Tulum Itinerary: How to Spend 3, 4 or 5 Days in Tulum [2023]

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Planning for 3 days, 4 days or 5 days in Tulum Mexico?

You’ve come to the right place for the perfect Tulum itinerary! This article has all the best things to do in Tulum Mexico, as well as plenty of off the beaten path Tulum things to see and explore.

If you’re wondering How many days do I need in Tulum Mexico? — know the boho beach paradise of Tulum makes for a great shorter trip.

As a pueblo (small town), you’re about to see how you can cover a lot of ground in just a few days on your Tulum trip. No matter if you’re planning you 3 day Tulum itinerary, 4 day Tulum itinerary or 5 day Tulum itinerary, you’ll find all the info you need here.

Located in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, right on the Caribbean Sea, you’re probably headed to Tulum for some beach time. Tulum Beach is certainly on the itinerary, as well as some beautiful Yucatan lagoons, and the Tulum cenotes.

You’ll also visit the famous Tulum Ruins, a Mayan archeological site on the beach, and some even other nearby ruins. Travelers with five days in Tulum will also get to discover the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, for an epic Tulum off the beaten path experience.

Ready to discover your options for how to spend 3 days in Tulum, 4 days in Tulum and 5 days in Tulum? Let’s get to it!

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary: Day 1

Day one of your Tulum itinerary will take you to all the highlights you must see when traveling to Tulum Mexico. In fact, if you wanted the perfect Tulum 1 day itinerary because you only have a day in Tulum, this is it!

On day one, you’ll visit the best Tulum photo spots, Mayan Runs in Tulum and the Tulum beaches. Depending on your budget, there’s info about visiting the best beach clubs in Tulum, or the nicest free beaches in Tulum.

1. Best Tulum Instagram Spots

Tulum is among the most Instagram worthy Mexico travel destinations, so you’ll likely want some photos at all the iconic spots during your 36 hours in Tulum.

📸 Tulum Tip: Let a pro handle your photos on these best Tulum photoshoot tours.

If you want to DIY it, head to Tulum Beach strip in the morning — the earlier the better. Doing this, you’ll both have better lighting and so encounter less people so you don’t spend one day of your trip waiting in line to take photos.

Start with a photo at the famous Follow The Dream sign, located outside of the Lolita Lolita shop. Next, head to Casa Malca, the mansion-turned-hotel once owned by Pablo Escobar. Just outside the lobby, you’ll find their famous hanging couch at Casa Malca.

From there, make your way to Azulik Tulum, one of the most Instagrammable Tulum resorts. You can take photos on the property, but only with your phone camera. They require a permit fee of a few thousand dollars to use professional equipment here.

There’s the adjoining SFER IK Museum, which costs $400 pesos ($20 USD) to enter, but makes for great photos. Azulik Uh May is another great option with a similar aesthetic.

The Ven a la Luz sculpture (meaning “come into the light”) by South African artist Daniel Popper is perhaps the most recognizable of all Tulum photo ops.

Located in the Tulum Sculpture Park near the entrance to Raw Love Cafe and Ahau Tulum Resort, this giant wooden man sculpture is one of the most popular Tulum photos. For most visitors, this is a must see on their Tulum itinerary.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

2. Best Brunch in Tulum Beach

If you want one final Instagram worthy Tulum photo, head to Match Mama. This thatched-roof cafe has the Instagrammable swings next to the I Love Tulum So Matcha sign on a surfboard.

It is one of the best Tulum coffee shops, but they also have smoothies, elixirs, kombucha, acai bowls and some small bites to eat — all at one of the most Instagram worthy Tulum spots.

After a long morning of photos, you may want to just sit down for a relaxing Tulum brunch. Tunich is perfect for a jungle brunch, with its extensive menu of egg dishes, pancakes, quinoa bowls, salads, tacos, smoothies, juices, coffee, tea drinks, and even more.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

3. Tulum Mayan Ruins

After eating, head to Tulum Ruins, an important Mayan archaeological site. These beachfront ruins overlook the beautiful Caribbean Sea, and are among the must do in Tulum attractions. The site is small and gets crowded, so the earlier you visit, the better.

After touring the ruins themselves, take the staircase down to the beach beneath the site.

