7 Exciting Things to Do in Tulum and surrounding areas

Tulum, Mexico is home to many incredible historical sites and natural hotspots that make it a great place to visit for travelers looking to experience something new.

Located just south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Tulum is only a short drive from some of the region's largest hotels and resorts. While the Tulum ruins are perhaps the most popular destination in Tulum, there are a number of other exciting things to do in the area — many of which are explored in award-winning tours offered here at Cancun Adventures. Check out our list of 7 Exciting Things to Do in Tulum and book your exciting excursion with us!

1. Explore the Tulum Ruins

First on our list of exciting things to do in Tulum is to visit the world-famous Tulum ruins. Created in the 13th century by ancient Mayan civilization, these tropical ruins are remarkably well-preserved and feature a number of breathtaking examples of ancient architecture, including the clifftop Castillo, built as a watchtower, and the Templo de las Pinturas, with a partially restored mural. Located 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Cancun, the Tulum ruins are easily accessible by car and are an excellent day-trip choice for those looking to adventure outside of the region's many resort areas.

Here at Cancun Adventures, we are proud to offer in-depth guided tours of the ruins at Tulum. Led by our expert regional tour guides, our Tulum Ruins Tour takes you through all of the must-see sites at the Tulum ruins in a single day. It's perfect for those looking to return to Cancun or Playa del Carmen by evening.

 

Tulum Ruins

 

2. Swim in the Tulum Caves

Near the Tulum ruins is an expansive network of natural underground caves housing many breathtaking geological wonders. Just how expansive is this network of underground caves? A recent discovery found that two of the region's largest cenotes, Cenote Dos Ojos and Cenote Sac Actun, are in fact connected, making this network of underground caves the largest in the world. Within it are several additional scenic cenotes, a twisting underground river, and innumerable stalactites and stalagmites of staggering size.  

Tour the Tulum caves and take a dip in some of their pristine cenotes on our Tulum Caves Tour here at Cancun Adventures. Our expert guides will guide you on a tour through the Tulum ruins and into the expansive cave network, where you'll get to see the underground river, swim in cenotes, and marvel at the many geological wonders found deep underground.

Tulum Caves

 

3. Snorkel in Nearby Cenotes

As mentioned above, Tulum has many incredible cenotes (a natural pit or sinkhole filled with water) found within its expansive cave network. Tulum also has a number of standalone cenotes found just minutes from its famous ruins. Among these scenic and swim-able cenotes are Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera, Cenote Carwash, and Cenote Escondido. Known for their pristine waters and incredible geology, the cenotes near Tulum are excellent for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

On our Tulum Cenote Tour and Yal Ku Snorkeling Adventure here at Cancun Adventures, we take you on a snorkeling trip to many of Tulum's most famous cenotes. We also take you to Yal Ku, one of the region's largest and most pristine natural lagoons.

Yalku

 

4. Sian Ka'an Biosphere

The Sian Ka'an Biosphere is a large natural reserve located in the municipality of Tulum, Mexico only minutes from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The Sian Ka'an Biosphere was established in 1986 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is home to a rich assortment of native flora and fauna, as well as pristinely preserved jungle habitats and bodies of water. It's the perfect destination for those looking to get in touch with the natural side of Tulum.

 

5. Hit the Beach at Playa Paraiso

One of the best parts about the ruins at Tulum is that they are located right on the water. For beach lovers, this is great news. Just north of the Tulum ruins, the world-renowned Playa Paraiso offers pure white sands and calm surf. With the addition of the excellent Nuddy Beach Club, the beach at Playa Paraiso has grown extremely popular with Playa del Carmen and Cancun daytrippers, as well as Tulum vacationers. Whether you're looking to scuba dive, snorkel, or simply sit back and relax on the warm sand, this is an excellent beach to visit during your Tulum trip.

Ask our travel experts here at Cancun Adventures how you can plan an outing to Playa Paraiso during your trip to Tulum.

Playa Paraiso tulum

 

6. Spend a Spa Day and Maya Spa

Looking to spend a day of self-care and relaxation at Tulum? There is no better place to visit than the Maya Spa. Located on the coast of the Tulum municipality, this spa in the Azulik hotel offers spa staples, such as massages, body wraps, crystal therapy treatments and yoga classes. However, what makes the Maya Spa truly special are its nighttime temazcal sessions: steam baths that indigenous Mexicans believed had healing and purifying powers. Unwind like never before at Maya Spa and make your visit to Tulum a real treat for your body and mind.

To learn about special deals and travel offers to the Maya Spa, by contact our travel team here at Cancun Adventures.

 

7. Continue Your Ruins Tour at Coba

If you can’t get enough of ancient ruins, you’ll be happy to know that the Tulum municipality is home to more than just the coastal Tulum ruins. Just outside of Tulum are the famous ruins at Coba, the nexus of the largest network of stone causeways in the Mayan world. Coba contains many sculpted and engraved stelae (stone or wooden slabs) that document ceremonial traditions and life in ancient Mayan civilizations. Coba is also home to several stunning temple pyramids, the largest of which, Ixmoja, is nearly 150 feet in height!

Join our expert tour guides here at Cancun Adventures on a private ruins tour of both Tulum and Coba by signing up for our comprehensive Tulum and Coba Private Tour today!

Coba

 

Learn More About Exciting Things to Do in Tulum and Book Now

Interested in learning more about exciting things to do Tulum? Our tour experts here at Cancun Adventures are here to help. Contact us to speak directly with a member of our team about hotspots to hit and tours to book in the area. Ready to check out some of our award-winning tours in Tulum, Cancun, and beyond? Head over to our Tours page for in-depth info and links to each tour, and book with our team here at Cancun Adventures today!

Tulum Ruins Tour | Cancun Adventures

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