Tulum is basically separated in two parts, Tulum town and Tulum beach. As the name says, the town is where you will find most restaurants, shops and hotels. When it comes to prices, everything in the town is cheaper than by the beach. Tulum beach is basically one long road that is right by the ocean, where you will find art centers, the most beautiful boho style restaurants and of course beaches.
If your time is short and you only have 2 days, don’t worry. You have enough time to see the most beautiful places if you follow the itinerary down below!
How to get to Tulum
By plane
The closest airport is in Cancun, which is 1.5 h driving from Tulum. From the airport in Cancun you can take the ADO bus or a taxi to get to Tulum.
By ADO bus
ADO is a well-known bus company in Mexico that provides long-distance bus services. ADO operates a vast network of routes connecting various cities and towns across Mexico. It’s an easy, comfortable and affordable option to travel around Mexico. The ADO bus from Cancun to Tulum will cost you about 22 USD (440 MXN).
By Colectivo
A Colectivo is the local bus in Mexico and the cheapest way to travel. You can take the Colectivo from various cities in Mexico to Tulum, but you will have to change several times. I would only recommend you to take the Colectivo if you don’t have much luggage, but it’s a great way to see how locals travel.
Getting around in Tulum
The best way to get around in Tulum is by walking, bicycling or taking a scooter. On the beach road it can be difficult to find parking if you have a rental car and it’s quite expensive. You still have to pay for parking by the beach if you have a scooter or bicycle, but it will be easier than with a rental car. If you want to explore the cenotes outside of town you will need a scooter or rental car, because the road is not suitable for walking or bicycling.
Best time to travel
The best time of the year to travel to Tulum is from December to April. During these month you have sunshine every day and about 72-80°F (22-26°C). Once the rain season begins it will be really hot and humid, but also a lot less touristy. If you are traveling on a budget May to November are the best months, because the prices for accommodation are lower.
2-Day Tulum Itinerary
Day 1: Explore Tulum Beach
1. Rent Bicycles
Before you start your first day in Tulum, I would recommend you to rent bicycles to explore Tulum Beach. The main part of restaurants, art centers and hotels are within a span of 2.8 miles (4,5 km), so it will be easier for you to explore by bicycle. If you are staying in Tulum town it will take you about 25 min to get to the beach by bicycle, depending on where you are staying in the town. It is safe to ride the bike from the town to the beach, but it’s on a fast road. If you don’t feel comfortable riding a bike on this road I would recommend you to take a colectivo to the beach and rent a bike when you arrive. Renting a bicycle for a day will cost you about 12.50 USD (250 MXN).
2. Escultura Ven a la Luz
If you love art you should visit Escultura Ven a la Luz, a giant sculpture of a wooden woman. Ven a la Luz, is Spanish for “come into the light”. It was designed by Daniel Popper, a South African artist and installed for the Art With Me festival in Tulum 2018. Ven a la Luz was used as the festival’s entrance and the only sculpture that stayed in Tulum after the festival.
Ven a la Luz is one of the most popular sculptures in Tulum and that’s why you should get here as early as possible. You need to pay 3 USD (60 MXN) entrance and it’s open from 9 am-6 pm. People will stand in line for hours to get a photo with this sculpture, so it’s best to get here between 9-10 am or just before closing at 5-6 pm.
3. Visit the Art Center SFER IK
SFER IK is part of AZULIK, an eco-friendly, luxury resort located at the beach in Tulum. It’s known for its unique and artistic architecture, breathtaking views, sustainability and nature conservation. SFER IK has a unique design with wooden structures and artistic touches. The entrance costs 20 USD (400 MXN), which is quite pricey for an art center you can explore within 5 minutes. I personally think it’s worth the entrance fee if you love eco-friendly art. When I visited SFER IK I stayed for about 30 minutes just to admire the art, but of course if it’s worth visiting or not depends on your personal preferences.
4. Eat an Açaí Bowl at Matcha Mama
After spending some time admiring the art at the beach you should stop by Matcha Mama to eat a delicious acai bowl. Sit on a swing and enjoy Matcha Latte, Smoothies, Bowls, Açaí, Kombucha, cold pressed Juices and more. It’s the perfect place to stop for a healthy lunch before heading to the beach.
5. Spend Time by the Beach
Tulum has an amazing long beach with turquoise blue water and white sand. Along the beach you will find many beach bars that serve drinks and where you will also find a pool. Unless you are visiting Tulum in summer, you should definitely spend some time by the beach. From May-October you have both seaweed and hurricane season in Tulum.
6. Have Dinner at La Zebra
La Zebra is a luxurious beachfront hotel in Tulum with an amazing restaurant that everyone can visit. This is the perfect place to try traditional, authentic and high-end Mexican food. I can highly recommend you to try the tres leches dessert, it’s the best I’ve ever had in Mexico.
Day 2: Cenote Day!
1. Rent a Scooter
The cenotes in Tulum are outside of town, so the easiest way to reach them is by renting a scooter. Renting a scooter will cost you about 25 USD (500 MXN) per day.
2. Swim in the Gran Cenote
The Gran Cenote is only about 10 min driving from Tulum town. The entrance costs 25 USD (500 MXN) per person and is open from 8 am – 4:45 pm. Please keep in mind that they only accept cash at this cenote (and many others), so make sure to bring enough cash. The water is super clear and you can see a lot of underwater life. Unfortunately you can’t use fins in this cenote and you have to wear a safety vest, but if you bring your snorkel you can see a lot of underwater life in this cenote.
3. Jump into Cenote Calavera
The Cenote Calavera is only 3 min driving from the Gran Cenote. The entrance to this cenote costs 12.50 USD (250 MXN) and you don’t have to wear a life vest. Unfortunately you can’t see much underwater life in this cenote, because the water is not as clear, but it’s a great place to visit because you can jump in. There are three holes where you can jump into the cenote. Are you brave enough to jump?
4. Have Lunch at Il Bacaro Tulum
After swimming, snorkeling and jumping into cenotes you will most likely be ready for lunch. I can highly recommend you to visit Il Bacaro Tulum Trattoria Italiana, the best Italian restaurant in town. The interior looks amazing, the food is delicious and the service is fantastic!
5. Go Shopping in Tulum
Tulum has a lot of unique boutiques both in the town and by the beach. I would recommend you to walk the road by the beach and explore the shops. The clothes and accessories are handmade from local designers and really unique. Shopping here is not very budget friendly, but you will find clothes like nowhere else in the world.
6. Eat a Fancy Dinner at Kin Toh
The Kin Toh restaurant is part of Azulik with organic and high-end meals. You need to make a reservation before having dinner at this restaurant. The reservation fee is 50 USD per person, but you can use the money for your dinner. This means if your dinner doesn’t cost more than 50 USD you won’t have to pay anything extra. To sit in one of the nests outside you have to pay a reservation fee of 300 USD. The nests are big, so if you can get a group of 10 people, the cost per person is only 30 USD. If you want to treat yourself with a fancy dinner before leaving Tulum, this is the place to go.
Where to stay
Onyx Hostel
There are two Onyx Hostels in Tulum, one by the beach and one in the town. Both of them have a pool and are really clean and modern. It’s a great alternative to renting an airbnb or paying for a hotel to save money on your trip to Tulum and to meet other solo travelers.
Tulum is a really unique destination different to any other place you will find in Mexico. People have different options about Tulum, but I personally love it. I would love to hear your opinion about it in the comments down below and please let me know if you have any questions.
