Tulum is one of those places that has it all. It’s a cute little town filled with unique shops and restaurants, surrounded by ancient ruins, a number of cenotes and many beautiful beaches. Visiting Mexico and heading to Cancun or Playa del Carmen? Tulum is an easy and cheap bus ride away and gives you a completely different atmosphere. Relaxed, beautiful and culturally significant, here is why every backpacker should head here.
Relaxed vibe
The environment in Tulum is backpacker friendly with many hostel options and a main township with a main street and more than just resorts. There are plenty of budget friendly accommodation options, the ability to get around by bicycle, opt for affordable activities and plenty of opportunities to meet other travellers. There are also many stunning resorts perfect to relax beachside in a little more luxury.
Famous ruins
The main reason people used to flock to the area (before it became popular through Instagram) was for the impressive ruins the Mayans built back in the 13th century. It’s one of the most well preserved ruins in Mexico, and was the only Mayan city built on a coast. Those Mayans sure knew how to pick a good location because the beach there is breathtaking!
Small town charm
Because of Tulum’s small size and friendly locals that are used to tourists coming through, it is pretty safe. There are many nice restaurants serving delicious local food, shops selling tequila and mezcal, and lots of boutique shops to keep you wishing you brought a bigger suitcase.
A variety of cenotes
There are many cenotes across Mexico, but I definitely saw the most around Tulum. These beautiful underground swimming holes come in all shapes, sizes and variations. I went to Gran Cenote (pictured) which was stunning but very popular. Here, there were two cenotes with open tops connected by an underground cave which was cool to swim under. Getting to a lot of them can be tricky, so try to bargain for cheap taxi’s or even hire one for a few hours if you get a good enough price and visit a few of them. Some are very close to town so you can ride a bike there.
Explorable by bike
A very popular way to get around is by hiring a bike. Some paths are a bit more dangerous than others, and there are many mixed reviews about it. It is a cheaper and more enjoyable option than taking taxi’s everywhere but this could depend on where you plan to go. Ask a local, someone at your hostel or the bike hire shop for tips.
Amazing beaches
During my first visit to Tulum in 2014 I loved Playa Santa Fe (above) as it had some of the cleanest, whitest sand I had ever seen and the turquoise water was illuminating. There were many other beaches I didn’t get to explore but I heard great things about them from fellow backpackers. Unfortunately in 2018 on my second trip to Tulum, a problem with seaweed in the ocean meant the usual blue water had turned a browny red and was overtaken by the seawee and it’s smell. A problem that is still causing issues to this day.
Cheap snorkeling
You can enter Playa Santa Fe two ways, but the most popular for tourists is via the same entrance as the Tulum ruins. In the village before entering the ruins, there are companies offering snorkelling trips for around $20 USD or less. The boats depart from Playa Sante Fe so you can join the trip after exploring the ruins. They also drive you past another ruin that is only visible by sea on the boat. It’s not a very long tour, and on a small boat but a great way to see some coral and fish in the area.
