Take These Day Trips from Tulum to Escape the Seaweed

There are some truly spectacular day trips from Tulum.

To date, I’ve spent over a month in the Quintana Roo area of Mexico. The influencers aren’t lying: Tulum truly is the bohemian escape of your dreams. But I can also say from first-hand experience that there is a ton to do in this region beyond Tulum’s borders. We’re talking about high-adrenaline adventure, wildlife experiences, ancient ruins, quaint colorful towns, and so much more. 

I know it’ll be hard to pry yourself away from your Tulum hotel (I mean, they’re some of the best in the world), but taking yourself on a couple of day trips will really make your trip to the Yucatan Peninsula unforgettable.

19 Best Tulum Day Trips and Excursions

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Cozumel

🌿 Seaweed Rating: Minimal Seaweed (main West-facing side is shielded from current)

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 2.5 hours via car and ferry | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Cozumel Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkeling Tour

Cozumel is a relatively undeveloped island just off the coast of the mainland. There are just so many fun things to do in Cozumel. Be sure to check out Cozumel’s marine activities, cute downtown area, and secluded beaches. In particular, the island is known for the Punta Sur Eco Beach Park — a 247-acre area consisting of protected reefs, beaches, forests, and lagoons.

The park is home to a variety of birds and animals and there is even a tower from which to observe crocodiles. Just keep in mind that because the island is a stop on the cruise ship route, it can get very busy with tourists. Check the cruise ship schedule, and try to visit during the off hours if possible.

How to get from Tulum to Cozumel: 

🚗 Drive & Ferry – To get from Tulum to Cozumel, you’ll first have to get to Playa del Carmen, whether via bus, colectivo, or car. For car rentals, I recommend using the rental service Discover Cars. Then, hop on either the Winjet (budget, 40 minutes) or Ultramar (luxury, 20 minutes) ferries to take you to the island.

Laguna Kaan Luum

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 14 minutes driving | Laguna Kaan Luum | 📍 Google Maps

Just 9km down the road from Tulum, Laguna Kaan Luum is a large 82-meter deep cenote (freshwater sinkhole) in the middle of a large lagoon. It’s relatively off the beaten path as far as Mayan Riviera sites go. Together, the cenote and lagoon sparkle all shades of turquoise and blue.

While here, I recommend going swimming (you can swim anywhere in the lagoon except for in the cenote, though diving is allowed), and walking along the boardwalk. Another popular activity at Laguna Kaan Luum is to take a mud bath — the mud comes from the cenote and is said to have healing benefits. It does smell quite bad though, so be warned.

How to get from Tulum to Laguna Kaan Luum: 

🚗 Drive – Because Laguna Kaan Luum isn’t on the main tourist trail, driving will be your best bet. I recommend using the search engine Discover Cars, as they’ll help you get the best vehicle for your needs while avoiding scams. There is a large parking lot available at Laguna Kaan Luum.

🚎 Colectivo – To take the Colectivo from Tulum to Kaan Luum, hop on the one going to Felipe Carrillo. Though this will take you past the main entrance, you will have to walk a bit. Note that it’s slightly harder to get a Colectivo back to Tulum as the route isn’t as frequent.

Playa Del Carmen

🌿 Seaweed Rating: Significant Seaweed Possibility 🙁

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 1 hour | 📍 Google Maps | Playa del Carmen Website | 👉 Food Tour in Downtown Playa del Carmen

One of Quintana Roo’s largest cities, Playa del Carmen is the high-octane city escape to Tulum’s laid-back jungle vibe. Home to over 300,000 people and a substantial ex-pat community, Playa has all the conveniences of a big city. It also has tons of excursions and tours, yet maintains its chic beach feel.

On a day trip from Tulum, you’ll find La Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) the beating heart of the city with plenty of nightclubs, restaurants, shops, and tourist draws lining the street. From there, the beach is just a five-minute walk away and, while the beaches in Playa are not quite as spectacular as those in Tulum, you’ll find a ton of beachside restaurants, party spots, and relaxing loungers to check out. 

