Tulum
Tulum and the Riviera Maya: Maya ruins on the cliff, cenotes and white beaches
A Maya temple on the edge of a cliff, turquoise sea and freshwater pools hidden in the jungle. Tulum is Mexico’s most talked-about beach town, and with good reason. Here are the ruins, the beaches, the cenotes and the hotels we recommend.
Picolo Editorial
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
It is not yet eight o’clock, but the sun already hangs high over the Caribbean. On the cliff in front of you stand the ruins of a Maya city, with a small temple right at the edge, and below lies a beach so white it almost dazzles. Tulum is one of the few places on Earth where you can walk from archaeology to a swim in ten minutes.
In short: what is Tulum?
Tulum lies on the Riviera Maya, the coast south of Cancún in Mexico. It is famous for its Maya ruins on the cliff, long white beaches, cenotes in the jungle and the Sian Ka’an nature reserve. Allow at least four nights, and ideally travel between November and April.
Where to stay
On the beach in the jungle: BE Tulum, with suites and a pool by the sea. Check availability and prices at BE Tulum
Bohemian on the beach: Nômade Tulum, with yoga and a beach club. Check availability and prices at Nômade Tulum
Quiet luxury north of town: Hotel Esencia in Xpu-Ha, a former private estate on a calm bay. Check availability and prices at Hotel Esencia
The ruins on the cliff
Tulum was a walled Maya city and port that flourished around 700 years ago. Its walls still stand, and El Castillo, the temple on the cliff edge, is one of the most photographed sights in Mexico. Arrive when the site opens: by late morning it is hot and crowded, with little shade.
The beaches
South of the ruins, the hotel zone runs for kilometres along white sand, with beach clubs, small restaurants and palms down to the water. The beaches inside the national park around the ruins are quieter but have no facilities.
The cenotes
In the jungle around Tulum lie cenotes, natural limestone sinkholes filled with crystal-clear fresh water. Gran Cenote is the best known, with caves you can snorkel through. Read more in our guide to the cenotes and Chichén Itzá.
BE Tulum, in the jungle by the beach.
Sian Ka’an: the reserve to the south
South of Tulum lies Sian Ka’an, a vast UNESCO-listed nature reserve of lagoons, mangroves and coral reef. On a boat trip you may see dolphins, turtles and birds, and float through canals that the Maya dug centuries ago.
Honestly: the seaweed and the prices
From spring to late summer, large amounts of sargassum seaweed often wash up on Riviera Maya beaches. Quantities vary from year to year, but November to April gives the best chance of clean beaches. Tulum has also become expensive in recent years, especially in the beachfront hotel zone.
Where to stay
BE Tulum: suites on the beach
A jungle resort on the beach, with a spa and several restaurants.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at BE Tulum
Nômade Tulum: bohemian beach life
A beachfront hotel with yoga, a beach club and a calm, relaxed mood.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Nômade Tulum
Hotel Esencia: luxury in Xpu-Ha
A former private estate on a quiet bay between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, with a spa and restaurant.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Esencia
For one of the most unusual hotels in Tulum, read about Azulik, the hotel in the treetops.
Getting to Tulum
Tulum now has its own international airport, but most visitors still fly to Cancún. From there it is around two hours south by car or bus.
When to go
November to April is the dry season, with lower humidity and less seaweed. June to October is the rainy and hurricane season.
Planning a honeymoon? Our Mexico honeymoon guide combines the cenotes and Maya ruins with a week on the Riviera Maya, with six hotels for couples.
Frequently asked questions about Tulum
Where is Tulum?
On the Riviera Maya in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, around two hours south of Cancún.
When is the best time to visit Tulum?
November to April, when it is dry and there is less sargassum on the beaches.
How many days do you need in Tulum?
Four to five days covers the ruins, the beaches, the cenotes and a trip to Sian Ka’an.
Is Tulum expensive?
The beachfront hotel zone is among the most expensive places in Mexico. Tulum town is cheaper.
Enjoy Tulum
Picolo Editorial