A Week in Tulum: Sun, Sea, and the Best Tacos of Our Lives

Tulum had been on our bucket list for years, and in early February, we finally made it happen—a week filled with stunning beaches, ancient ruins, cenotes, and the most incredible food, especially the seafood and tacos we devoured daily. This trip had everything: adventure, relaxation, a few challenges (hello, encounters with roaming stray dogs), from biking through jungle paths under the scorching sun to snorkeling alongside baby sea turtles, sipping smoky mezcal under the stars, and even getting a spontaneous tattoo in Tulum’s oldest shop, this trip was the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and unexpected surprises.

Day 1: Arrival in Tulum

After a 4.5 hour flight from Toronto to Cancun, we hopped in a private car for a two-hour ride to Tulum. Before we left the airport, we made sure our eSIM cards were activated. When we travel we like to have full access to the internet and have found that eSIM are the most convenient option instead of walking around to find a place that sells physical sim cards (which we will speak about in our other posts). We chose Airalo eSIM as it has a simple activation process and you can use the app to track your usage to ensure you never run out. It also gives you the options to top up whenever you may need to.

We ended up getting the shuttle from the airport to our condo in Tulum to ourselves which was awesome, especially getting to chat with our driver along the way and practice our Spanish. Arriving at night, we had to hire a private driver to take us to Tulum versus taking a bus. If you arrive during the day, the budget option would be to take a bus, which we did on our return. We used bookaway.com to book our transport to and from the airport.

After the drive, we settled into our condo AirBNB in Aldea Zama and then took a quick trip to the grocery store for some snacks and bites for breakfast the next day. We decided to stay in an AirBNB for many reasons. We enjoy having our own private place and a kitchen to cook some of our meals, which saves us a bit of money. We also find that staying in town versus staying at a resort made our experience more immersive and gave us a chance to explore the culture deeper by eating at different restaurants and seeing where the locals hangout.

Day 2: Exploring Tulum Ruins & Biking the Coast

We kicked off the day with a cold brew and a bike ride to the Tulum Archaeological Site. We rented bikes from Mexigo Bikes in Aldea Zama. The bikes were 180 MXN/day to rent and of course come with bike locks. We rented them for 6 days for a total of 1080 MXN per person.

The Tulum Ruins & Parque Jaguar Centro fee was 415 MXN/person plus 100 MXN/person for the National Institute of Anthropology & History (INAH) fee for a total of 515 MXN per person. The ruins were incredible, with Playa Ruinas providing the most picturesque backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. A surprise highlight was Parque del Jaguar, where we climbed the Torres de Avistamiento for breathtaking jungle views.

You can imagine that after all the biking we were hungry! For an early supper, we stopped at Tulum Tacos in Aldea Zama—fresh tortillas, perfectly seasoned meat, homemade salsas, and delicious Mexican rice pudding made it one of the best taco spots of the trip. We concluded the afternoon with a delicious smoothie from Matcha Mama down the street.

Day 3: Tulum Pueblo & Playa Mirador

We spent the morning wandering through the downtown of Tulum, exploring colorful streets, boutique shops, and local markets. While wandering the streets, we stopped in at a local Tequileria to sample some tequilas and mezcals and peruse the many bottles and their insect specimens.

For those of you that don’t know, Mezcal is famous for containing either a worm or a scorpion that you would consume at the end of the bottle. The worm is a strange but fascinating cultural tradition called gusano de maguey. Some believe it symbolizes authenticity and quality, while others see it as a novelty. In some regions, consuming the worm is thought to bring strength, good fortune, or even hallucinogenic effects (though the last part is a myth).

We walked for quite a while before we ended up at El Camelo Jr. for some delicious seafood (see our Tulum food guide for more info). ADD LINK TO GUIDELater, we headed to Playa Mirador, a lesser-known but stunning beach. It felt like a hidden gem compared to the busier beaches nearby. This is where the locals go.

Day 4: Chichén Itzá & Valladolid

We rented a car and hit the road early for a day trip to Chichén Itzá. The drive from Tulum is just over 2 hours and the highways were in good condition and easy to navigate. Be sure to rent your car online ahead of time so that you can secure a vehicle for when you need it. The entrance fee for Chichén Itzá was 571 MXN/person plus 100 MXN/person for the INAH fee. Walking through one of the New Seven Wonders of the World was surreal—the history and architecture of the Mayan civilization were mind-blowing. It took us about 2 hours to walk through the site and browse the many artisan vendors.