It’s super beautiful and worth checking out, even if only to jump in the sea and cool down. However, there’s not really amenities, so you may want to head to a Tulum beach club.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

4. Best Tulum Beach Clubs

Famous for its boho Tulum beach clubs, you’ll want to check out at least one of them while in town on your Tulum vacay. They all charge to get in, but that is your “minimum spend,” and will be applied to your food and drink tab.

In other words, you pay $1,000-2,000 pesos ($50-100 USD) to enter the beach club. You’ll then have access to their pool and beach area facilities, including showers, bathrooms, etc., and your $50-100 USD credit will go towards your food and drinks.

If this price seems steep, it is — but hey, you’re on your dream Tulum vacation! For some of the best beach clubs in Tulum, check out:

• Casa Malca
• Nomade Tulum
• Papaya Playa Project
• La Zebra

There’s also Coco Tulum, the beachfront bar with the Instagrammable Tulum swings, and Ziggy’s Beach Tulum. These two restaurant/bars won’t have a full service waitstaff like you’ll get at beach clubs — but they also don’t have a “minimum spend” entry cost.

However, since you’re on the beach in Tulum Mexico, drinks still average about $200 pesos ($10USD). To keep costs down, check out these great Happy Hour bars in Tulum, Mexico.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

5. Free Tulum Beaches

All beaches in Mexico are technically free. When you pay to go to a Tulum beach club, it’s so you have access to service staff, beach chairs, bathrooms, etc. However, if you don’t need anything but the sun and sand, skip the beach clubs.

To keep costs as low as possible, head to a grocery store, fill a cooler with ice, drinks and snacks, grab your towel, and head to the best beaches in Tulum on your own.

These include Playa Pescadores, Playa Santa Fe, Playa Las Palmas and Playa Paraiso — and will cost you $0 to enjoy.

After some beach time, head to Mateo’s Mexican Grill for happy hour drinks from 5pm-7pm on their rooftop deck. This is one of the best places to see the sunset in Tulum, as you listen to a live band or DJ.

🍹 For a list of additional Tulum Happy Hour bars, head here.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary: Day 2

Besides the beach, the Tulum cenotes are a must-visit, and an essential part of any so-called “best Tulum itinerary.” You have a few options on how to visit, but the easiest way to visit is on one of these 10 Best Tulum Cenote Tours.

You can also drive your rental car or take a taxi. The best way to do this is to hire a taxi for the day and visit a few cenotes. You can plan your own route or ask the driver, as the locals always know the best hidden cenotes in Tulum.

To go by rental car or taxi, you’ll head north on Highway 109 from Tulum Town (AKA Downtown Tulum or Tulul Pueblo). On this road, you’ll have several cenotes to visit, including many of the best cenotes in Tulum.

The most famous Instagram worthy cenotes, like Cenote Suytun and Cenote Ik-Kil, are a bit further away near the town of Valladolid.

1. Best Tulum Cenotes

💧 Cenote Calavera

From Tulum Town, Calavera Cenote is the first one you’ll pass. It makes a great first stop because this cenote is very popular and also quite small. If you get here early enough to beat the crowds, you can get some really nice photos of Cenote Calavera.

💧 Cenote Santa Cruz

Keep heading down the road until you get to Santa Cruz Cenote. This is what’s called an open cenote, so it looks like a natural swimming pool. It isn’t as popular for Tulum cenote photos, so it will be a lot more relaxed than the last two.

💧 Cenote Zacil-Ha

This is another open, or swimming pool style cenote, but much more popular than Cenote Santa Cruz because it’s one of the few Tulum cenotes with a zipline. If you’re getting hungry, Zacil-Ha Cenote has an on-site restaurant.

💧 Gran Cenote

On the same road, Highway 109, you’re want to stop at Gran Cenote, meaning “big cenote.” This is a large site, with a few cenotes connected to one another by a series of wooden walkways.

It is another one of the Instagram famous Tulum cenotes, so expect bigger crowds. In fact, this may just be the most popular Tulum cenote.

💧 Cenote Car Wash

This one goes by two names, Cenote Aktun Ha and Car Wash Cenote, but they refer to the same place. Cenote Car Wash is super chill, and has a relaxed lagoon vibe.

💧 Cenote Tankah

Cenote Tankah is a small but popular and gorgeous Tulum cenote located near Tulum Beach. If you’re looking for Tulum cenotes near the beach, this is it.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

2. Dinner & Drinks in Tulum Town

After freshening up, head back to Tulum Town for dinner at Burrito Amor for the best burritos in Tulum. They have meat, seafood and vegan options, so everyone will love this outdoor place for delicious cheap eats in Tulum.

