Things to Do in Tulum

Known as a top diving site in the Yucatan Peninsula, Cenotes Dos Ojos (Two Eyes Cenote) boasts about 300 miles (483 kilometers) of connected underwater passageways, creating a natural cave system. Divers can explore its nearly 7,000-year-old caves and underground rivers. It also contains the deepest-known cave passage in Quintana Roo.

Located north of Tulum and south of Playa del Carmen, Cenotes Dos Ojos is a popular excursion for those visiting the Mexican peninsula. The water temperature is considered optimum for snorkeling, at roughly 77°F (24°C) throughout the year. A range of tours offering scuba diving, snorkeling, and sightseeing options are available and typically depart from the major resort towns. Visitors can also simply float in the clear blue waters, taking in the rocky stalactites and stalagmites.

Located off of Highway 307, Cenotes Dos Ojos is 31 miles (50 kilometers) from Playa Del Carmen, 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) from Tulum, and about 35 minutes by ferry from Cozumel. Most tours provide round-trip transportation from these major resort towns, as well as the proper gear. The cenote is also accessible by car or taxi; if traveling on your own, snorkeling equipment is available for rent nearby.

The best months to visit the region are April, May, and November, which also means you encounter the biggest crowds during those times. Since the waters of Cenotes Dos Ojos remain around 77°F year-round, you can visit anytime and still enjoy a pleasant experience. If you plan to scuba dive and snorkel elsewhere, April and November offer the best visibility.

Along with a visit to Cenotes Dos Ojos, some tours incorporate a stop at the nearby Coba ruins. The ancient Maya ruins, located about a 45-minute drive from Tulum, were home to 50,000 inhabitants at its peak. There, you can climb the main pyramid, Nohoch Mul. At 137 feet (42 meters), it's the tallest on the Yucatan Peninsula, and it provides panoramic views from the top.

Beautiful, underwater sinkholes flooded with light, the cenotes of Riviera Maya, Mexico are a natural wonder and a sight to behold. Though there are many throughout the region, Casa Cenote is uniquely located in a mangrove forest close to the sea. It can be thought of as almost an underwater jungle with its algae-covered mangrove forest and soft sands.

As it is mostly open to the sky, it is less enclosed than neighboring cenotes and often has more aquatic life to see. The cenote connects one of the world’s largest underwater river systems to the ocean. Because of this, it is possible to see both fresh and saltwater fish. The unique combination of clear freshwater conditions and underwater caverns and formations make this an interesting spot for scuba divers and snorkelers. Streams of light penetrating the water from the surface add to the beauty and intrigue visible from both above and below.

Tankah Park is an ecological adventure park set in the jungle near Tulum in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Under lush trees and beside the crystal clear waters of cenotes, adrenaline-inducing activities such as zip lining and jungle trekking balance with relaxing canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and lounging. A visit to the park is a way to experience and interact with a variety of the natural landscapes of the area in one place.

The park sits above the Sac Actun underwater river system of the Yucatan Peninsula. The open-air cenote at Tankah is the largest in all of the Riviera Maya. It’s an adventure just to explore its fascinating rock formations and clear, turquoise waters. For the even more adventurous, the park’s two zip lines provide a unique perspective high above the trees and the water. There is also a local Mayan village to explore, with traditional crafts and clothing as well as refreshing traditional food and drink.