Eat, Play & Live in Tulum
Food scene
Deserves some michelin stars in our opinion, beautiful garden outdoor seating and food is devine. Open table reservation recommended!
75 locals recommend
kitchen table
Deserves some michelin stars in our opinion, beautiful garden outdoor seating and food is devine. Open table reservation recommended!
Trendy and exotic, beautiful scene by the beach, good cocktail menu. DJ plays disco music during diner, the vibe here is young and fun. Opentable reservation recommended.
21 locals recommend
Ilios | Greek restaurant in Tulum
Km. 8 Carretera Tulum-Boca PailaTrendy and exotic, beautiful scene by the beach, good cocktail menu. DJ plays disco music during diner, the vibe here is young and fun. Opentable reservation recommended.
Highly rated Italian neighborhood restaurant, it's a few minutes walk from home :) Plates here are very beautiful as well as yummy, instagram worthy good looking!
14 locals recommend
Bejuco Restaurant
Mza 26 Aldea ZamaHighly rated Italian neighborhood restaurant, it's a few minutes walk from home :) Plates here are very beautiful as well as yummy, instagram worthy good looking!
Colorful, fun and trendy food trucks of all cuisines, opens after 5:00PM. Beautiful place to be but food just OK in our opinion. If you are with a large group, it's a good place as everyone can find their food and gather at the wooden tables. Fun place to take pictures!
109 locals recommend
Palma Central
6 Av. KukulkanColorful, fun and trendy food trucks of all cuisines, opens after 5:00PM. Beautiful place to be but food just OK in our opinion. If you are with a large group, it's a good place as everyone can find their food and gather at the wooden tables. Fun place to take pictures!
Very French in everyway, espresso, Croissants, beautiful colorful parisian breakfast. Highly recommend!
6 locals recommend
Café Antoinette Tulum
107 Av. CobaVery French in everyway, espresso, Croissants, beautiful colorful parisian breakfast. Highly recommend!
This Taco place is just a street cart - the owner works Mon-Sat from 7:00PM till late night, there is always a line in front of it. Rated 4.9 on google. It's our favorite, costs about 1 USD/taco and we always want to go back for more!
Best Tacos in Tulum
Calle 6 SurThis Taco place is just a street cart - the owner works Mon-Sat from 7:00PM till late night, there is always a line in front of it. Rated 4.9 on google. It's our favorite, costs about 1 USD/taco and we always want to go back for more!
Highest rated restaurant in Aldea Zama! A few minutes walk from home. Seafood only, the ceviche dishes are huge and amazing! It's my personal favorite and go-to place.
Los Morros Aldea Zama
Highest rated restaurant in Aldea Zama! A few minutes walk from home. Seafood only, the ceviche dishes are huge and amazing! It's my personal favorite and go-to place.
Casa Jaguar
Avenida Boca PailaFamous parties on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Food good but not super; but the view is absolutely amazing especially at night!
187 locals recommend
La Zebra Hotel Tulum
Km 8.2 Carr. Tulum-Boca PailaFood good but not super; but the view is absolutely amazing especially at night!
Raw Love
If you are into raw food or vegan food, this is for you!
A very authentic Tulum restaurant highly raged by the locals! Mexican food fusion. Very close to Gran Cenote on Coba road; can visit the Ceneto then fill the belly after!
120 locals recommend
Cetli
A very authentic Tulum restaurant highly raged by the locals! Mexican food fusion. Very close to Gran Cenote on Coba road; can visit the Ceneto then fill the belly after!
Casa Banana
Km. 7.5 Carr. Tulum-Boca PailaAbsolutely amazing food!
Sightseeing
Beautiful Maya ruins, must see! 15 minutes drive from home.
Note: not worth the extra $ for the tour they will sell you. Buying a regular ticket works fine!
973 locals recommend
Archeological Zone of Tulum - Mayan Port City Ruins
Km 230 Cancun - ChetumalBeautiful Maya ruins, must see! 15 minutes drive from home.
Note: not worth the extra $ for the tour they will sell you. Buying a regular ticket works fine!
21 minutes drive from home. Cave with beautiful colorful underground water. Bring swimsuits, you will get a snorkel and life jackets there. There are many other Cenotes nearby, this is just one of them that we went to.
https://goo.gl/maps/SLbYotzRu8JjHjrM8
165 locals recommend
Cenotes Dos Ojos
Cenote Jaguar Road21 minutes drive from home. Cave with beautiful colorful underground water. Bring swimsuits, you will get a snorkel and life jackets there. There are many other Cenotes nearby, this is just one of them that we went to.
https://goo.gl/maps/SLbYotzRu8JjHjrM8
Protected jungle preserve offering guided boat tours, wildlife sightings, walkways & Mayan ruins.
316 locals recommend
Sian Ka'an
Protected jungle preserve offering guided boat tours, wildlife sightings, walkways & Mayan ruins.
Clear, shallow lake around a deep central pool, with turquoise water, hammocks & a swimming pier.
194 locals recommend
Kaan Luum Lagoon
Clear, shallow lake around a deep central pool, with turquoise water, hammocks & a swimming pier.
You will find lots of turtles here hanging out on the outside rocks, and there are some bats hanging inside of the cave, look very creepy but we don't normally get to see these 2 creatures up this close, ever.
410 locals recommend
Gran Cenote
You will find lots of turtles here hanging out on the outside rocks, and there are some bats hanging inside of the cave, look very creepy but we don't normally get to see these 2 creatures up this close, ever.
