THE ULTIMATE TULUM BUCKET LIST

Tulum is currently known as an “influencer’s paradise”. It is that but also it’s so much more. Tulum has so much to offer in terms of culture, food, beaches, and history. I’ve included some popular tourist spots as well as some that are more undiscovered.

If you’re going to Tulum for a few days or moving there long term, this is the list for you.

I have categorized this list into 7 categories: things to do, photo spots, beach clubs, cenotes, good work spots, restaurants, day trips. I would recommend 4-5 days in Tulum to get the full experience if you’re on vacation. If you pick 3-4 items from “things to do”, “photo spots”, “beach clubs”, “restaurants” and 1-2 items from “cenotes”, “day trips”, you’ll have a very full itinerary and great time in Tulum. (The check marks are things I’ve done. Comment if you have any questions!)

Things To Do:

Tulum Ruins ✅: The ruins are a 15 minute bike ride from town and it’s a whole Mayan city right above the beach. I recommend going earlier because it gets very hot. There’s also a very nice beach right there.
Secret cenote party: You will have to ask around for the details when you get there, but the word gets around quick and everyone knows everyone in Tulum.
Ruins beach ✅: This is the beach overlooking the ruins and a short bike ride away from the Ruins. You can se the ruins in the distance. There is a bar there as well.
Holistika art walk ✅: Holistika is a boutique hotel that has Temezcal ceremonies, yoga classes, a vegan café, a co-working space and a beautiful art walk in the jungle. Definitely worth checking out.
Scuba dive in a cenote ✅: There are many scuba diving companies in Tulum and you don’t need to be certified to do it. It was my first time scuba diving and underneath a cenote, it looks like a different world. I went with Origin Dive Project and 2 dives were $140.
Sunset at Hotelito Azul: This hotel is one of the few hotels on the beach side that has a rooftop. There’s a bar at the top so it would be a great view for sunset.
Take a yoga class: The yoga community is huge in Tulum and there are so many yoga class options from beach yoga to sunrise/sunset yoga. I took a sunset yoga class at Maka Hotel and a class at Nomade.
Dune buggies/ATVs: There are so many places to rent ATV’s in Tulum (in the jungle, beach, beach road, etc.)
Mermaid tail: You can book a session on Airbnb experience or Instagram to wear a mermaid tail in the water and be a mermaid for a few hours. This is one option.
Street food ✅: At night, the street vendors come out in Tulum Centro and the food is amazing. Tacos are around 15 pesos and pretty filling. One of my favorites is across from Batey’s.
I Scream Bar ✅: I Scream Bar is one of the most wild bars in Tulum on the hotel zone. It’s famous for their vegan ice cream and their music is always good. (Warning: there was a cartel affiliated shooting when I was in Tulum so be careful)
Palma Central: Palma Central is a park that has a different variety of food trucks at night. Prices are very cheap. There’s usually live music and dancing as well. I got wings and empanadas and they were delicious.
Cerveceria Chapultepec: Everything at this bar is 21 pesos or $1. It’s a great place to hang out/pregame. Even the food is $1. Right in the heart of Tulum Centro.
Rent bikes and explore the street art: Biking is the best way to get around Tulum since the town is so bike friendly. I rented my bike at iBike, located in Tulum Centro, since it was a great price of $180 for the month. There are bike rentals everywhere in Tulum.

Photo Spots:

