TULUM | Top 5 Things To Do!
Top 5 Things to do in Tulum | What to do in Tulum?
If you are looking for a quiet, sleepy, relaxing, stress-free slice of paradise, Tulum may be the place for you. For some people, Cancun is not their cup of tea, as it is generally catered towards massive resorts, all-inclusive, consuming your body weight in food and drinks, and passing out to do it all again the next day. Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun, north of Tulum, is a growing little metropolis that may be too commercial for some people. If both of these descriptions make you cringe, then Tulum is the place for you.
What are the top things to do in Tulum? What to do when I'm there?
The town of Tulum, sits just a couple kilometers off the beach, but if you are planning to go there, you are well aware of the beautiful coastline, and if you are planning to do more than just sit on the sand, here are some things to do in Tulum and the surrounding areas!
Even a few days at a resort, hotel, or in the town of Tulum, will slow your heartbeat to almost a standstill, but even this relaxing part of the world can send people stir crazy. I always suggest people get out of the town, enjoy the attractions in the surrounding area's before plonking yourself down at the swimup bar in the afternoon!
THINGS TO DO IN TULUM, MEXICO | NUMBER 5
TOWN OF VALLADOLID
Tulum exists, much as Playa del Carmen and Cancun, because of tourism. As you can imagine, they are very catered towards the tourists with souvenir shops, bars, restaurants and hotels, so if you want to experience some Mexican culture and history, take the short trip to Valladolid. From the ADO bus station in Tulum, you can take a cheap and comfortable 90 minute trip to the small colonial town of Valladolid.
THINGS TO DO IN TULUM, MEXICO | NUMBER 4
KAAN LUUM LAGOON
How this place, Kaan Luum Lagoon, is still somewhat unknown to tourists, thoroughly confuses me. It has to be one of the most unique, and stunning area's not just on the Mayan Riviera, but in the Caribbean in general. A beautiful crystal clear lagoon, with white, mushy sand surrounds a dark, sink hole in the center, that sinks almost 100 feet into the center. Since the main collectivo busses in the area only go between Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun, it can be difficult to get to without a rental car, but if you manage to get on a collectivo bus headed to Felipe Carillo Puerto, a town south of Tulum, you can ask to jump out at the entrance to Kaan Luum.
THINGS TO DO IN TULUM, MEXICO | NUMBER 3
CHICHEN ITZA
If you do not known Chichen Itza by name, you probably know it by sight. No? Well after a week on the Riviera Maya, you will be able to draw it by memory. Tulum is the closest main tourist hub to Chichen Itza which is the main staple image associated with the Mayan civilization. An incredible temple is the center piece of the beautiful deserted town, that dates back to 1000 years ago. Any tour operator in the town of Tulum will be able to give you more info, and offer trips to Chichen Itza, or you can get a map, snacks, and a rental car and make the trip there yourself. The road is pretty much dead straight, and well paved. You can also pass through Valladolid and get two birds stoned at once!
THINGS TO DO IN TULUM, MEXICO | NUMBER 2
CENOTES
Cenotes topped the Top 5 Things to do in Playa del Carmen chart because they are something very unique to this area. As mentioned in that post, the whole Yucatan peninsula sits on a varying thickness of rock, with an interconnecting system of streams, lakes and slow moving underground rivers of crystal clear fresh water. When the rocks collapse, they expose these breathtaking swimming holes. My top ones in the area are a duo of cenotes located just south of Tulum.
THINGS TO DO IN TULUM, MEXICO | NUMBER 1
TULUM RUINS & BEACH
It had to make the Top 5. It simple, its well know, but its too good to keep it off the list. The Tulum Ruins and Tulum Beach. Chances are, no matter where you are staying, one of the first things you will do upon arriving in Tulum, is beach time! I don't blame you, and I do not want to pull you away from any of that beach time so why not visit the ruins AND the beach? These awe inspiring ruins are not in the great condition that Chichen Itza offers, however, with a backdrop of the endless Caribbean and many shades of blue, it is impossible not to be impressed. You cannot climb up the ruins but the main temple, which sits a few feet from the cliff down to the ocean, has a stairway to the side which will give you direct access to go for a swim, and if you feel like walking a little, it is easy to find a little cove and some beach that can be your own private paradise for the afternoon.
Tulum is so sleepy, that in order to really fill your days, you need to get outside the town. If you don't feel that these Top 5 Things to do in Tulum, are of your liking, check out my Top 5 Things to do in Playa del Carmen video, as that town is only about 45 minutes north. The collectivo busses leave Tulum on a random schedule that actually works very efficiently, and all you need to do is flag one down, and pay the couple dollars to get dropped off in Playa del Carmen.
If you have any questions about Tulum, feel free to contact me or write in the comments of the video and I will respond. If you enjoyed this and it helped you out for your trip to Tulum, give it a share and a like!
Enjoy Tulum, No Regrets!
