The best way to spend one day in Tulum. Perfect Tulum guide.
Tulum has a lot to offer, and it won't be fair to give you just a one-fits-all Tulum travel guide on what places to visit and what to do in this magical place if your stay is limited to one day only.
Everyone is different, has different needs, pace, and my best day in Tulum might differ from yours.
Should you spend the whole day on the beach sipping cocktails, should you visit cenotes or pack your day with Mayan ruins, bohemian restaurants, Instagram spots, and bars draped in thick rolling clouds of copal?
In this article, we will provide the best Tulum travel guide to spend truly Yours one day in Tulum based on how you feel during that one day.
Slowly paced, relaxed day - Just enjoy
Moderately paced semi-adventurous - A fulfilled, eventful, and moderately paced day in Tulum.
High volume day! - Cover most of what Tulum has to offer in one day. Without sacrificing the quality.
One day in Tulum guide - slowly paced, relaxed.
You just cannot be bothered. You already have a busy life, and the only thing you want to do is to relax on the beach, sipping cocktails from the comfort of your bird-nest tent, feeling the ocean breeze gently stroking your skin.
Tulum has one of the most beautiful beaches to offer (Sorry, Cancun and Playa, but it is true), and honestly, spending the whole day without leaving scenery of turquoise waves stroking the shore won't be a crime.
If this is your goal, the best way to accomplish it is to stay in one of the hotels in Zona Hotelera. Tip: We have an extensive guide on different Tulum zones here.
The beauty of Tulum is that it doesn't have massive hotel chains, and nothing makes you feel being confined to any specific area. So even if you get bored being on the beach, you can always leave for a little exploration by the Zone Hotelera road, which offers many small beautiful boutiques, bars, restaurants, and art installations.
Few other activities you can add to your day without overcomplicating things:
Tulum Ruins. Accessible via Zona Hotelera road, it won't take you more than 2 hours to visit. (picture of it plus map - all in one photo)
Nightlife in Pueblo. Some things are more vibrant in the Pueblo, and a night bar with live music can be one of these things. Mix yourself with locals and enjoy a toned-down, undemanding atmosphere of joy.
What if you are staying in Pueblo?
You might still enjoy the whole day at the beach with the only difference: first, you will need to get to it. It is not a hustle, and there are several ways to get to the Beach from Pueblo:
Bicycle. 30-40 minutes biking to Playa Paraiso.
Car. 5 minutes drive
Cab. 100-150 pesos per ride to Playa Paraiso. There are always cabs at the beach zone, so you won't experience any trouble getting around Tulum via cabs.
Pueblo has a vast offer of good coffee shops and breakfast restaurants. You can start your day with a nice breakfast, rent a bicycle (if you need one), and head towards Playa Paraiso - a big and beautiful public beach in Tulum.
Moderately paced day in Tulum. A fulfilled and eventful adventure.
This is where you have to make a decision between certain activities.
Option A. Tulum ruins, Playa Paraiso, and an entire beach zone with famous Instagram spots.
Option B. Coba ruins, cenotes, Coba road with artisans - where you can find items sold in Zona Hotelera boutiques but 3 times cheaper.
Option A - Tulum ruins, Playa Paraiso, and an entire beach zone with famous Instagram spots.
Start your day exploring Tulum Ruins and gradually make your way down the beach line visiting everything that catches your eye. If at any moment you feel like catching a breath at the beach - there are plenty of bars, restaurants, hotels, and boutiques that will gladly host you.
This is perfect for those who want to visit as many beautiful Instagram spots in one day as possible.
Ven a la Luz wooden sculpture
Do not miss these:
Tulum Ruins
Playa Paraiso
Azulik and Zak Ik experience
Ven a la Luz wooden sculpture.
Zona Hotelera boutiques.
Zona Hotelera restaurants.
Option B - Coba ruins, cenotes, Coba road with artisans.
Is beach not for you?
In Tulum, you do not need to be confined to the beach only, and there are plenty of other activities to do. Even swimming.
Coba is another archeological site of Mayan ruins located 40 mins car drive away from Tulum. On the way to Coba, you will pass 3 small Mayan villages where the best Tulum art craft is being sold.
Near Coba, you can swim in a gorgeous underground cave - Cenote.
Tip: most of the art craft found in fancy Zona Hotelera boutiques can be found here and much cheaper.
Ways to get to Coba:
Car or a scooter
Bus. Every day there are busses that go to Coba from Tulum AOD bus station.
Cubs.
Do not miss these:
Magico Tulum boutique
Coba Ruins
Coba cenotes
Small restaurants in Mayan villages
Coqui coqui hotel
Azulik Uhmay - art galery
Cover most of what Tulum has to offer in one day. Without sacrificing the quality.
Can you cover it all in one day? It is possible, but you need to wake up early and follow the plan:
The first half of the day. Coba Ruins and Cenotes.
Be mindful of time. The car drive to Coba takes about 40-50 minutes, making it almost a 2-hour drive both ways. It is totally worth it! If you leave at 6-7am you can spend good 4 hours in Coba and visiting small places on the way to Coba and be back by lunch.
Lunch time and the second part of the day.
Here you have a choice. You either can stop for lunch in Tulum Pueblo or head straight to the Zona Hotelera and find a spot there. The difference is in price and your own preferences. At Pueblo, you will spend 2-3 times less enjoying tasty local food, whereas in Zona Hotelera you can experience your food 5 meters away from the sea.
After lunch, and as the afternoon progresses, you can start exploring Zona Hotelera, starting with the Playa Paraiso and progressing further into the zone, enjoying every beautiful spot it has to offer.
Closer to the evening life in Pueblo and Zona Hotelera is ripe for festivals and live music. Take a break at one of the restaurants and head to the bar for a dose of true nocturnal Tulum magic.
Some night bars to consider:
Casa Jaguar (Zona Hotelera)
Batey (Pueblo)
Gitano (Zona Hotelera)
Papaya Playa Project (Zona Hotelera)
Funky Geisha (Zona Hotelera)
Holistica (Pueblo)
Mistiko (Pueblo)
In conclusion:
Everyone can find their perfect day in Tulum. There is no one "best day" that fits everyone. Use this guide as a template, and feel free to mix and match ideas as per your personal needs, pace, and desires.
For any questions related to Tulum, you can contact me using the form below.
Best regards,
Alex, your personal Tulum insider.