Tulum Itinerary (1 week)
Welcome to our 1 week Tulum itinerary designed for backpackers.
This beachside town is a thriving destination, which has evolved from a once sleepy town into one of the most happening places in all of Mexico.
It’s known best for its long stretch of Caribbean coast, where you’ll find some breathtaking ruins and cenotes more in-land too.
Backpacking Tulum Itinerary
In this guide, we’ll explore the popular town of Tulum. Here we’ll go through the very best things to do with our personalized 1 week in Tulum itinerary.
This includes visits to some Mayan ruins, hidden cenotes and also day trips to some other cool, nearby towns. So without further ado, let’s jump into Tulum!
Getting to Tulum
Thankfully, getting to Tulum when backpacking the Yucatan is not too difficult. When coming from abroad, you’ll need to head to the popular hub of Cancún.
The international airport here connects really well with the rest of the world, so rest assured you’ll be able to find good flights year-round (they’ll be more expensive around Christmas and Spring Break though).
From Cancún airport, you‘ll then need to take the ADO bus to Tulum, which takes around 3 hours. Whilst you can also take a taxi, it’s quite expensive so we personally recommend the bus. You can either pre-book online with them or buy at the kiosk desk which you’ll see when leaving arrivals.
As a safety precaution, we highly recommend carrying this secure Money Belt with you, especially while using public transport in and around this region.
Things to know when backpacking Tulum
When completing the itinerary below of Tulum, you’ll need a daily budget of $20-25 a day. This will cover a quality dorm bed, a few meals, some local buses and also a few drinks or extras. Other costs such as international flights, travel insurance or long-distance buses are not included in this budget.
In general, you’ll find that Tulum is a safe destination to visit in Mexico, so rest assured you’ll be able to walk around both during the day and night without issue. The main strip along the highway is the safest (where all the bars and restaurants are located).
Given Tulum has become so popular in recent decades, there is now an overabundance of tour companies offering all experiences.
Unfortunately not all of them are reputable, so if you want to explore the best of Tulum, we personally recommend heading with this all-inclusive Tulum tour.
When it comes to packing for your trip to Tulum, you’ll want to prioritize light garments and clothes (given it’s always so hot).
If you don’t wish to get your personal belongings wet while on the roads, you may also want to carry a Poncho if heading during the wet season.
Got Travel Insurance for Tulum?
Backpacking Tulum (1 Week)
Now it’s time to go through our very own, personalized 1 week itinerary of Tulum.
Here we’ll cover the very best things to do each day, and also some tips to ensure you have the best time possible when in town.
Day 1: Mayan Ruins
On our first day arriving in Tulum, you’ll probably be tired after traveling so we’ll keep it nice and light.
After unpacking everything, we’ll head on a local colectivo (they look like minivans that are found along the main highway in town) that head straight to the Mayan ruins.
These ruins are some of the best you can visit in Mexico, with these awesome temples overlooking the deep blues of the Caribbean Sea. It can get quite hot, so be sure to bring sun cream as well as lots of water.
As an added bonus, there’s actually a beautiful beach below the cliffs here, so you’ll be able to have a nice dip and relax when things get too hot.
Of course, Chichén Itzá is a must-visit too, so if you have the energy on the first day (or want to do it a different day), we recommend this guided tour for you.
The rest of the evening is yours to use as you please, where you’ll find many buzzing bars such as Caribe Swing to kick things off.
Days 2-3: Exploring Tulum’s Nature
These two days are all about heading into the finest nature that Tulum has to offer. One of the best things I (George) did when in Tulum, was heading on a bike ride from the town center into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
This beautiful area is known for its abundance of chill beaches and more authentic towns, and cycling is a great way to get to know it all.
On your way back you can stop along Tulum’s main beach too, which is home to suitable waters for swimming. You’ll also find some much needed amenities here too, such as beach bars and restaurants lining the white sands.
For those who took their time exploring the reserve (which is best, to be honest), then you’ll also have all of tomorrow for lounging out on this idyllic beach and enjoying the finer things.