On the way back, we stopped in Valladolid, a charming colonial town with pastel-colored buildings and authentic restaurants. If you are driving to Valladoili, be sure to look up parking ahead of time and have cash to pay. You could easily spend a couple days here if you had the time.

We explored:
📍 Calzada de los Frailes – A picturesque historic street full of artisanal shops
⛪ Templo de San Servacio – A stunning church in the town square
🏛️ Convent of San Bernardino – A beautifully preserved piece of history

Before heading back to Tulum, we cooled off at Cenote Suytun. The circular stone platform inside the cenote made it feel like stepping into a sacred Mayan ritual site—definitely one of the most photogenic spots of the trip. You may have to wait in line to take your picture, but it’s worth it! The entrance fee for Suytun was 230 MXN/person.

Day 5: Coba Ruins & Snorkeling with Sea Turtles

Another road trip day! We grabbed a delicious traditional Mayan breakfast in town then headed for the ruins. Coba Archaeological Site is a less-touristy ruin where we walked through the jungle to explore several Mayan temples and pyramids. The cost for the ruins was 120 MXN/person with an additional cost of 100 MXN/person for the INAH fee, which you pay at the entrance to the parking lot. The total came to 220 MXN per person.

Next, we drove to Akumal Beach, where we had one of the most magical experiences of the trip—snorkeling with sea turtles. The water was crystal clear, and within minutes, we were swimming alongside these incredible creatures. A baby turtle even swam right up to Clara’s face! It was an unforgettable wildlife encounter. We went to Akumal Dive Center to rent equipment and hire a guide to take us to the water (in order to see the turtles, you must hire a guide). This cost us 700 MXN per person.

For dinner, we tried Encanto Restaurant, followed by Marquesitas from a street vendor. These crispy, rolled crepes stuffed with Nutella, cheese, and caramel were the perfect sweet-salty combo. We ended the night at Batey Mojito & Guarapo Bar, listening to live music and sipping on freshly crushed sugarcane mojitos.

Day 6: Beachside Relaxation at Paraiso Beach Club

After a packed itinerary, we spent the last full day relaxing at Paraiso Beach Club. The white sand, turquoise water, and beachside cocktails made for a perfect, lazy Tulum day. We rented a beach bed for the day and ordered seafood ceviche and cervezas. It was nice to be at the beach club to have access to a restaurant, washroom and showers to clean off the sand before leaving.

To get to Paraiso Beach Club, you must enter the Parque Jaguar Sur for a fee of 415 MXN per person. Whether you are walking, biking, or driving down, it is a little ways down the road to get to the beach club. Once you arrive at Paraiso, you can choose from a beach bed, lounging chairs or sit on the beach itself. The beds and chairs cost around 500 MXN total for the day, but the beach section is for anyone who paid the park fee.

Day 7: A Spontaneous Tattoo & Heading Home

On our final morning, Clara had a completely unexpected yet incredible cultural experience—she got a tattoo at Tulum’s oldest tattoo shop Inktulum Tattoo. Unlike a typical walk-in tattoo parlor, this felt deeply connected to Mayan tradition, where tattooing has been a ritual for centuries. It was such a unique and personal way to end the trip.

That afternoon, we caught our bus back to Cancun Airport and said goodbye to Tulum.

Final Thoughts

Tulum was everything we imagined and more—stunning beaches, ancient ruins, unforgettable food, and adventure at every turn. From biking through jungle paths to snorkeling with turtles and getting a spontaneous tattoo, this trip was full of unforgettable moments.

The food in Tulum was out of this world—especially the seafood and tacos. We made it a mission to eat tacos every day, with some of our best meals at Tulum Tacos in Aldea Zama and Encanto Restaurant. See our food guide for more details!

Lessons learned? Wear good mineral sunscreen, always carry cash, and sometimes that $30 taxi is worth it—because our roughest moment was deciding to walk home at night to save a few bucks. Stray dogs were everywhere, and walking through an underdeveloped area with dark roads and aggressive dogs made for an uneasy experience. It’s definitely something to be mindful of at night.Would we return? In a heartbeat. Next time, we’d explore even more cenotes and maybe stay in a beachfront cabana instead of a condo. But for now, Tulum has left us with some of the best travel memories ever. 🌿🌊