How to spend 5 days in Tulum

People enjoying themselves in the turquoise-coloured sea with a white sandy beach.

Getting to Tulum

Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the major airport serving Tulum – it is about a 1.5 hour drive from Cancun. Recently opened in 2023, Tulum International Airport (TQO) is another choice but may have fewer direct flight options.

A beach with sunbeds under thatched umbrellas next to a blue hammock tied on palm trees.

Where to stay

When traveling to Tulum, there are three main areas to choose from: Pueblo, Tulum Beach, and Aldea Zarma. Pueblo is walkable and near lots of restaurants, but further from the beach. Tulum Beach is of course close to the beach but comes at a price. Aldea Zarma is a newer, quieter, and suburban area that is closer to the beach than Pueblo but it can get noisy since there is a lot of construction.

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Renting a car

Since the drive from Cancun airport to Tulum is 1.5 hours, it can help to rent a car. Then you can also cut down on costs by driving directly to popular sites like the Tulum ruins.

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Tall palm trees, sandy shore and the wavy beach against the cloudy blue sky.

What to do

Day 1 – Visit Tulum Ruins or Explore Cenote

Start your day with some culture with a Tour of the Tulum Ruins. There are many tours that include transportation and refreshments, but if you have a car and want to lower your cost, you can travel there yourself and buy tickets online for entry. Afterwards, it’s time to relax at one of the cutest beach clubs – Vagalume.
You can also start you day off by exploring Cenotes at Casa Tortuga. Many tours are offered or you can travel there yourself and buy tickets online for entry.
Cap off the day at Vagalume Beach Club and dinner at Taboo.

Day 2 – Jungle Secrets Riviera Maya (Adventure Day Tour)

This tour includes: ATV riding (single or sharing), ziplining on one of the longest ziplines in the Riviera Maya (1KM), swimming in a cenote with a guided underwater cave tour and it ends with a typical Mayan meal at the end. It is 100% worth the money.
Street tacos for dinner at Taco Stand by Super Aki (Carretera Federal Tulum Ruinas s/n, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico).

Day 3 – Casa Malca

Start day 3 with another beach club, but this isn’t your ordinary beach club, this is Pablo Escobar’s old mansion. If you’re not familiar, this gorgeous property was converted into a luxury hotel in 2015. Now owned by art collector Lio malca, this boutique hotel is one for the books. There’s an underground pool, beautiful artwork around the property and enough places to relax for hours. You can purchase a day pass here in person which includes a voucher for food and drinks!
Cap off the day with dinner at Kin Toh Azulik – make a reservation ASAP because they get booked months in advance, but it will be worth it eating here during sunset.

Day 4 – Boat day

On your trip it is always a good idea to have a yacht day! I recommend booking via getmyboat.com to find the best option for you. You can find a boat trip to accommodate small to large parties, some have unlimited drinks or also provide a meal. Many will also include certain activities like snorkeling, paddle boats, and will take you to a party cove where you can swim, drink and dance to music.
After having a long day, how great would it be to come back home, clean up, and have a fully prepared 4 course meal?? Yeah it sounds amazing so why not make that a reality? Book with Chef Kiril Grechin.

Day 5 – Go all out

Tour of both Coba and Punta Laguna. The Coba ruins are a a huge site to explore and for sure worth the visit. You can explore by foot, bike or bike taxi. We toured the beginning by foot with a guide, then used bike taxis to see the rest of the pyramids.
Punta Laguna is a huge nature reserve north of Tulum that is uniquely home to hundreds of spider monkeys. When you arrive, go to the main “office” and purchase entry for a guided excursion. This includes: a traditional Mayan ceremony, hike through the jungle, zip lining, kayak ride, and lastly you get to go into an underground cenote.
For your last dinner, head to Gitano Tulum – a modern Mexican restaurant located in Tulum beach. Be sure to make your reservations ahead of time so your table is secured.

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