If you’re in a rush and want to see the highlights of Tulum within a day, then this tour is perfect which combines visits to both the Mayan ruins and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Days 4-5: Bacalar
Today we’re going to wake up early, and take the ADO bus to Bacalar (AU also offers rides too), which takes around 3 hours. Bacalar is a stunning town known for its incredible lagoon, which has as many as 7 shades of blue and green.
We recommend spending the night at Che Bacalar Hostel so you don’t need to rush, and also to get a better feel of the place.
One of the best things to do here is to take a kayak ride out onto the lagoon, and to explore both sides of the lake (just be careful getting out on the other side – since there is sinking sand there which claimed George’s sandals…).
You’ll also want to visit the Fort of San Felipe in town, which has some of the best views over Bacalar.
All in all this place is much better for relaxing, with the lake perfect for this in the early morning. If you have more than 7 days to play with, we recommend extending your stay here!
Days 6-7: Cenotes and Beach Towns
Taking the same bus back to Tulum, we’ll now spend our last couple of days visiting some of the best gems that the Riviera Maya region has to offer.
Cenotes are one of these highlights, which are stunning cave pools filled with blue and green water. They’re found all over the region, but the very best has to be the Dos Ojos Cenote.
Located a short drive from Tulum, here you can snorkel in the caves with different species of exotic fish, and also go diving into the deeper depths if that’s your thing.
Another top thing to do is to spend time in the various beach towns that are dotted along Quintana Roo’s coast. Akumal is one of these, which is the best place to swim with turtles if that is some that interests you.
Whilst here you can also relax on Half Moon Bay – an expansive white sand beach that is lined with bars, restaurants and good entertainment options.
Other places that are worth a visit include Puerto Aventuras for its beaches and Playa del Carmen for its legendary nightlife.
Tulum Backpacking Tips
Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Tulum:
- 🛏 If you like the sound of Eco Beach Camping check out Chavez Eco Beach Camping and Cabañas in Tulum with it’s own private beach area.
- 🌮 All of the best restaurants in Tulum’s center are located along and close to the 307 interstate, which runs through the heart of town. We recommend heading to the Taqueria La Chiapaneca for the best Mexican food.
- 🌴 Dos Ojos Cenote, Tulum Ruins, Akumal, Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve.
- 🍺 Again, the best bars and clubs are around the 307 with a wide range of venues for all tastes. Caribe Swing is a great place to kick things off.
- 💡 The Hotel Zone is another popular area to stay at, which is best for those looking to be right on the beach (Tulum center is a couple of miles away). Whilst it’s full of hotel resorts, you can also find bargain accommodation options such as Pal Mar Glamtainer.
In terms of what else you may need to pack for Mexico, you can always check out our Mexico packing list for more ideas on what to carry to Tulum.
Best time to visit Tulum
We’ve spoken a lot about the best time to visit Mexico on this blog (George is absolutely obsessed with checking the weather when we travel).
The overall best time to visit Tulum is within the dry season, which starts around late November and lasts until April.
This season is characterized by warm and comfortable temperatures, with averages ranging between 72-78°F. Rainfall is lowest during this time of year, with between 1-1.5 inches falling throughout each month. This means you’ll be able to explore without worrying about getting drenched unexpectedly.
The wet season runs from May until November. Daily average temperatures are much warmer, which range between 74-80°F. This does make it a better time for those who want the extra heat. However, rainfall is also much heavier, with anywhere from 3-6.5 inches falling each month. This time of year also has more deals, and is an overall cheaper time to visit Tulum.
Tulum Backpacking Itinerary
Tulum is a really fun town to visit, and one we recommend all travelers to explore when heading to the Riviera Maya region.
Here you’ll find many beaches and can also explore the more remote Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. You’ll also have a lively nightlife scene to explore between trips to towns like Akumal and Bacalar, as well as to the beautiful cenotes.
In this itinerary-style guide, we’ve explored Tulum, including the very best destinations to visit, when to visit, how much time to spend in each, and also our best recommendations.
Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning, or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.
Also see our backpacking Mexico guide for more travel inspiration!
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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