Five Active Things To Do In Tulum, Mexico

Tulum is the capital of relaxation in the Riviera Maya. I must confess that I am not one to sit on the beach all day. I need movement throughout the day, especially in a place with such gorgeous nature. This is why I felt compelled to write this post about active things to do in Tulum.  During our stay, we swam in a cenote (water filled sinkholes), kayaked along the coast, snorkeled with sea turtles, and explored Mayan ruins. I already shared about our eco-chic hotel stay, now I would like to share how you can make the best out of a short holiday to Tulum.

Five Active Things to Do in Tulum:

Tulum Ruins: There are many Mayan Ruins along the Yucatan peninsula. Given that the Mayans are a big part of the cultural history of the Americas, we wanted to do cultural exploration.  Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited by the Mayans and you can get a snapshot of the settlement by touring the ruins. We got there at 8 in the morning (it can get very crowded there) and paid 38 Pesos each (little less than $3). You also have the option to pay for a guide but we took the time to tour the ruins on our own. Tip: make sure to bring lots of mosquito repellent!  The views from from the ruins are just spectacular and you can also bring your bathing suit to swim on the beach. We heard it can be quite busy in the afternoon, so we’re glad we went early.

Cenote Dos Ojos: This place was on our agenda before the trip thanks to the recommendation of friend and fellow blogger Mariella from Splendor Styling. We’re thankful again for renting a car for our trip because we were able to see plenty without paying extra for tour guides or taxis. We also brought our own snorkeling equipment so we only had to pay the $150 pesos (11 USD) for the entrance. We got to explore on our own Cenote Dos Ojos and the beauty of this unique natural phenomenon. Although there were not that many fish to see while snorkeling, it was great to delve into the underwater cave system and swim in fresh water. Tip: don’t forget to bring your underwater camera. We have a basic Fuji underwater camera but this trip made me put a GoPro on my Christmas list!

Akumal: At the recommendation of the staff at Hotel Amoreira, we took a 25-minute drive to Akumal beach where you can go snorkeling and see large sea turtles.  We first had lunch at the Turtle Bay Cafe, which was a really quaint and delicious place to have fish tacos and a beer. Then we headed to the beach where we went looking for turtles. Akumal beach is quite shallow so we had to swim out quite a bit to discover these lovely creatures. Got to see quite a few when we were snorkeling along with several schools of fish and even a stingray. We loved the quaint family vibe of Akumal. It was a fun afternoon and just a short ride from Tulum.

Kayaking: The hotel provided kayaks and we decided to go paddling along the coast of Tulum. It was fun to see the beach from that vantage point. During our four day stay, the ocean had periods of calmness and others of fury. We took advantage of a calm day to do this. We loved how crystal clear the water was and the lovely Mayan style hotels along the coast. It’s a great way to get your workout in while on holiday!

Bike: Another great active thing to do in Tulum is to bike around the town (great way to work off all the tacos and margaritas!).  If you stay in Carretera Tulum (main hotel road) during your whole stay, you are looking to overspend on food and shopping. Although there are some lovely places along the road, some disguise themselves as “boho-chic” but there’s nothing bohemian about the price tag! A great way to discover the town is by bike. There are some great restaurants in downtown Tulum that are much cheaper than on the hotel road. We had a great pizza at Sale e Pepe and taking a bike ride is the best way to to work those calories off! Our hotel had bikes but there are several shops in Carretera Tulum that rent bikes as well.

Verdict:  Our experience in Tulum was everything we expected and more. I love nature and having the opportunity to be so close to the earth was not only spectacular but very grounding as well after the intense days in Cancun. The main tips I recommend to make you trip to Tulum an amazing one is to: a. rent a car (very cheap from Cancun, avg $75 a week) b. explore beyond your hotel, Tulum is a really safe area c. talk to the locals and ask for restaurant recommendations. Have you been to Tulum? What is one of your favorite active things to do in Tulum?