It's really spectacular. Skip the vendors who try to sell you special access and skip the line service; you will spend $ for not much at all. make sure to go to the Il-Kil cenote nearby, 7 min away.
1362 locals recommend
Chichen Itza
It's really spectacular. Skip the vendors who try to sell you special access and skip the line service; you will spend $ for not much at all. make sure to go to the Il-Kil cenote nearby, 7 min away.
One of the MOST beautiful cenotes in our opinion, it's 7 mins drive from Chichen Itza, must see if you are in Yucatan!
72 locals recommend
Ik Kil
One of the MOST beautiful cenotes in our opinion, it's 7 mins drive from Chichen Itza, must see if you are in Yucatan!
This is a restaurant, hotel/resort, and quite beautiful place to be. Near the Azulik museum, you can stop by for lunch if you are going to visit the museum, Mayan food, so don't expect ceviche here. What we loved about it: ask for going to see the jaguars! 200 pesos/person but well worth it - you might never have another opportunity to see Jaguars that up close again. There are 2 jaguars, one golden dots one black, we could see them a few inches distance, they are absolutely gorgeous! also monkeys, pumas, other wild cats. The garden is quite beautiful, too.
Chechén
kilómetro 23.7 CobáThis is a restaurant, hotel/resort, and quite beautiful place to be. Near the Azulik museum, you can stop by for lunch if you are going to visit the museum, Mayan food, so don't expect ceviche here. What we loved about it: ask for going to see the jaguars! 200 pesos/person but well worth it - you might never have another opportunity to see Jaguars that up close again. There are 2 jaguars, one golden dots one black, we could see them a few inches distance, they are absolutely gorgeous! also monkeys, pumas, other wild cats. The garden is quite beautiful, too.
Amazing art in so many areas: architecture, design, macrame, nature, ceramics... built by artist and local tree material, the art scene is spectacular. The whole project was led by argentinian artist and over 100 tulum artists.
51 locals recommend
AZULIK Uh May
23 GrullaAmazing art in so many areas: architecture, design, macrame, nature, ceramics... built by artist and local tree material, the art scene is spectacular. The whole project was led by argentinian artist and over 100 tulum artists.
Service Providers
Motokoor Tulum
107 Av. CobaRent a motorbike from here!
Closest bike rental, reserve on their website and they can send the bikes over, quite convenient. The closest bike rental to home.
37 locals recommend
Ola Bike Tulum
107 Av. CobaClosest bike rental, reserve on their website and they can send the bikes over, quite convenient. The closest bike rental to home.
IBike Tulum
Another bike rental just in case Ola bike doesn't work
Grocery
This is the store where you can find almost everything - from groceries to pharmacie...
609 locals recommend
Chedraui
This is the store where you can find almost everything - from groceries to pharmacie...
A small grocery store a few minutes walk from home; there are basic supplies for pretty much everything: water, milk, fruits, veggies and a grilled chicken/veggie/meat counter at the back. The grilled chicken and smoked ribs from the cooked food counter are amazing!
54 locals recommend
Fresh Market
Mz 12 Aldea ZamaA small grocery store a few minutes walk from home; there are basic supplies for pretty much everything: water, milk, fruits, veggies and a grilled chicken/veggie/meat counter at the back. The grilled chicken and smoked ribs from the cooked food counter are amazing!
Beach
Gitano Beach is more upscale beach club in a little bay. Expensive, famous.
27 locals recommend
Gitano Beach
KM 9.5 Av Boca PailaGitano Beach is more upscale beach club in a little bay. Expensive, famous.
Last resort, basic, from here walk to Sian Kaan and be alone on a natural beach without any other people
24 locals recommend
Rosa del Viento
Km 10 Carr. Tulum-Boca PailaLast resort, basic, from here walk to Sian Kaan and be alone on a natural beach without any other people
Beautiful, quieter than others and there are less seaweed; but it takes longer time to get there as it's pretty further down.
9 locals recommend
Casa Violeta
Beautiful, quieter than others and there are less seaweed; but it takes longer time to get there as it's pretty further down.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Rent A Car, Motobike or ATV
Tulum is fairly spread out; having a car with good air conditioning in Tulum is going to make your life easier. There are so many cenotes, villages, cities nearby that you can access easier by a car. If you are planning to only visit the beaches or Tulum town, moto bike or ATV could do too! We also listed 2 bike rentals here in case you want to bike around town.
Book before you go
Make Restaurant reservation online
Many trendy restaurants near the beach require reservations; they are often full but depend on the season. Opentable works here quite beautifully!
Ways to save
Skip the special offers at the attraction sites
In most of the attraction sites, there will be locals come to you and try to sell you additional services to "skip the line", inside scoop and tour guide services. In our opinion, these are not necessary nor worth it, you'll not save much time but spending some money for sure. an exception is the paid parking space - if you can pay a little to park a bit closer, that's totally worth it! (unless you don't mind walking)
What to pack
How to deal with mosquitos
During the rainy season roughly June to end of October, it's also the mosquito season in Tulum. The insects and mosquitos are quite prevalent here. We have sprays and incense in suite for you to deal with the mosquitos, but we also strongly recommend getting the OFF brand LOTION (it's like a toothpaste tube and the lotion is clear color) and sprays and carry them with you wherever you go. You can find them in the supermarket Chedraui on Coba road. Most of the restaurants in Tulum are outdoor seating, don't let the mosquitos ruin your lovely time :)