Tulum

Town · Quintana Roo, 🇲🇽 Mexico

Population 46,721

Area 2,026 km²

Time zone America/Cancun

Official website www.tulum.gob.mx

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Featured Lists

Kcreamersh1 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tulum's Absolute Essentials

Tulum features a coastal Mayan archaeological site built primarily in the 14th century, alongside the inland jungle ruins of Coba. The region is home to the Sac Actun system, one of the world's longest underwater cave networks, accessible through Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote. Coastal highlights include the seven-kilometer Tulum Beach and the palm-lined Playa Paraiso. Natural lagoons like Xel-Há provide habitats for marine life and serve as both a theme park and an ancient Mayan port.

7 places

Ken Thomas / Public domain

Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites

This collection features the prominent Mayan archaeological sites of Tulum and Coba. Tulum is a 14th-century fortified seaside city known for its well-preserved limestone structures overlooking the Caribbean. Coba, located deeper in the jungle, offers a vast network of stone causeways (sacbeob) and massive pyramids, including the 42-meter-tall Nohoch Mul. The sites showcase diverse architectural styles, intricate stone carvings known as stelae, and residential palaces belonging to the ancient Maya elite.

20 places

Alejandra Mazzini / CC-BY-SA

Beaches and Coastal Resorts

This selection spans the Tulum coastline, from the expansive sands near the Mayan ruins to the secluded turtle nesting grounds of Xcacel. The region is defined by white limestone sand and clear Caribbean waters. Highlights include Caleta Tankah, where freshwater cenotes meet the sea, and Akumal Bay, a protected area for green sea turtles. These sites offer a mix of undeveloped natural retreats and established wellness resorts along the Riviera Maya.

8 places

Dag Lindgren / CC BY-SA 3.0

Cenotes and Cave Adventures

The Yucatán Peninsula's limestone bedrock conceals a vast network of freshwater cenotes and flooded cave systems, including Sistema Sac Actun and Sistema Ox Bel Ha. This collection features diverse geological formations, from the deep open waters of Kaan Luum to the intricate stalactite galleries of Dos Ojos and the dry caverns of Aktun Chen. These sites offer opportunities for technical cave diving, snorkeling among tropical fish, and exploring archaeological remains linked to the ancient Maya civilization.

20 places

Tulum Culinary Delights

Tulum's dining landscape spans three distinct areas: the beach road, the town center, and the jungle. This collection includes long-standing seafood institutions like El Camello Jr, known for fresh catches from the local cooperative, and upscale jungle-side venues like Casa Jaguar that utilize wood-fired techniques. Regional Yucatecan specialties, such as those at La Mestiza, sit alongside international influences ranging from French cafes to Italian pizzerias, often featuring open-air garden or beachfront seating.

20 places