TULUM

By now Tulum is basically split into two separate areas: the beach and the downtown, sometimes referred to as “centro” or “pueblo” which literally means town in Spanish. Downtown Tulum is not to be missed, with tons of amazing restaurants, shops and nightlife options to explore during your stay. Don’t let the fact that the town is far away from the beach (1-hour walk) deter you – it’s definitely worth checking out.
Downtown Tulum is rapidly developing as more and more tourists make their way to this beach town every year. What was once a small town with dirt roads a decade ago is not a bustling town with almost 50,000 inhabitants year-round.
Tulum was one of the last cities the Maya ever built and eventually abandoned the spot in the 16th century, leaving amazing ruins and artifacts throughout the jungle and along the beach.
Not only is there tons to do in this small little town – but it’s also an excellent base to take day trips from, with cenotes and Mayan ruins surrounding the area. The town of Tulum is quite small so getting around shouldn’t be an issue. You can walk pretty much everywhere, but we recommend renting a bicycle from a bicycle rental shop located all over the town.
Both the beach zone and the town area have an array of fantastic restaurants, from authentic Mexican cuisine to American and European-inspired dishes. The beach zone is going to have more upscale and fancy dining restaurants with international cuisine, whereas the town is geared more towards local Mexican food. Of course, food in the town is much cheaper than on the beach – for obvious reasons.
In conclusion, downtown Tulum is a vibrant and diverse area that should not be missed during your visit to this beach town.
Tulum beach is a paradise. It’s one of Mexico’s most beautiful beach towns located along the Yucatan Peninsula. The beaches in Tulum stretch for miles with silky-smooth white sand and the gorgeous turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
The beachfront in Tulum is stunning and has some of the best resorts in the Mexican Caribbean. You could easily spend your days lounging around with a cocktail in hand and taking in the natural beauty of this area.
Tulum Beach is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Mexico. You could visit many places for a relaxing beach vacation, but Tulum should definitely be on the top of your list.
Tulum Beach is actually one long stretch of beach that is about 6-miles (10km) long. It borders the Mayan Ruins in Tulum National Park to the north and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to the south.
Tulum Beach comprises three areas: north, middle, and south.
North Tulum Beach stretches from the intersection of Avenida Coba on the beachfront road to the Tulum Ruins. This area has one main public beach, Playa Ruinas.  Playa Ruinas lies under the dramatic cliffs of the Tulum Ruins, lined with dozens of palm trees and silky white sands that overlook the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.
Tulum’s middle beach zone stretches between the Avenida Coba and Avenida Kukulkan along the beach road. The central zone is where most of the action in Tulum takes place.  It’s got a good mix of hotels, beach clubs, restaurants, bars, and even a few boutique shops. This area also has some of the best nightlife in Tulum and is quite easy to access from the town center.
South Tulum Beach stretches from the south of Avenida Kukulkan down towards the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. It’s a more exclusive area in Tulum and is home to an abundance of luxury hotels and resorts. South Tulum consists of a number of private beaches that you’ll only be able to access through the hotels. There is one public beach in Tulum’s south area known as Las Palmas.

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CENOTES

A cenote is a natural sinkhole filled with fresh water. They were formed when the limestone bedrock of the Yucatán Peninsula collapsed into the fresh groundwater.
With its extensive underground river systems, Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is the best place to experience and explore cenotes.
These unique formations are a testament to the power of nature. They are also sacred to the Mayan people, who believed cenotes were openings to the underworld.
Today, cenotes are a popular tourist destination for people of all ages who want to experience the beauty and mystery of these natural wonders.
The word “cenote” is of Mayan origin, meaning “well.” They played a crucial role in the development of the Mayan civilization, as they were the primary water source in the Yucatán Peninsula, which has few rivers and lakes.
Consequently, Mayan settlements were built near cenotes, such as Chichen Itza and Tulum.
The Mayans believed that cenotes were openings to the underworld. This is easy to see why, as diving into a cenote reveals a new world of interconnected underground rivers with stalactites and stalagmites in the turquoise water.
There are many cenotes in the Tulum area, including Gran Cenote, Calavera, Dos Ojos, Cenote Azul, Kaan Luum Lagoon.
To learn more about the cenotes: cenotesmexico.org

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TULUM RUINS

Tulum, 8.50 km (5.28 mi) from Tulsayab, is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city serving as a major port for Coba.
The ruins are situated on 12 meter (39 ft) tall cliffs, along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have resulted in very high fatalities, disrupting the society and eventually causing the city to be abandoned.
One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum is today a popular site for tourists.
Official website: inah.gob.mx/Tulum

