience instead of the super touristy one.

We were in Tulum during the hurricane season, which meant that it was generally way less crowded than it would’ve been in their high season. For this reason we didn’t mind doing a bit of the cheesy touristy things like taking photos in front of the beach club entrances. Thankfully the cenotes were also less busy, which allowed us to truly enjoy these natural formations. I know that we wouldn’t have enjoyed our 3-day Tulum itinerary if we had to queue everywhere we went. Exploring Tulum by bike also added an extra element of fun, even if we had to battle with the incredible humidity.

Have you ever been to Tulum before? If so, how long did you spend there and what was your favourite activity? If not, what would you add to your 3-day Tulum itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.