Our Playa del Carmen travel guide spills the tea on the best things to do, the best beaches, travel tips, and more!

How to get from Tulum to Playa del Carmen:

🚍 Bus – The popular Mexican bus line ADO has a hassle-free route from downtown Playa del Carmen to both the Tulum Ruins and downtown. You can book your tickets via BusBud if you have a US Credit Card (which won’t work on ADO’s site).

🚗 Drive – Driving in Mexico can seem daunting at first (the rules of the road aren’t strictly followed), but driving to Playa is a fairly straightforward route. I recommend that you rent a car directly through Discover Cars; a trusted website with tons of options.

🚎 Colectivo – A shared minibus system used by locals, taking a colectivo is cheaper (and more adventurous) than the other travel options.

Coba Ruins

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 45-minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Private Archaeological Coba Tour

One of the top archaeological day trips from Tulum, the ancient Mayan ruins at Coba are a must-visit for history buffs and jungle lovers alike. Though along the same vein as the Tulum Ruins, the Coba Ruins are special when compared to Tulum or Chichen Itza in that they cover a much larger area, have very well-preserved structures, and are grander in architecture.

Unique to this destination, the Coba Ruins contain multiple ancient Mayan settlements connected by white roads that lead to the main pyramid, Ixmoja of Nohoch Mul. Coba is located right in the middle of the jungle and is surrounded by lagoons and freshwater cenotes.

In fact, it’s estimated that the Coba Ruins contain 6,000 structures in total, although only a small portion of these have been excavated.

How to get from Tulum to the Coba Ruins:

🚌 Tour – Tours are the most popular way to go for a reason. Viator offers lots of options from Tulum, including some that combine cenotes, 4WD adventures, or other excursions.

🚍 Bus – There are plenty of ADO bus routes to the Coba Ruins every day. Get tickets on Bus Bud.

🚗 Drive – Driving to Coba is an easy trip when you book your car through Discover Cars. Just watch for speed bumps along the way!

👉 Always forget to pack something? My Mexico packing check list is the perfect comprehensive packing resource.

Akumal

🌿 Seaweed Rating: Seaweed Possible

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 35 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Tulum Ruins and Akumal Bay Tour

Want to go snorkeling with sea turtles and stingrays? Then get yourself over to Akumal, an easy beach day trip from Tulum. Literally translated as “Place of the Turtles”, Akumal is well-known for its beautiful white-sand beaches, warm water, expansive coral reefs, and marine life experiences.

This section of the Riviera Maya features one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, and the diving and marine experiences here are truly world-class. Personally, I took a tour of the reef and was absolutely in love with the coral, sea turtles, and stingrays.

How to get from Tulum to Akumal:

🚌 Tour – This Tulum Ruins and Akumal Bay tour will take you from the famous Mayan city to swimming with sea turtles in one adventure-packed day.

🚎 Colectivo – For budget travelers, there is an Akumal colectivo that regularly runs from Tulum. Just make sure to alert the driver when you want to get off.

🚗 Drive – Driving to Akumal makes for an easy, hassle-free road trip.

👉 Pro Tip: If you’ll be doing adventure activities like swimming with sea turtles, then I highly recommend getting some Mexico travel insurance protection. You never know when it could come in handy!

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

🌿 Seaweed Rating: Seaweed Possible

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 10 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Sian Ka’an Biosphere Website | 👉 Sian Ka’an Adventure Tour

11 kilometers down the road from Laguna Kann Luum is the Sian Ka’an Reserve. The reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a 1.3 million-acre natural reserve home to thousands of species of plants and animals. 

The reserve features lagoons, marshes, Mayan-made canals, and opportunities to see turtles, dolphins, and all kinds of fish. There are plenty of guided tours of the reserve, though you can easily visit independently and plan your own itinerary. Tubing through the canals, kayaking, and swimming are all great activities here.