After a yummy burrito, check out Batey Bar, one of the best bars in Tulum. They have live music and a festive atmosphere most nights, but are best known for their amazing mojitos.

If you’re hungry after Batey, walk over to Antojitos La Chiapaneca for late night street tacos. They are known to have some of the best tacos in Tulum, along with Taquería Honorio, which is only open during the day.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary: Day 3

Start your day with some local Mexican coffee and breakfast at Ki’Bok Tulum Cafe, among the best cafe Tulum options. In fact, if you’re looking for the best coffee in Tulum, this is it.

It is located just off the main road in Tulum Town, and has great pastries, fruit/yogurt plates, omelets and Mexican breakfast favorites, like chilaquiles.

👩‍🎨 Love street art? Book the Tulum Murals Tour to see the street art in Tulum Town.

Another great option if you want tacos for breakfast is Taqueria Honorio, a locals’ favorite. This a no-frills spot, known for authentic tacos, quesadillas, tortas (sandwiches) and agua fresca (fruit water), is only open for breakfast and lunch.

1. Shopping in Tulum

For the best Tulum shopping, there’s shops on the beach (which are more pricey), and the locals’ run shops in Tulum Town. At these boutiques, you’ll find everything from colorful leather sandals to handmade Mayan hammocks.

Among the best places to shop in Tulum, don’t miss these:

• Mixik Tulum
• La Troupe Tulum
• Lolita Lolita Tulum Boutique
• Pura Vida Tulum
• Mr. Blackbird Tulum Boutique
• Kaahal Home Tulum
• MexicArte for Tulum souvenirs

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

2. Laguna Kaan Luum Lagoon

After shopping, jump in your rental car or grab a taxi for the 20 minute drive to Kaan Luum Lagoon. This is one of the best hidden gems in Tulum, and more popular with locals than tourists (though that is changing).

In Kaan Luum Lagoon, you can lather yourself up in the mud on the bottom for a bañya maya, or Mayan mud bath — which some claim has healing properties.

There’s not much to do at Kaan Luum besides swim and relax, and no shaded areas, so wear your sun hat at all times.

🧴 Note: Sunscreen and lotion are prohibited in Kaan Luum Lagoon.

There’s no distinction made between regular and eco-friendly sunscreen, and you’ll see signs forbidding sunscreen entirely. Many opt for an SPF swim shirt (rash guard) to visit the lagoon, and to practice sustainable tourism in Mexico.

After some time at the lagoon, you might be hungry again.

If so, stop at El Camello Jr. on the way back to Tulum Town. This is one of the best Tulum restaurants for ceviche and fresh seafood. It is popular with locals, so there might be a wait, but it usually moves quickly.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary: Day 4

1. Coba Ruins & Pyramid

The Tulum Ruins are a great option with only three days in Tulum, but for those who have more time, you’ll want to visit another site as well.

Coba Mayan Ruins, located about 45-minutes from Tulum, is more of a Mayan city than a Mexico ruins site — and it’s one of the best day trips from Tulum.

About 45-minutes from Coba, you’ll be in Valladolid, Yucatan, a great town to explore and have lunch. Tulum and Valladolid are both pueblos mágicos, or magical towns.

🤔 Wondering, What are pueblos magicos? The Mexico magic towns interesting and beautiful small towns that are welcoming to visitors because they have a lot to do and see.

📸 Best things to do in Valladolid

Head to the Zocalo, or Town Square, to see the Iglesia de San Servacio Valladolid church in Parque Principal (Main Park).

There’s also the Calzada de los Frailes, the prettiest street in Valladolid, with cute cafes, boutique shops and colorful colonial architecture.

At the end of Calle de los Frailes, there’s the Convento de San Bernardino de Siena. This 16th Century Fransiscan Convent is one of the oldest in the entire Yucatan Peninsula, and located next to the large sign with the Valladolid letters — a great photo op.

🍽️ Best Restaurants in Valladolid

On Calle de los Frailes, you can grab a casual bite to eat at El Jardín de los Frailes, known for their quesadillas.

