3 days in Tulum wasn't enough. We got a taste for the buena vida and couldn't get enough...it's calling us back. You can taste the "good life" as well in my relaxing itinerary to 3 days in Tulum.
Tulum is known for it's infamous party scene, so those who are not interested in that typically steer away. However, there is a more relaxing side to Tulum that many don't know exists. Don't let it's notable party scene deter you if the noise and vibe isn't for you. Pat and I spent 3 days in Tulum and had the time of our lives with a more relaxing itinerary. Here's our quieter, and some would say less popular, Tulum travel guide for you to experience a calmer side of the renowned destination.
Let's start off by answering the commonly asked question: How many days are needed in Tulum?
Well, that completely depends on how much time you want to spend in the Yucatan Peninsula (made up of Quintana Roo - where Tulum is, Campeche and Yucatan). Ideally, you will need a minimum of 5 days to see the Yucatan Peninsula beyond Quintana Roo: 3 days in Tulum and 2 for the other areas. However, my ideal recommendation is 7 days. I would've loved to have spent an extra day relaxing on the beaches of Tulum and another 2 exploring nearby areas.
You can easily spend a week in the area, but I wouldn't exclusively limit yourself to Tulum and Tulum Beach. You can use Tulum as your basecamp and venture out to neighboring areas and towns on day trips. Had Pat and I spent a whole week in Tulum, that's what we would've done. There were so many more relaxing things to do in Tulum...Cenotes to explore, jungle trekking at Punta Laguna Nature Reserve, visiting the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, doing a Muyil Jungle Mayan canal tour, or driving out to Valladolid for the day.
Arrival
You can get to Tulum either by renting a car and driving the 1.5 to 2 hour ride to Tulum Beach. Alternatively, if you don't want to rent a car from Cancun to Tulum you can also take a bus, minivan or private car by booking here. We rented the car since we knew we were going to drive to cenotes and some ruins during our time there and wanted the flexibility to be off people's schedules.
Dinner: The Michelin-Led Jungle Garden
We had just arrived in Tulum and checked into our stay. Exhausted from the journey, we didn’t want to go too far. Luckily, this spot came highly recommended and was right around the corner. It has low-key vibes that stay on the calmer side of things. Occasionally on Thursdays they might turn it up, but typically this is the spot for a romantic dinner. The Michelin-starred Executive Chef mixes Mexican cuisine with international inspirations. The Highlight: The digestif, a local Mezcal paired with three distinct sides: crushed cacao/coffee beans, orange slices, and crispy grasshopper. I’ve pinned the exact name in my Tulum Google Map.
Day 1
Morning/Afternoon: The Secluded South-End Hideaway
I woke up to the sound of the sea waves crashing against the white sand beach and the brushing of palm trees against one another. Pat and I had left the sliding doors open all night so we could get some sea breeze and hear that lulling sound. I split open our bed canopy and ran to take a look outside. The first morning is all about relax. You are in Mexico after all. And no matter where you are, whether you're at a hotel with your own private slither of beach or in town, you need to get yourself to the Caribbean Sea. Luckily, we were in a quiet and relaxing hotel at the end of Tulum Beach, away from the resorts and had it's own private beach. It was going to be the perfect day lounging around, reading a book, drinking Pina Coladas and doing absolutely nothing.
While our room was delightful, the private beach is where we spent a good chunk of our time. When I think of a relaxing itinerary, seclusion by the sea sounds ideal. What could be better than the billowy white clouds against the bright blue sky, a freshening breeze, walking down the beach with your loved one and a just-delivered pina colada to quench your thirst? In our super connected and globalized world, I think the 2 things that are actually most valuable and unattainable are seclusion and leisure time. True seclusion is probably what attracted you to my article in the first place! A little less-traveled, more secluded and relaxing itinerary to 3 days in Tulum then what is out there on the market.
This was the most relaxing part of our adventure and we loved every moment. We enjoyed our private little paradise. Tulum Beach is 6.2 miles long. With that much coastline and being at the end of the road, we barely saw anyone all day long. We were relishing the Caribbean picture-postcard beach and swimming in the beautiful turquoise seas surrounded by the glorious sunshine. The other nice thing about our hotel being located at the end of Tulum Beach, is the fact that you don't hear any of the party music or goers from down the road because they are about a mile out. It's like you're in your own little bubble.
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Evening: Walk Down Tulum Beach
Of course, total seclusion isn't for everyone, all the time. Especially given the year we've had. Seeing people and their faces unmasked is like a breath of fresh air. So we decided to leave our little private enclave and reintroduce ourselves to society. It wasn't like you had to drag me off the beach, Tulum Beach road has plenty of entertainment for everyone. You'll never stop wandering. Don't get too ambitious the first day and try to see all of Tulum Beach Road because you won't. You'll just exhaust yourself and not be able to take it all in. You've got 3 days in Tulum, so I broke up how you should explore each section over the course of each day.
