Destination guide

Mexico

Tulum first: clifftop Maya ruins, cenotes and Caribbean beaches, with the 2026 entry fees, best areas, weather and transport from Cancún.

Tulum, on Mexico's Caribbean coast about 130 km south of Cancún, combines a walled Maya city on a cliff above the sea with white-sand beaches and freshwater cenotes in the surrounding jungle. Our guide to the best things to do in Tulum covers the ruins, the best cenotes, Sian Ka'an, Cobá and Akumal, with the new 2026 entry fees.

Tulum is spread out, so your base matters. The Hotel Zone puts you on the beach, Tulum Pueblo is best for value and transport, and Aldea Zamá sits in between. Our guide to where to stay in Tulum compares eight areas, and our guide to getting from Cancún to Tulum compares the Tren Maya, ADO buses, transfers and driving.

The dry season, from November to April, brings the most reliable weather and the clearest beaches. From May to October it's hotter and wetter, hurricane season runs from June to November and sargassum seaweed is most likely on the beaches. Our guide to the best time to visit Tulum explains each month.