For a more upscale meal, check out La Casona de Valladolid or Ix Cat Ik, a foodie favorite for authentic Yucatan food made by hand the old school way.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

3. Cenote Zaci

Located just a few blocks from downtown Valladolid, Cenote Zaci is one of the best cenotes in Yucatan, Mexico. This large cenote, popular with locals and visitors alike, makes for the perfect place to cool down after a long day of exploring Valladolid.

You can also eat there at the onsite restaurant, which if you do, your entrance will be free. If you’re not eating there, Cenote Zaci entrance is $30 pesos ($1.50 USD).

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary: Day 5

1. Sian Ka’an Biosphere

Sian Ka’an is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, recognized for its outstanding natural beauty and unique ecosystem. At Sian Ka’an, you’ll see dolphins, manatees, turtles and birds out in the wild, and you can swim through its beautiful blue lagoon waters.

🤔 Wondering, What is a Biosphere Reserve? “Biosphere reserves are learning places for sustainable development,” according to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites website.

As it’s quite literally off the beaten path in Tulum — as in you have to drive off-road to even get there — the easiest way to visit Sian Ka’an is on a tour.

There are these boat tours and these float tours where you put on a life jacket and float through the water, which is an amazing experience. You’ll also find even more tours shown below.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

2. Muyil Ruins

Many tours combine a visit to Sian Ka’an with seeing Chunyaxché, or the Muyil Ruins. Though not far from Tulum Ruins, Muyil Ruins looks very different.

Here, you’ll see what is known as Peten architecture. The Petan style has steep walled pyramids, similar to those at the Tikal Mayan Ruins in Guatemala. Muyil has some of the most beautiful and best Mayan Ruins in Yucatan, and sadly, so few visit.

⛵️ Best SIAN KA’AN TOURS IN TULUM

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

3. Dinner & Drinks on Tulum Beach

After a nice shower, make your way to Tulum Beach for a farewell dinner and drinks.

To keep it budget friendly, opt for I Scream Bar for tacos, drinks and vegan “nice” cream. You can stay there and hang around, as the party will continue to pick up as the night goes on.

For those wanting to splurge on dinner, choose from Arca Tulum, Hartwood, Gitano and Kin Toh Azulik Tulum restaurant, one of the best restaurants Tulum Beach has with their famous Nest Tables overlooking the jungle.

Note: Make reservations for these, as they’re among the best restaurants in Tulum Mexico, and they are always busy.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

Staying Longer: 7 Days in Tulum (Or More!)

Considering a week in Tulum, or need an even longer 10 day Tulum itinerary or 2 weeks in Tulum itinerary?

For your second trip to Tulum Mexico, or longer stays, you can do a few more day trip Tulum options and venture to nearby places in Yucatan. These include:

1. Akumal Beach
2. Playa del Carmen
3. Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins
4. Puerto Morelos
5. Cozumel Island
6. Laguna Bacalar
7. Holbox Island
8. Cancun
9. Isla Mujeres
10. Mahahual & Costa Maya
11. Merida
12. Izamal, The Yellow City

Tulum Travel Guide and FAQ

🗺️ Tulum Map

🚌 Private Shuttle: Cancun to Tulum Transfer service

I recommended Cancun Airport Transportation Services, which has an impressive 4.7 out of 5 Star rating. It is the highest-rated and best Cancun to Tulum private shuttle service available.

This Cancun to Tulum shuttle is also the easiest, fastest, most stress-free and hassle-free way to get from Cancun Airport to Tulum with door to door service! It is also the fastet way to get to Tulum from Cancun Airport.

Book your Tulum Shuttle now with Cancun Airport Transportation →︎

This is a nice option because your private transportation service will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to Tulum. After a long day of travel, having someone waiting to take you from the Airport straight to your hotel in Tulum is the best start to the trip.

🚗 Cancun Car Rentals

Renting a car in Cancun Airport is a convenient way to get to Tulum. Howevr, unless you’re planning on doing a few day trips from Tulum, the shuttle is likely a better option.

As Tulum has become more popular and more crowded, the traffic has become quite bad. Driving in Tulum isn’t a peaceful experience for many, and can lead to unnecessary stress on a otherwise peaceful Tulum vacation. Also, parking fees can add up quickly.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

Another tip is to stay in Tulum Town (AKA Downtown Tulum) instead of staying on the beach. In fact, eating, drinking and shopping will all cost less in downtown than on Tulum beach, as it’s less touristy.

🏡 Need a Tulum place to stay that’s budget-friendly? Check out these 11 Best Cheap Hotels in Tulum Mexico.