There's the obvious restaurants, shopping and spas, but each has a unique architecture unlike any other. That's what makes Tulum so unique. Since this was our day of relaxation we didn't want to walk too far. We walked about a mile or two till we reached a small enclave off the side of the road with cool outdoor restaurants, food trucks and bars. Then continued in search of a quiet place for happy hour.
All that walking made us thirsty. Fortunately, we found a hidden bar conveniently located on a Cenote, or natural sinkhole formed by a caved in cave. It’s one of the only bars on the actual beach road that gives you direct access to a mature, open-aired cenote. You can literally swim while you sip. Since this is a fragile ecosystem and a local favorite, I’ve tucked the exact pin into my Tulum Google Map.
Dinner: Cenzontle
15 Restaurants in Tulum & Unique Foods to Try
Patrick and I had wanted to eat at the infamous Hartwood, but reservations had closed a month in advance. We decided to go for a highly recommended and up and coming runner-up right next to Hartwood called Cenzontle. When you walk into this open-aired restaurant, you feel like your still inside a house. There were 2 things you can't not have from the menu: 1) Their cocktails - which were some of the best we had in Tulum and 2) their duck carnitas tacos.
Day 2
Morning: The Indigenous Mayan Healing Sanctuary
This was just around the time of Patrick's 28th birthday, so I decided to surprise him with a massage. It was time to recharge. This is, without a doubt, the most renowned sanctuary in Tulum for those seeking a true spiritual and physical reset. Your path to revitalization begins long before the massage, through a traditional hydrotherapy circuit of four different indigenous treatments.
We started in a eucalyptus steam room, followed by a cold-plunge shower and a traditional sauna. Then came the warm healing waters and an outdoor massage tub nestled in the jungle. The beauty is the flow, you can return to any of the treatments at your own pace or simply lounge in the tropical garden while the forest "breathes" around you.
We were eventually escorted to our own private outdoor huts to be completely cosseted. I opted for 60 minutes, while Pat did 90. When he finally emerged, he literally needed a minute to sit down and get himself together, it was that powerful. It lived up to every bit of the local hype. If you've got 3 days in Tulum, you must dedicate a morning to this kind of Mayan wellness experience. It’s the soul of Mexico.
Because this sanctuary is highly coveted and I want to ensure my readers get priority over the Instagram crowds, I don’t name it here. I’ve included the exact jungle location, the booking contact, and my tip on which specific "Mayan" treatment to request exclusively in my Tulum Google Map.
Lunch: La Eufemia [Permanently Closed]
15 Restaurants in Tulum & Unique Foods to Try
La Eufemia is hidden behind a small alley that you wouldn’t even think twice about walking down. After walking through a winding narrow alley, all of a sudden you see the beautiful Caribbean sea, an open grill, and a wooden deck overlooking the beach. The food tastes homemade, simple, not overly complex–and the tacos are the right price. I watch them prepare our food as sombreros hang from the ceiling nodding back and forth to the wind.
Afternoon: Bike Tulum Beach
The #1 means of transportation on Tulum Beach is by bike. Over the course of 3 days in Tulum, you'll use the bike almost everyday if you're not walking. The taxis are too expensive and during the day it's a more eco-friendly option. You will see everyone biking the roads. Your hotel will most likely have some bikes you can use, just remember to be the first to grab them because they don't have enough for all guests. The bikes aren't advanced by any means. They are coastal brake bicycles with no gears and no hand brakes (you use the pedals to break).
The distance from the end of Tulum Beach to Tulum town is about 7.4 miles or 12.1 km one way...it is far! So it is a bit of a hike to bike it all. It's made even more difficult by the pot holes in the road and the fact that you are on a very uncomfortable bike that was not made to be ridden for more than a few miles. This is made even worst at night since there are no night lamps on Tulum Beach road so you end up biking into pot holes non-stop, which is extremely painful! Pat and I biked all the way to Tulum Town and I don't recommend it. While we got to see every aspect of Tulum Beach and loved it, our butts weren't happy with us after the fact. It was painful to say the least because the bicycle wasn't right.
On the way though you'll pass plenty of beach clubs you can stop by with loud music and not. You'll also bike by instagrammable moments like the famous wooden sculptures by South African artist Daniel Popper, known for his massive figurative sculptures. Entitled Ven a la Luz (come into the light), using wood and rope he created a female figure with lush green plants in her torso. People can walk through the sculpture and her torso in order to get to Ahau Tulum. In full transparency, while his art installations were very cool, the line to take a picture with them was about a mile long down Tulum Beach. It didn't feel unique, it felt like a Disneyland attraction. And while all I wanted to do was get closer to it and admire it, it wasn't worth the 1 hour wait.
