Tulum: Hidden Gem of the Riviera Maya, Mexico

Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is one of our favorite beach getaway destinations! On our very first visit in Tulum, while bobbing around in the 80-degree waters of the Caribbean, we were already discussing a return trip. If you haven’t discovered Tulum yet, this post will encourage you to start packing NOW! 😊

Sometimes your body and soul demand a little pampering in the form of a tropical paradise. And this is where the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico comes to play. With a variety of all-inclusive resorts, high-end hotels, environmentally-friendly bungalows and reasonably-priced condos to rent, you’re sure to find the perfect accommodations.

You fly into Cancun International airport (CUN), and once you make your way past the tourist services and step outside, you’ll get enveloped by the humid warm tropical air. We recommend planning an early flight — this gives you a little time to acclimate yourself to the rising heat. There is no shortage of taxi cabs trying to get a fare, but if you’ve already made arrangements, just politely smile, shake your head, and walk straight to your transport’s kiosk.

If you are booking an all-inclusive experience in the Tulum area, we recommend adding shared airport transfer to your travel package. The other options are buses, or taxis. The car rental could be a great option too!

Many people stay in Cancun, famous for its nightlife, shopping and touristy things to do. We challenge you to go a little bit farther than that. To Tulum! – just about an hour and a half drive south of Cancun.

Located at the bottom of the Rivera Maya area, Tulum is a must-see for the adventurer in all of us! With ancient Mayan ruins and pyramids, caverns and cenotes to explore, and outstanding outdoor activities, you will never run out of fun things to do. The beaches in the area are ranked as some of the most beautiful in the world. Tulum is also known for its many spiritual and yoga retreats as well.

Now – before you start booking something, make sure that you are booking it in the area you actually want to visit 😊. The Tulum area might get confusing! If you are looking for luxury all-inclusive accommodations, you will find the resorts relatively close to the ruins, but definitely not within  walking distance. You can take a collectivo (shared mini-bus service) from the highway bus stops to the places of interest. Then there is Tulum Pueblo, a town with a convenience store, some restaurants, and souvenir shops. Then of course, Tulum Ruins. Plus, the actual Tulum Hotel Zone (6 miles of the beach stretching between Tulum Ruins and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve) full of restaurants, spas, and small boutique hotels.

There are plenty of all-inclusive resorts there that will spoil you rotten. The resorts we’ve stayed in had top notch service and pretty much everything you’d want from a resort – world-class spas, high end cuisine, top-shelf drinks, and pristine pools. Most offer great nightly entertainment and activities.

What to Do In the Area

1. Relax and soak it all in!

Sandy beaches and the unbelievably warm waters of the Caribbean will rejuvenate you. Tulum is a spectacular spot for a romantic getaway. If you just want to lay on the beach under the palm trees, sipping on a cocktail, enjoying the sun — Tulum is perfect for that!

2. Explore Tulum Ruins!

These magical picturesque ruins of the Mayan fortress are captivating. Originally the town was called Zama (the Place of the Dawning Sun) and later Tulum (the Wall). We took a collectivo to the ruins ($2-3 US dollars), walked to the site and took a self-guided tour ($3-4 US dollars), but you can also take the guided tours.

(TIP: It can get REALLY HOT there and VERY FAST. The site is vast, and there are very limited shaded areas to rest. So, go earlier and bring lots of water and eco-friendly sunscreen with you! There is a small souvenir shop at the entrance as well that carries Band-Aids & bottled water.)

Tulum Ruins is one of the best preserved Mayan heritage sites!

It contains many secrets for the curious ones to discover. There are markers pointing to the fact that the site is actually much older than the Mayan civilization itself.

3. Visit Hel-Xa water park!

Xel-Ha park (pronounced “Shel-HA”) is a fun tourist attraction for the whole family. It is an all-inclusive commercial water park in a jungle setting (all the gear, food, drinks and a majority of activities is included in the admission fee).

Kids and adults alike can enjoy snorkeling in the lagoon and cenotes, seeing a variety of tropical fishes & tubing down the river. Our highlight of the visit was seeing the rescued manatees (also called “sea cows”) and learning about the conservation efforts. Such cute prehistoric looking animals.

We’ve also got the add-on activity of swimming with the dolphins — a bit overpriced, in our opinion, but still an irresistible experience, and then we learned that the pictures must be purchased separately. Overall, Xel-Ha was a lot of fun. Plan most of the day for it, and if you get tired, there is big area with hammocks to catch a snooze.

4. Observe the Wildlife!

While visiting Tulum, you will encounter a wide variety of animal life. After all, the Yucatan Peninsula is a jungle, so your chances are pretty good you’ll see something. For example, have you ever seen wild iguanas up close and in person?😊 You will here! These big, lazy guys are everywhere. Lurking in the bushes, on the lawn, even sunning on the walkways. And they just sit there, so you will literally have to walk around them.

Don’t worry though, other than being a possible tripping hazard, these things are harmless. There also seems to be larger population of iguanas (bigger ones) near the Tulum ruins.

There is also a funny-looking critter that’s best described as a combination  of a raccoon, a cat, and a monkey 😊. They’re called Coati, Mexican raccoons, or “snookum bears” (awe). They are nocturnal, so you won’t see these cute little guys unless you’re walking around late at night. We were lucky enough to see three of them playing in the bushes outside our suite! Depending on which tours or excursions you take, you may also see (or hear) howler monkeys, colorful parrots, and even jaguars!

The full-day adventures near Tulum should be mentioned as well – the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve with snorkeling at the Great Mayan Reef (the 2^nd largest coral reef in the world) and tubing down ancient viaducts, swimming in cenotes,  Coba Ruins, and of course, Chichen Itza (that’s not close to anything to start with, but probably the shortest jungle drive from the Tulum area). Many of the full-day tour offer a lunch as part of the package. This is awesome, because you don’t have to worry about bringing or purchasing food, and you get to try some local cuisine!

All in all, Tulum is the perfect destination for couples or the entire family. With it’s ancient history, endless outdoor adventures, and activities for all ages, Tulum will leave an impression that will last a lifetime.

If you have ever been there, or have questions about visiting Tulum, please feel free to comment!