Art With Me Festival ✅: Art With Me is an art festival that happens in Tulum every year and there are sculptures set up all along the beach. Tickets are normally expensive but if you’re in Tulum during the festival, you can walk along the beach and see them for free, which is what I did.
Casa Malca: Casa Malca was Pablo Escobar’s mansion and it’s now a restaurant and decorated beautifully.
Ahau statue: This statue is what you think of when you think of Tulum. It’s right outside Ahau and it was featured in Art With Me 2018. There’s usually a long line so it’ll take a while. I would recommend going early in the morning. This picture was taken walking past it at night.
Selina sculpture ✅: This sculpture is beautiful and there’s rarely a line for it. Right in front of Selina hostel and Mia beach club.
Azulik: Azulik is probably the most famous hotel on the hotel zone – a night there can costs thousands of dollars. It’s famous for the design and jungle aesthetics. There are so many good photo ops there. I never because I never made the time but if you go for the museum specifically, you don’t need to pay for dinner/hotel to take pictures.
Kanan Hotel: Another hotel on the hotel zone that has beautiful photo ops on the beach.
Follow Your Dream sign: The infamous “Follow Your Dream” sign is in front of Lolita & Lolita Boutique on the hotel zone, of course.

Beach Clubs:

La Eufemia: La Eufemia is a beach club down the hotel zone with delicious cheap tacos and no spending minimum.
La Zebra ✅: Very relaxing, family friendly beach club.
Coco Tulum ✅: Coco Tulum is known for its swing bar which is super cute.
Papaya Playa Project ✅: One of the most well known beach clubs in Tulum. No matter when you go, there’s a beach party (pre-covid). During covid, it was pretty tame but a nice place to relax and tan during the day.
Ahau ✅: Another popular, relaxing beach club.
Vagalume ✅: Most people go dressed up and it’s fancier than the other ones.
Akiin ✅: Great music, drinks, and food.
Mina ✅: Closer to town than the other ones. Super cute and has great food.
Ziggys ✅: Great place for breakfast/lunch and very relaxing.
Taboo: I didn’t go because it’s pretty rowdy but it looks fun. Definitely a pricier beach club. They have hookah available.
Playa Paraíso ✅: This is the public beach. As I said in my other article, the public beach is amazing.
Tekio ✅: A beach club on the public side so you can kind of just hang out. You might need to pay cover to get in the roped off section though.
Nomade: Another beach club on the hotel zone.

Cenotes

Gran Cenote ✅: Gran Cenote is the most popular one in Tulum but lives up to the hype. Gran Cenote is beautiful and has a bunch of turtles. I would recommend bringing your own goggles/snorkel or you can rent some there. It costs 200 pesos and they don’t take card. You also have to shower and rinse your hair before you enter.
Cenote Calavera ✅: Calavera is smaller than Gran Cenote but it’s beautiful and 2 mini holes to jump through. It is also where the Instagrammable swing is. I believe it’s 150 pesos.
Dos Ojos: Dos Ojos is a pretty famous cenote about 40 minutes from Tulum. A must see if you have time.
Cenote Casa Tortuga: Another cenote in Tulum.
Cenote Suytun ✅: Suytun is amazing and a huge cave. It’s an hour away, closer to Valladolid so would recommend going on the way to Valladolid. It was 120 pesos.
Cenote Zaci ✅: Cenote Zaci is in Valladolid but it’s huge. There are also walls to jump off of which is great if you’re a thrillseeker.
Cenote Oxman: Oxman is a little further out from Tulum. Another cenote system that is known for its picturesque hanging vines.
Sistema Sac Actun: Sac Actun is a huge underground system that’s pretty famous.

Good Work Spots:

Ki’Bok ✅: Ki’bok has fantastic coffee and a huge co-working space in the back with great wifi in Tulum Centro.
Holistika ✅: Holistika has a great co-working space and a vegan restaurant in the La Valeta neighborhood.
Mezzanine ✅: Mezzanine is a Thai restaurant on the public beach side that has great wifi, amazing food and drinks, and a very impressive view.
Gypsea Market: Gypsea is a co-working space/cafe that is perfect for digital nomads. There’s indoor/outdoor seating as well as an artisanal market. It’s located in La Valeta.