Tip
There is a wooden hand about a mile down is less known by people and there is no line to see that. So I recommend you go there instead, maybe go give the hand a high five!
Evening: Drinks at Azulik
15 Restaurants in Tulum & Unique Foods to Try
Our butts were in pieces because of the bikes and we needed a break before we biked back to our hotel. We used that as an excuse to stop for a drink. Just like the wooden female torso sculpture, the line to get into Azulik–a famous Tulum hotel, restaurant and art gallery–is very long. In fact, you can’t get in without a reservation so make one at least a month in advance before you go–even if it’s just for drinks. Azulik and it’s restaurants in Tulum are a touristy stop, but worth stopping by because it is so unique to Tulum. The experience begins by walking into a large woven wooden tunnel that takes you up into a floating treehouse. The guests who stay at the property move around via suspended jungle gyms (if you don't believe me...see my video in the below post to see what I'm talking about). But their primary attraction are their birds nest for private dining, located on the top of their hotel overlooking Tulum beach on one side and the jungle on the other.
Dinner: Gitano's
15 Restaurants in Tulum & Unique Foods to Try
Gitano’s has become so popular, a location has opened up in New York and Miami as well. It started off in Tulum, so this is the OG location. It has 3 locations in Tulum: Beach, Jungle and Meze. My personal favorite is the Jungle because it’s bar boasts over 50 Mezcals and dinner turns into dancing in the Jungle Room under the disco ball on Friday nights. The ambiance here is quiet romantic, but lively as well. Think candlelit dinners and low-lighting with upbeat mood music.
Any night of the week, when you walk down Tulum Beach road you will come across multiple party opportunities. Open aired attractions or dinner places with loud music and dancing, both on tables and not. You can take your pick when it comes to the ambiance. You can either opt for a beach party or loud jungle experience, or go for more of a private speakeasy party like the one Pat and I did at Tulum Treehouse.
Day 3
Morning: Coba Ruins
Visit Coba Ruins from Tulum: Know Before You Go
On Day 3 of our 3 days in Tulum it was time to explore beyond Tulum Beach. While leaving the idyllic place is hard, it is worth it. Pat and I drove to the Coba Ruins. We were told by locals to go to the Coba Ruins instead of Chichen Itza or the Tulum Ruins located on the beach. We had heard they were cooler, more immersive, bigger and less touristy. The primary attraction of the Coba Ruins is that you could bike around the grounds and explore all the different civilizations, something that Chichen Itza does not offer.
Read full article about my trip out to the Coba Ruins from Tulum >>
Afternoon: Cenote Tankach-Ha
Cenote Tankach-Ha Near Coba Ruins
After having wandered Coba Ruins for a few hours, Pat and I were hot and looking for a quick place to cool off. Right around the corner from the Coba Ruins are 3 unique and beautiful cenotes. Cenote Tankach-Ha was a cenote only visited by locals. In fact, we were the only English speaking people in it. The semi-open Cenote Tankach-Ha near the Coba Ruins is for all--families and kids. And what makes it even cooler are it's 2 diving platforms.
Read full article about my experience at Cenote Tankach-Ha >>
Lunch: The Authentic Italian Beach Hideaway
One of my favorite restaurants in Tulum is an Italian spot where the recipes are passed down from a grandmother in Genova. The pasta is made from scratch the moment you order. It is a absolute "must-stop," but it’s cash-only and hard to find if you aren't looking for the right gate. I’ve dropped the GPS coordinates and my "no-wait" timing strategy in my Tulum Google Map.
Afternoon: Relax
Satiated and content with our day...we had to go back to our hotel and do what Tulum is known best for one last time: Relax. After all, I told Patrick this our 3 days in Tulum was going to be a relaxing itinerary...did I fail at that? I don't know, I admit I get antsy! But I definitely feel like I let us enjoy the beauty of Caribbean Sea in all it's glory. For one last time, we opened a couple of cervezas, cracked open our books, laid on the lounge chairs and hopped into the crystal blue sea for a swim.
Dinner: The Jungle Speakeasy Ritual
No advertising. No photos. An inconspicuous entrance. This is the real, old-school Tulum experience that hasn't been ruined by Instagram. They actually cover your camera phone with a sticker when you walk in. It starts with a communal dinner by candlelight and ends with a primal jungle party where people truly let go (don't come here if you're a prude!). I share the name in my Tulum Google Map.
If you have more time...also visit:
3 Days in Tulum Itinerary Map
How to Get Around Tulum
There are 4 crucial ways to get around Tulum:
Important Things to Keep In Mind
When we finally got back to our everyday lives, we felt recharged and refreshed. When those hard days started creeping back up on us, we would always think back to our fine and relaxing 3 days in Tulum, and we'd raise a glass to, or shall I say Pina Colada, to our fond memories.
>> Next: What are Cenotes? Your Guide to the Yucatan Peninsula
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