How to get from Tulum to the Sian Ka’an Reserve:

🚌 Tour – Unless you have a hardy 4WD vehicle, you’re best bet is to visit as part of a guided tour from Tulum. You can browse the most popular Sian Ka’an tours on Viator or Get Your Guide. There’s a lot to choose from!

Muyil Ruins (Chunyaxché)

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 20 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Sian Ka’an and Muyil Archaeological Site Tour from Tulum

Connected to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, the Muyil (pronounced Moo-yil) Ruins feature structures from one of the first settlements in pre-hispanic Quintana Roo. Though even older than Chichen Itza and Tulum, the site is way less visited by tourists than the others. You’ll have a peaceful time walking the trails to the ruins.

At the Muyil Ruins, you’ll find a main pyramid, Mayan Canals, a lagoon, a raised boardwalk, and several other structures.

Due to the proximity, I recommend tacking on a trip to the Muyil Ruins as part of your Sian Ka’an Biosphere day trip.

How to get from Tulum to the Muyil Ruins:

🚗 Drive – Just 20 minutes down highway 307, driving to the Muyil Ruins from Tulum Town is an easy journey. Grab your rental through Discover Cars for peace of mind before you go!

🚌 Tour – This Sian Ka’an and Muyil Archaeological Site Tour from Tulum is a great way to see both the Muyil Archaeological Site and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere in one action-packed day.

Valladolid

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 1.5 hours | 📍 Google Maps

An inland city filled with incredible food, culture, and natural sites, taking a day trip from Tulum to Valladolid is perfect if you want to get a taste of local Yucatan life. While here, pay a visit to the Convent de San Bernardino, check out the Catedral de San Servacio, people-watch in Plaza Central, sample traditional Mayan food at one of the many fun restaurants in town, and go shopping at Mercado Municipal. 

Another main feature of the town of Valladolid is the incredible cenotes nearby. Cenote Zaci is located right in the center of Valladolid and Cenote Dzitnup (Xkeken) has a great vibe. However, Cenote Suytun (with its circular platform and ray of light) is probably the cenote that you’ve seen splashed all over the internet.

In my opinion, any one of these three cenotes makes for a great stop.

How to get from Tulum to Valladolid:

🚌 Tour – There are many Valladolid tours that take in the town, Chichen Itza, and often a cenote.

🚍 Bus – Taking the ADO bus is made easy when you purchase your tickets in advance via BusBud. There are multiple routes every day, and the buses are clean and trustworthy.

🚗 Drive – Taking yourself on a road trip in the Yucatan makes for a fun and interesting drive. For the best car rental deals, book through Discover Cars.

🛏️ Staying Overnight? Check out our guide to the best boutique hotels in Valladolid!

Chichen Itza

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 2 hours | 📍 Google Maps | Chichen Itza Website | 👉 Chichen Itza & Cenote Private Tour

Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the new wonders of the world. These Mayan Ruins were once a large city and religious center and are great for history buffs.

Established in the 5th century BC, the site is most famous for its main pyramid, El Castillo (The Temple of the Kukulcan), The Temple of the Warriors, and the Temple of the Skulls.

A great day trip from Tulum on its own, visiting the site can also be done tacked onto a trip to Valladolid, as the two destinations are only a 45-minute drive apart. While here, paying a visit to Cenote Ik Kil is also a must — it’s a beautiful natural oasis and holds Maya significance.

How to get from Tulum to Chichen Itza:

🚌 Tour – I wrote up a whole separate post on the best Chichen Itza Tours from Tulum!

🚗 Drive – After booking your rental through Discover Cars, you’ll want to take the CROO 109 highway to Chichen Itza.

Bacalar

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 2.5 hours | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Bacalar sailing tour from Tulum

A town in the very south of Quintana Roo, Bacalar is often described as what Tulum was before development and influencers took over. An oasis with cute lodges, a laid-back atmosphere, and homey restaurants, Bacalar is awesome if you want to truly relax.

