Tulum is situated in the Yucatan peninsula and has become the not-so-hidden gem of Mexico. The caribbean coastline is full of trendy beach bars, yoga retreats and fine dining. The beaches are some of the most beautiful i’ve ever seen, covered with soft white sand and turquoise water. I spent 10 nights there and i’ve highlighted below some of the best things to see & do.

I stayed in Aldea Zama which is an area between the beach and the town. It’s about a 20 minute walk to the town or a 5 minute taxi ride which costs around 200 pesos. Aldea Zama is a quiet and safe area that’s still being developed and feels a bit of an ex-pat area, lots of modern apartment blocks and a few cafes for breakfast / lunch options. Most people stay in Tulum town as it’s much cheaper than the beach / hotel area. The hotels on the beach are crazy expensive so Aldea Zama was a happy medium.
The beach from my air bnb was a little further and around 500 pesos by taxi. You can also hire bicycles and cycle there (around 30 minutes) – this is quite popular with tourists and a novel way to explore the area.

During the evening, I much preferred the vibe of the town compared to the beach area. There are some really cute restaurants and authentic, cheap taquerias. The town feels much more like Mexico and the beach area is more commercialised. We had dinner one night at a taqueria which was £7 for 3 of us compared to the beach area which cost us £350. The town also has lots of fun bars which have a laid-back atmosphere.

Things to do:

Swim in the cenotes – Tulum is filled with cenotes which are naturally formed water filled sinkholes where you can swim and snorkel. This was one of my favourite activities when visiting Tulum and it’s a great way to cool down in the high heat. You’re spoilt for choice when deciding on which cenote to visit, here’s a few that are worth seeing:

Casa Tortuga – https://www.cenotescasatortuga.com/

Gran Cenote

Casa Cenote

Visit the Mayan ruins – Worth a visit for a bit of history and culture and includes amazing views of the sea

Mayan Ruins

Enjoy the local cuisine at a taqueria – One of my favourite meals during my trip to Mexico was at the local taqueria. It’s a really authentic way to enjoy the Mexican cuisine and the taquerias have a nice mix of locals and tourists. They’re also extremely cheap compared to the hotel area, dinner cost around £7 for 3 people and a taco is around 50p! The El Pastor tacos are the tastiest, here’s two of the places I would recommend:

El carboncito – cheapest taqueria. No frills and doesn’t serve alcohol

Antojitos la chiapaneca – local taqueria, fun atmosphere. Pastor tacos are the best. So cheap too!

Tacos in Antojitos la chiapaneca

Spend a day at a beach club – You’re really spoilt for choice when it comes to beach clubs in Tulum. The long stretch of white sand is filled with upmarket places to soak up the sun and enjoy some cocktails. All of the beach clubs offer beds or bean bags when you spend a minimum amount on food & drink. The minimum spend varies from place to place, ranging from 50 – 150 USD. Here are some of the places I visited which were around 60 USD per person: 

1. Mia beach club
2. Coco Limited – My favourite beach club
3. Ziggys
4. Gitano Beach Club
5. Taboo – This is a party beach club

Where to eat in Tulum:

Gitano (Jungle) – Modern atmospheric restaurant set in jungle surroundings. Serves delicious Mexican dishes using locally sourced ingredients in an open-air lush jungle environment. It’s an all evening affair

Hartwood

Burrito Amor – Good lunch spot in the town. Great burritos.

Antojitos la Chiapaneca – Local taqueria, fun atmosphere. Pastor tacos are the best. So cheap too!

Encanto Cantina – Really cute restaurant and bar. Excellent cocktails.

Batey Mojito Bar – Live music and fun atmosphere

Fit-a-licious – Good breakfast spot in Aldea Zama

Nana rooftop bar in Tulum town

Nao, Japanese – Happy hour cocktails