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COBA RUINS

The ruins of Coba lie 58.10 km (36.10 mi) northwest of Tulum.
Coba is located around two lagoons, Lake Coba and Lake Macanxoc. A series of elevated stone and plaster roads radiate from the central site to various smaller sites near and far. These are known by the Maya term sacbe or white road.
Some of these causeways go east, and the longest runs over 100 kilometres (62 mi) westward to the site of Yaxuna. The site contains a group of large temple pyramids known as the Nohoch Mul, the tallest of which, Ixmoja, is some 42 metres (138 ft) in height. Ixmoja is among the tallest pyramids on the Yucatán peninsula, exceeded by Calakmul at 45 metres (148 ft).
Coba was estimated to have had some 50,000 inhabitants (and possibly significantly more) at its peak of civilization, and the built up area extends over some 80 km2.
The site was occupied by a sizable agricultural population by the first century.
The bulk of Coba's major construction seems to have been made in the middle and late Classic period, about 500 to 900 AD, with most of the dated hieroglyphic inscriptions from the 7th century.
However, Coba remained an important site in the Post-Classic era and new temples were built and old ones kept in repair until at least the 14th century, possibly as late as the arrival of the Spanish.
Official website: inah.gob.mx/Coba

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CHICHEN ITZA RUINS

Chichen Itza is located 342.00 km (212.50 mi) from Tulsayab.
As one of the most important city-states of pre-Hispanic America, Chichen Itza is today one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.
Chichen Itza, one of the 7 new wonders of the world according to UNESCO, from 7 July 2007
Chichen Itza was built starting in 550 AD until 800 AD. it existed primarily as a ceremonial center for the Mayan civilization but it was in 1200 AD which was built as we know it today.
Chichen Itza is beautiful and magnificent, it has many Mayan ruins to visit and learn about its history.
The archaeological site is divided into Old Chichen and Chichen Itza where you can find 6 Mayan Ruins in the Old Chichen section and around 20 Mayan Ruins in the New Chichen or Chichen Itza, for a total of 26 Mayan Ruins to see on the Mayan Site.
The main Mayan ruin is the Pyramid of Chichen Itza or El Castillo, but there are others equally important such as El Caracol or Observatory, the Temple of the Warriors and the Mayan Ball Game.
Official website: inah.gob.mx/ChichenItza

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BEACHES AND BEACH CLUB

The Riviera Maya is famous for its beaches.
Tankah Bay is obviously a beautiful place to swim and relax but if you want to visit other places we recommend some.

The Tulum public beach is located approximately 2.80 km (1.73 mi) from the intersection for the entrance to the Tulum Ruins: PLAYA PUBLICA LAS PALMAS - 11.60 km (7.20 mi)

Another white sand beach, palm trees and crystal clear waters where you can snorkel with sea turtles, eagle rays and colorful fish: PLAYA PUBLICA DE AKUMAL - 21.00 km (13.04 mi)

Beach Club to spend a wonderful day:

CALETA TANKAH - 7.10 km (4.41 mi)
EL PARAISO - 11.10 km (6.89 mi)
BE TULUM (adults only) - 19.00 km (11.80 mi)

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AMUSEMENT PARK

XELHA - 10.90 km (6.77 mi)
Xel-ha is a natural water park, where you can do unlimited snorkeling in an inlet that flows into the Caribbean Sea. You can ride a bike through the jungle paths, jump into the water from the Stone of Courage, dive from a zip-line and feel the thrill of the highest of all Tulum.

XPLOR - 46.90 km (29.17 mi)
Slide by the tallest zip-lines in the destination. Drive through flooded caverns and make your way through the jungle on amphibious vehicles. Swim through a 65-million years old stalactite river. Splash into a refreshing cenote sliding on an original hammock zip-line. Paddle by underground caverns in a raft or have a cavernous adventure at Underground Expedition.

XENSES - 50.00 km (31.06 mi)
Discover a nonsensical Mexican Town that will test your balance, a fast descent on a Slip slide, a Bird Flight zip-line, and a Natural Xpa with activities like being covered in mud, floating in a salt river, and purifying your skin with potent streams of water.

XCARET - 51.20 km (31.81 mi)
Enjoy the wealth of Mexico in the most emblematic theme park in the Riviera Maya. Fall in love with Mexico in more than 50 attractions surrounded by jungle, underground rivers, and the Caribbean Sea. Xcaret is a water park, theme, amusement, eco-archaeological and more, in one place.

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PHOTO GALLERY