A Guide to 3 Days in Tulum, Mexico.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book something through these links I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about my disclosure and affiliate policy here.

…

Updated January 2026

The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is known for beautiful beaches, great food and cocktails, epic parties, its Mayan history, and beautiful cenotes. One of the best cities to explore the area from is Tulum, a small coastal town about 2 hours south of Cancun. How to best plan 3 days in Tulum and what you shouldn’t miss in this guide.

3 days in Tulum – Sun, Sea & Food

Day 1 – Soak up the sun on the beach

One of the big draws in Tulum is its beautiful coastline and beaches. For any Tulum itinerary I recommend you put at least one day aside to spend on the beach and enjoy the ocean. If you are staying in town, you can either rent a bicycle to get to the beach or invest in a taxi. 

While taxi prices are a bit crazy in Tulum (expect to pay around $32 for a one-way trip), it can be worth it if you have a few people sharing the trip. If you go by bike leave early enough so you don’t have to battle the heat during the ride which is about 6,5 km or more, depending on where on the beach you go. 

I recommend your start your day with a visit to the Tulum ruins, the Tulum Archaeological Zone. Parts are overlooking the ocean and if you come early enough you will avoid the crowds. 

From here you can make your way down the ‘strip’ where all the chic Tulum beach hotels and beach clubs are. If you are visiting Tulum on a budget there are two easily accessible public beaches: Playa Paraiso and Punta Piedra. 

Alternatively, you can pay to get into one of Tulum’s fancy beach clubs. They offer comfy loungers, showers, a restaurant and bar, and often a pool. Most of them have a minimum consumption per person to get in. Depending on the club and the season you are visiting this will be $25-100 per person. Best to confirm beforehand what their current price is and make a reservation via WhatsApp. 

To make the most of the money you will spend I recommend staying at least a few hours at a beach club, have lunch and a few drinks, take a few dips, and have a good snooze. For the most beautiful sunset views, you should get yourself a ticket to Azulik Tulum. They offer a sunset session with a cocktail in their incredible ‘nests’ over the treetops. While not cheap, it is definitely an experience to have! 

If you come by bike you might also want to do a little Instagram tour along the beach. Have a bowl at Matcha Mama while you sit on a swing in a flowy dress, visit the ‘Follow the dream’ sign and the new ‘Here is the dream’ sign further north, and get some nice beach shots while you are at it. 

For those who like to party and enjoy one of Tulum’s infamous beach parties, make sure to keep enough cash for your taxi back to your accommodation (prices rise later in the night). Do not walk or bike long distances alone at night!

Day 2 – Explore the cenotes in Tulum

Even if you only have 3 days in Tulum, a visit to see some cenotes is a must. Great, if you are a diver but even snorkeling is an incredible event in many cenotes. 

Diving the cenotes in Tulum

Cenotes are natural sinkholes dotted all over the peninsula and are often connected by underground tunnels and rivers. You will find cenotes in Merida, Yucatan, and all along the Riviera Maya, but the best cenotes are near Tulum. 

Pack your swimming costume and camera and head out: there are so many stunning cenotes to explore! If you don’t have a rental car I recommend booking one of many Tulum tours that will take you to visit a few different cenotes. Most operators will organize your transfers, entrance fees to the cenotes, and also provide snorkeling gear. 

Some cenotes are mere holes in the ground you can jump into, others lake-like with flowers and trees below the waterline while some are caverns with lots of stalagmites and stalactites. Some even have a resident crocodile you can say hello to! 

Note that many cenotes don’t allow the use of sunscreen. While some are quite shaded it can be wise to pack a rashguard and leggings to swim and snorkel in to protect yourself from the sun. 

Day 3 – Eat and/or adventure in Tulum

If I had only 3 days in Tulum I would probably spend one of them eating my way through town as there are amazing Tulum restaurants. Did you know that you can have tacos for breakfast? I would start my day at Antojitos, have more tacos at Honorio for lunch, and finally, eat fish tacos and tuna tostadas at Los Aguachiles for dinner with plenty of passion fruit mezcal cocktails. 

For a bit of a more refined program, I would book a food tour or a cooking class in Tulum. 

But maybe, food isn’t all that important for you (how??) and if that is the case there are some other Tulum adventures to consider:

• Xcaret – Part theme park, park water park, zoo, nature reserve & cultural center in one – this park is closer to Playa Del Carmen but especially for families with kids it is worth a trip. 
• Sian Ka’an Biosphere – Book a tour to discover this World Heritage Site – coastal wetlands, lagoons, and amazing wildlife await. You can also snorkel with dolphins and turtles on the way, it is the perfect Tulum day trip for nature lovers!

For those who can spend 1 week in Tulum or even a bit longer I definitely recommend a day trip to Chichén Itzá, a complex of Mayan ruins and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. 

How many days in Tulum? If you hadn’t had enough beach fun yet you can always plan a trip to Cozumel or Isla Mujeres. You will need to drive and take a boat to either island so I would at least plan to spend one whole day if you are coming from Tulum. 

How to get to Tulum

If you are coming from overseas, chances are you will get a flight to Cancun International Airport. To get to Tulum from Cancun you will either get a taxi or private transfer or catch the ADO bus. Obviously, a taxi is a lot more comfortable however it is also a lot more expensive. The drive from Cancun to Tulum takes about two hours and will usually cost about $100. Unless you can share those costs with a friend, I’d recommend you take the bus. 

There are ADO stations at each terminal at Cancun airport. I don’t think it’s wise to book your bus tickets in advance (though you can usually easily book them online), just in case your flight is delayed – ADO will only partially refund your money. 

Instead, head to the designated kiosk once you land and buy a ticket for the next bus going to Tulum – the schedule is quite frequent. A one-way ticket will cost you approximately $15 and you will get an assigned seat in a comfy and air-conditioned bus!

In Tulum, you will usually have the choice to get out at the Archaeological Zone or in the city center. In the center, the ADO Tulum is conveniently located right on the main avenue by the taxi stand. 

Alternatively, you have now the option to fly to Tulum directly. The airport is honestly lovely (especially compared to Cancun). That said, you will still need to pay quite a bit for a taxi or catch the ADO bus – the airport is about 40 km from Tulum centro so about a 40 minute drive.

The best area to stay in Tulum

It’s hard to generalize which the best area to stay in Tulum is. It will very much depend on your budget as the beach part is just so much more expensive as are taxis to get around. 

I’d say if you are looking for a proper beach holiday in Tulum, invest your money in a nice hotel on the beach with direct beach access. Some hotels that are located across the street from the beach often have deals with beach clubs in the vicinity so guests can get in at a discount. My recommendation is Alquimia that has its own beach club and has cute container rooms for less than $100 per night.

If you are looking for a more active holiday or go backpacking Tulum and want to explore Tulum on a budget, I would stay in Tulum Pueblo. There are many more options for nice little hotels and guesthouses, self-catering, and even cool hostels that offer good rooms for reasonable prices. I like Casa Toloc Tulum and Les Suites Calle 2 that are both north of the main road and really nice, safe, and well kept.

You will also be closer to some amazing (and cheap) restaurants and stores to buy your own beer. It is also better to stay in town if you are booking tours because most pick-ups will happen from the city center. 

Pin for Later!