Before you go

Your trip to Tulum.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Tulum – Quintana Roo Destination Tulum and Cobá about 250 km from Chetumal

How to get there

Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum Felipe Carrillo Puerto (TQO) 25 km
Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún (CUN) Cancún · 120 km
Terminal de Autobuses ADO Tulum Centro 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before purchasing. Tulum airport (TQO) is about 25 km from the Pueblo, with taxis and buses. From Cancún, about 120 km away, there are direct buses from the airport and from the bus terminal. Shared vans link Tulum to Playa del Carmen and Akumal via highway 307.

How many days

Three days for the ruins, the beach, the cenotes and Sian Ka'an. With a fourth day, Coba fits in comfortably.

When to go

The dry season usually runs from December to April; from May to October there is more rain, often in showers. Sargassum typically appears from April to August. For the ruins, the first hour of the morning is the coolest in any month.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

It is not mandatory. Between the Pueblo, the ruins and the beach you travel by bicycle—which is widely used in town—or by taxi. For Coba, the more remote cenotes and Sian Ka'an, a car or an organized tour helps.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Tulum

Morning
Tulum ruins
Arrive at the ruins when they open, before the heat and the tour groups, and see the Castillo and the Temple of the Wind God on the cliff.
Afternoon
Gran Cenote
Head to the Gran Cenote on the road to Coba and swim among the caves and the turtles in the crystal-clear water.
Late afternoon
Playa Paraíso
In the late afternoon, go to Playa Paraíso, south of the ruins, with white sand and coconut palms.
Evening
Dinner in the Pueblo
Dine in the Pueblo, along Avenida Tulum and the parallel streets, with taquerías and Yucatecan restaurants.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit the Tulum ruins?

When they open, early in the morning, when it is cooler and the tour groups have not yet arrived. The site has no shade.

Is the beach at the Tulum ruins open?

The small beach below the Castillo is usually open, but it closes in some periods, such as during turtle nesting and when the sea is rough. Playa Paraíso, next to it, is public.

Does Tulum have a Tren Maya station?

Yes. The train connects Tulum with Cancún, Playa del Carmen and other cities on the peninsula.

Which cenotes to visit near Tulum?

Gran Cenote, about 4 km from the Pueblo on the road to Coba, and the Dos Ojos system, about 20 km to the north, are among the most visited.

How to get between the Pueblo and Tulum beach?

By bicycle—which is widely used in town—via the bike lane; by taxi; or by car. The beach is about 3 km from the Pueblo.

Back to Tulum