Tulum Tourism Information

Tulum Mayan Ruins

Tulum ruins are located 130 km south of Cancun. The "Tulum Archeological Zone" is the first distinct zone. You can't miss the ruins driving along Highway 307 either in a rental car or in a bus or  ‘colectivo’. The ruins are approximately 1 km East of Highway 307 towards the coast. They have built a large parking lot for Tulum ruins and the fee is around US $ 4.00.

The walk to the ruins is approximately 1 km. There is a little train that transports people back and forth to the ruins all day long. It cost around US $ 1.00 per way.  On a hot day we recommend to take the tourist train to save time and energy.

Right next to the parking lot there is also a large handcraft market and a few fast food restaurants and assorted stores. Along the road towards the ruins on your immediate right is where the Mayan Pole Flyers do their pole flying. They perform throughout the day and you can sit and watch.

Tulum ruins have one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean. Even if you are just going to visit the ruins it is an experience to swim out on the ruins beach and see the ruins from the water. On a hot summer day it is a great way to cool off!

You can spend a couple hours visiting Tulum ruins or you can spend the whole day, while spending some time on the beach relaxing, swimming and refreshing in the ocean.

Tulum Beaches

Tulum Beach can be accessed from several spots. You can walk in from the road that takes you to the ruins.  Keep following the road going south when you get to the ruins. This same road takes you to the Sian Kaan Biosphere and Punta Allen. You can access the beach by walking through an opening or access point from the road.

There is also access at Tulum Pueblo. When driving South on Highway 307 you will get to an intersection with traffic signs pointing to the road to Coba - Chemax - Chichen Itza (to the right). To go to the beach, you will want to go left here towards the coast. Going right takes you to Coba ruins in the jungle. Going straight takes you into Tulum Pueblo Center.

So, after turning left, follow the road until it turns right. Once you get to the coast you can either go left or right and choose one of the access roads to the beach. A nice place to visit is Playa Paraiso (left side).  All beaches are "public". There are no "private" beaches, although getting access to the beaches in most cases can only be achieved by access through private land or Beach Clubs.

It is not a good idea to just park your rental car on the road and walk through the jungle to a hidden beach.
There are a number of Beach Clubs operating along the Tulum Beach Road. Here you can find change-rooms, bathrooms, lockers, beach gear for rent, beach chairs and restaurants/bars.

You can also drive into Sian Ka'an Reserve, further south, approx. 30 min. drive which has some lovely beaches although some are natural beaches and not maintained.

Tulum Pueblo Services and Shops

Tulum Pueblo has grown a lot in the past 10 years. This is where many of the locals live who work in the nearby resorts and hotels. You enter Tulum Pueblo on Highway 307, which turn into Avenida Tulum (Tulum Avenue). Avenida Tulum runs right through Tulum Pueblo then turns into Highway 307 as it exits town again. Along both sides of Avenida Tulum as it runs through town, are side roads paved in cobblestones. These side boulevards are one-way traffic. There is parking along the Avenue Tulum side boulevards and parking along some of the side streets. Do not park in a no-parking zone.  Along each boulevard are many shops and stores of every description servicing the local community and visiting tourists. Besides there are dive shops, tour companies, car rental agencies and banks.

After a refreshing dip in the azure waters of Tulum or a tiring climb to the Mayan ruins, visitors in Tulum can be assured that there will be restaurants in this Caribbean coastline that will surely satisfy one’s cravings. For people who are adventurous and want to get a taste of the local flavors, it is a great idea to visit restaurants that offer the best of Tulum. However, tourists who still want a taste of their own cuisines back home even when they are in a vacation can certainly find places that offer foods close to their hearts.
There are numerous Tulum beachfront restaurants and cafes that also sell popular Western cuisines.
Whatever type of food visitors crave for, they will surely find it in the downtown area because there are many Tulum restaurants there that serve international cuisine. Whether you are craving for Asian, vegetarian, German, Italian or even Argentinean food fare, you will surely find it downtown. For those who are interested in savoring local flavors, it may be a good idea to test traditional Mexican restaurants or taquerias (which are small taco restaurants) that pepper the town. In fact, it would even be better if you buy local delights from food stands and vendors that are scattered around the market.
Most of the restaurants in downtown Tulum area accept credit cards so you do not have to worry about paying for food. However, if you are eating in the beach area, it would be better to ask first if credit is accepted before you order because majority of restaurants there only accept cash.