If you’re a budget traveler, there are many other cheap Mexico beach towns you can visit instead of Tulum. These cheaper options include Sayulita, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Escondido, El Cuyo and Bacalar Lagoon, though it’s not technically a beach.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

What’s the best place to stay in Tulum?

🏝️ Best Tulum Beachfront Hotels

While they certainly don’t always come cheap, Tulum hotels on the beach are the way to go for most travelers. Staying on the beach in the Tulum Hotel Zone means you’re in the middle of all the action and within walking distance of everything you’d need.

Here are some of the best hotels Tulum Beach has to offer, at several price points:

• Be Tulum ($$$$)
• Casa Malca Tulum ($$$$)
• Papaya Playa Project ($$$$)
• Azulik Tulum ($$$$)
• Hotel Bardo Tulum ($$$)
• Dreams Tulum ($$$) — The best Tulum all inclusive resort!
• Coco Tulum Zen Zone Hotel ($$)
• Hotel Tiki Tiki Tulum ($$)
• Meteora Tulum Hostel ($)

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

What are the best neighborhoods in Tulum?

🏝️ Tulum Beach

If you discovered Tulum on social media or YouTube, what you’ve likely seen is Tulum Beach. You might have even seen some of these unique Tulum glamping options or these best all-inclusive Tulum resorts.

This is where you’ll find all the beautiful large-scale art installations, beachfront eco-resorts like Alaya Tulum, high end restaurants, cool bars, and all the Instagram worthy places in Tulum.

🏩 Tulum Town (Downtown)

Tulum Town is also called Tulum Pueblo, and it’s the downtown area where many Tulum locals live. If you’re doing Tulum budget travel, you’ll want to stay here in downtown.

It has a charm all it’s own, but this is not the Tulum you’ve seen on Instagram — that’s Tulum Beach. However, you can always stay in Tulum Town to save some money, and spend most of your time at the beach.

🏨 Aldea Zama Tulum

The Aldea Zama neighborhood is located between Tulum Town and Tulum Beach.

It has a great central location, newer construction apartment buildings with nice amenities, and you can often find great deals for the VRBO & Airbnb Tulum Mexico options in Aldea Zama.

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

You can expect to see everything from boho hippie style to decked out Instagram influencers. If you need a visual, head here for some Tulum outfit inspo — or just think flowy sundresses, cute sandals, a sunhat and sunglasses.

Tulum is hot, so don’t forget your Water-To-Go refillable water bottle. This not only keeps you hydrated, but filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico!

You’ll also need one of these best sunscreens for Mexico, some Frizz Ease for your hair, and anti-hangover pills if you plan to party hardy 🥂

Ultimate Tulum Itinerary

🚕 Are Tulum taxis safe?

For the cast majorite of travelers, it’s perfectly safe to use taxis in Tulum. You can hail one on the street, andd if there’s someone friendly tou like, ask foor their nnumber so you can text them if you need more rides.

Note: In Mexico, you need to agree on the price before entering the taxi, as there aren’t meters, and you’ll need to have pesos to pay the driver. Some drivers will be open to price negotiations, and some won’t.

Believe it or not, Tulum used to be a sleepy town. In the last decade or so, it’s become one of the top Mexico vacation destinations. For a rundown on what to expect in the different months of the year, use the links below.

While the majority of travelers simply visit and have a nice time, always be aware that no place on Earth is 100% safe. You have to make safety a priority by staying aware of yourself, your belongings and your surrounding at all times.

While not everyone would rank Tulum among the safest places to travel in Mexico, plenty of statistics show that millions visit each year — and by comparrison, the number of incidents of petty crime and violent crime is low.

Final Thoughts: Tulum Itinerary for Yucatan Mexico

We’ve reached the end of this Tulum travel itinerary, and now you’re basically a Tulum travel pro! If you want to look anything over again, here’s a link to the Tulum itinerary 3 days, Tulum itinerary 4 days and Tulum itinerary 5 days.

Hopefully, you now have a mental picture of this Yucatan beach town in Mexico. As it’s a small-sized pueblo, you can certainly cover a lot of ground with just 4, 5 or even 3 days in Tulum. As with any vacation destination — the longer the better for any trip to Tulum Mexico.

🎧 Tulum Podcast

Need more Tulum travel info? Check out this podcast about Tulum Mexico.