1. Hang Out on Playa Paraiso

The beaches of Tulum are the town’s main attraction for a reason, and the best of the bunch is Playa Paraiso. Once you see the beach’s white sand and turquoise water, you’ll understand why it has been a winner of TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice award for the best beach in all of Mexico.

Best of all, Playa Paraiso is a publicly accessible beach, meaning a visit to this natural wonder is one of the great free things to do in Tulum. Or, if you want to spend a little cash, Villa Pescadores and El Paraiso beach clubs offer loungers for a minimum spend on drinks and food.

It’s an easy walk from here to the second best thing to do in Tulum.

2. Marvel at the Tulum Ruins

They may not be the largest Mayan ruins in Mexico, but their spectacular location on a cliff overlooking the beach makes the Tulum ruins a marvelous site to behold. A visit here is a must from anywhere in the Yucatan, and it’s definitely one of the top things to do in Playa del Carmen as well.

With Tulum’s meteoric rise on the tourist scene, the 13th-century ruins can get a bit crowded. So visit early in the day for the best chance to snap that envy-inducing Instagram shot without pushing your way through a crowd of visitors.

The entrance fee is 65 pesos per person ($3.40). Don’t miss these spectacular ruins on your trip to the Yucatan.

Visit to the lagoon can bath in the mud that’s produced by the cenote, and which according to legend has healing properties. Plus, it’s reasonable entrance fee (50 pesos), makes it one of the great budget things to do in Tulum.

3. Enjoy Tacos on the Beach at Taqueria La Eufemia

They may not be the largest Mayan ruins in Mexico, but their spectacular location on a cliff overlooking the beach makes the Tulum ruins a marvelous site to behold. A visit here is a must from anywhere in the Yucatan, and it’s definitely one of the top things to do in Playa del Carmen as well.

With Tulum’s meteoric rise on the tourist scene, the 13th-century ruins can get a bit crowded. So visit early in the day for the best chance to snap that envy-inducing Instagram shot without pushing your way through a crowd of visitors.

The entrance fee is 65 pesos per person ($3.40). Don’t miss these spectacular ruins on your trip to the Yucatan.

Visit to the lagoon can bath in the mud that’s produced by the cenote, and which according to legend has healing properties. Plus, it’s reasonable entrance fee (50 pesos), makes it one of the great budget things to do in Tulum.

Goats On The Road Recommended

So be sure to build in some time in your Tulum itinerary to take a swim in the sea. Or take it one step further and enjoy some snorkelling, paddle-boarding, riding a banana boat or jet ski, or any of the many incredible water activities on offer in Tulum! You’ll find vendors all throughout the beach and in the town willing to help you get your adventure on.

• Wondering where to stay in Tulum? There are numerous accommodation options on Booking.com – from luxury resorts on the beach to midrange hotels and cute guesthouses in town. Goats On The Road uses and recommends Booking.com due to their awesome cancellation policy, discounts and deals. Click hereto see properties available in Tulum, Mexico.

• If you’d like to rent a car in Tulum or any other place in Mexico, we recommend checking out the prices on Expedia.com. This is the booking company we went with when we spent 2 months in Manzanillo Colima. Be warned though, in Mexico, you’ll have to pay around $15 more per day for mandatory insurance fees. Goats On The Road always uses Expedia for our car rentals. Click here to find the latest prices.

Ok, so this may seem like an obvious thing to include on a list of the best things to do in Tulum. But, with so many other activities in Tulum, it can be easy to forget that the gorgeous water is the star here!