Plus, the area is home to one of the most beautiful lakes in the Yucatan, Lake Bacalar. A narrow lake known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors, Lake Bacalar is famous for its turquoise and blue tones and is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba diving.

How to get from Tulum to Bacalar:

🚌 Tour – There is a great full-day Bacalar sailing tour from Tulum that includes lunch, entry fees, and hotel pickup and dropoff.

🚍 Bus – There is a direct ADO Bus that will take you from Tulum to Bacalar. Buy tickets through Bus Bud.

Cenotes

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 8 – 35 minutes | 📍 Google Maps

I’ve mentioned cenotes a few times in this article, but did you know the Yucatan Peninsula has over 6000 of them? It’s true, and for that, they make for some of the most diverse day trips! Limestone sinkholes, cenotes in Mexico were formed by the breakdown of the freshwater-filled cave system that runs throughout the peninsula. 

There are three types of cenotes — open (which are natural, open-roofed pools), cave (covered with a land entrance), and underground (completely covered that can be reached by scuba divers). 

For us humans, they are natural oases that are perfect for swimming, scuba diving, spelunking, and snorkeling. Here are a few of the best cenote day trips you can do from Tulum:

• Gran Cenote – At 140 square meters, Gran Cenote features a large cave, a cavern, and well-developed facilities. You can expect bathrooms, change rooms, equipment rentals, and lockers. Tulum to Gran Cenote is 5 km (3 miles); an 8-minute drive.

• Cenote Dos Ojos – One of the most famously beautiful cenotes in Mexico, Cenote Dos Ojos (Two Eyes Cenote) is great for diving and has snacks and bathrooms on site. Tulum to Cenote Dos Ojos is 22 km (13.5 miles); a 28-minute drive.

• Jardin del Eden – The least-visited cenote on this list, Jardin del Eden is great if you want a more relaxed, quiet cenote experience. An open cenote with clear, refreshing water, Jardin del Eden offers diving, snorkeling, swimming, and cliff jumping. Tulum to Jardin del Eden is 40km (25 miles); a 35-minute drive.

📚 Related Reading: 33 Things to Do in Mexico (+What Not to Do)

Rio Secreto Cave Tour

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 45 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Rio Secreto Website | 👉Tulum Ruins and Rio Secreto

Can’t get enough of the Mexican cave systems? Then take a Rio Secreto cave tour!

One of the best Tulum excursions to get underground and see the cave systems, taking a Rio Secreto tour (which translates to Secret River) will have you squeezing along rock walls, exploring secret passageways, wading through water, and learning all about how the indigenous people of the area used the caves.

Note that Rio Secreto requires you to buy a ticket for access.

How to get from Tulum to Rio Secreto:

🚌 Tour – This private tour includes stops at both the Tulum Ruins and Rio Secreto, lasts roughly 5 hours, and includes lunch, equipment, and transportation.

🚍 Bus – The Mexican bus company Autobuses Mayab has a bus that goes between Tulum and Rio Secreto / Xcaret Park (see below) multiple times a day.

🚗 Drive – Driving is easy between Tulum and Rio Secreto. There is ample parking available.

Xcaret Park

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 45 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Xcaret Website | 👉 View Prices for Xcaret Theme Park Tickets Here.

Part theme park and part resort, Xcaret Park is located right next door to Rio Secreto and is a developed area along the coast.

A day trip great for both families and adventurers, Xcaret features a Butterfly Pavilion, performances, a Coral Reef Aquarium, international restaurants, ruins, and a river that is great for floating along on hot days. 

How to get from Tulum to Xcaret Park:

🚗 Drive – There is plenty of free parking at Xcaret Park (rent through Discover Cars).