Restaurants:

Ajal: Ajal was recommended to me because they are treehouses in the jungle. I’m not sure how the food is but the view and aesthetic is beautiful.
La Gloria De Don Pepe ✅: It’s a tiny Spanish restaurant in Tulum Centro but the food is INCREDIBLE. I got the classic paella which is a minimum for 2 people and it was one of the best paellas I’ve ever had.
La Querida ✅: This restaurant on the busiest street in Tulum Centro has everything. Their menu is huge and prices are affordable. They have the best salmon vodka penne I’ve ever had.
Pasha ✅: Pasha is an amazing Turkish restaurant in Tulum Centro. I got the lamb kabobs which were delicious and the meze platter has a TON of food and is decently priced. It’s definitely more affordable than restaurants on the hotel zone.
Pasada Margherita ✅: Posada Margherita is the only other really nice restaurant I went to in Tulum. They’re either cash only or they take Zell. Everything is made by hand is so incredible. I got the broccoli pasta. And they give bread and cheese as an appetizer which is always exciting!
Hartwood: Artisan, seafood restaurant that has very fresh food daily.
Humo: Contemporary Mexican restaurant on the beach road.
Clan Destino: Clan Destino is a restaurant on the hotel zone that has a cenote in it. It mainly serves burgers but how cool is it to eat and drink in a cenote?!
Casa Malca: mentioned earlier.
Lief’s: A really cute outdoor, vegan restaurant on the way to the beach from Tulum Centro. They have great coffee.
Arca ✅: Arca was one of the few fancy restaurants I went to in Tulum. It was pretty good but didn’t exceed my expectations. The drinks are fantastic. The menu is limited so we tried almost one of everything. I got the Suckling Pig as my entree. For 2 drinks, 2 starters, and 2 entrees, it was about $150 with tip.
Habitas Tulum: On the hotel zone and the restaurant is called Moro.
Gitano: Gitano is a super popular restaurant in Tulum. It’s a modern Mexican place with a nice ambiance and great place for drinks.
Raw Love ✅: Raw Love is a vegan restaurant/cafe inside Ahau. They have amazing smoothie bowls and coffee. I hear their vegan curry is good too.
Matcha Mama ✅: There are 2 Matcha Mama locations, one in Tulum Centro and one on the beach road. I went to the one in town since it was more convenient but they’re both very photogenic and have the same menus. The smoothie bowls are very good.
Kitchen Table: A locally sourced restaurant in the jungle.
Acqua & Farina: an Italian restaurant in Tulum Centro.
El Rincón Chiapaneco: Another famous taco joint in Tulum Centro.
Bonita Burger: A burger place in Tulum Centro with vegan options.
Cenzontle: A nice Latin restaurant on the hotel zone.
Italdo ✅: A delicous bakery and co-working space in the neighborhood, La Valeta. It’s right next to Gypsea Market.
Tacqueria Honorio: If you ask anyone for a taco recommendation in Tulum, they’ll recommend this place. It has the best tacos in Tulum.
Las Baguis: A super cute breakfast café. They have vegan options and great coffee.
El Pez Nativo: An Italian Restaurant in Tulum Centro with raving reviews.
Burrito Amor: A very popular burrito spot in Tulum Centro. They have vegan and gluten free options.

Day Trips:

Valladolid ✅: Valladolid is a beautiful colonial town an hour away. I rented a car for the day to get there. There are a ton of cenotes in the area. I wrote about it in this blog post.
Isla Holbox: An island north of Tulum. You can either spend a few days there or take a day trip.
Merida: Another town not too far from Tulum.
Playa del Carmen: Playa del Carmen is more commercialized and is a classic tourist city in Quintana Roo. Worth visiting if you’re in the area for a while.
Coba: Another mayan ruin/pyramid that’s 45 minutes away from Tulum.
Sian Ka’an: A biosphere that is full of nature. This was high on my list but I didn’t have time to go.
Akumal: A beach town in between Tulum and Cancun. A great place to rent a boat for the day or go scuba diving.
Chichen Itza ✅: It’s about 2 hours from Tulum. It’s worth visiting if you’ve never been because the pyramid is amazing. I went as a kid and I was in awe.
Muyil Ruins: Another famous archeological site near Tulum. There is also a body of water similar to a lazy river to float through.