Isla Mujeres

🌿 Seaweed Rating: Seaweed unlikely

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 2 hours 45 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Isla Mujeres All-Inclusive Snorkel Trip

Though not the closest destination to Tulum, Isla Mujeres is an idyllic island off the coast of Cancun. Also, for a few reasons, Isla Mujeres is one of the best places to avoid sargassum seaweed.

With a name that translates to “Island of Women”, some of the best things to do on Isla Mujeres include swimming with whale sharks (between May and September), hanging out on Playa Norte, renting a golf cart, exploring downtown, and snorkeling or diving the underwater museum.

How to get to Isla Mujeres from Tulum:

🚗 Drive & Ferry – Because Isla Mujeres is almost three hours from Tulum, I don’t recommend taking the bus. Instead, rent a car through Discover Cars, drive to Cancun, and catch the ferry to Isla Mujeres from there. The ferry runs every half hour and is an easy journey.

🚌 Tour – If you don’t feel like driving to Cancun, then there are Isla Mujeres tours you can take. This All-Inclusive Isla Mujeres Snorkel Trip leaves from Playa del Carmen and is highly-rated.

📚 Related Reading: 22 Mexico Travel Tips to Know BEFORE Travel

Mahahual

🌿 Seaweed Rating: Seaweed probable

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 2 hours 30 minutes | 📍 Google Maps

What was once a quiet fishing village (although I’m pretty sure you can say that for everywhere in Quintana Roo), Mahahual has boomed in recent years as an idyllic hotspot. Here, lazy beach days, snorkeling, and scuba diving reign supreme. The town has some amazing restaurants, gorgeous beaches (they have a pretty steady sargassum clean-up crew), and a lovely pedestrian boardwalk.

Mahahual can be pretty busy on days when cruise ships dock here, so I recommend checking out the schedule and planning your visit around that.

How to get to Mahahual from Tulum:

🚗 Drive: Renting a car through Discover Cars and driving to Mahahual is the easiest, quickest, way to make the journey.

👉 Read Next: How Safe is Tulum Mexico?

Xplor Park

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 45 minutes via car | 📍 Google Maps

Feel like letting your adventure flag fly? Then head over to Xplor Park, a jungle adventure park just 45 minutes from Tulum.

This park is noted for its incredible zip lines, but you can also rip through the jungle in amphibious vehicles, go caving, go paddling on a raft, go on their 5-in-1 water slide called Toboganxote, and swim in the wave pool.

It’s awesome to experience the jungle from a more active vantage point.

How to get from Tulum to Xplor: 

🚗 Drive – The easiest way to get from Tulum to Xplor is to do the 45-minute drive. 

🚎 Bus – If you don’t have a car, then you can take the ADO bus from Tulum to Xplor. This route takes about 2 hours.

Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No Seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 3 hours, 10 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos Tour from Tulum

In doing research about the Yucatan Peninsula, you may have come across some photos of bright pink lakes. Well, those lakes are called Las Coloradas near the town of Rio Lagartos and they’re totally worth a visit. 

The lakes are actually man-made salt lakes, and it is a type of algae that gives the saltwater its famous bright pink color. You can learn all about them at the visitor’s center. 

And, as if it all wasn’t pink enough, you can also see flamingos just ten minutes away from the pink salt lakes (from roughly April through October, that is). Note that you do have to pay for a guide to see the flamingos.

But there’s more in Rio Lagartos than just pink lakes and flamingos! The town is located in a lagoon of the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. While here, you can take boat tours through mangroves to spot birds and crocodiles.

At over 3 hours of travel time, Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas are a wee bit far from Tulum for a day trip, but it can be done if you leave early in the morning. 

How to get from Tulum to Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos: 

🚗 Drive – Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos is a little over a 3-hour drive from Tulum.

🚌 Tour – Because these sites are so far away from Tulum, the easiest way to see them is by taking a guided tour. This full-day tour to Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas from Tulum is highly rated and includes lunch.

Puerto Morelos

🌿 Seaweed Rating: Seaweed Possible

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 1 hour and 20 minutes drive | 📍 Google Maps

A small port town between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos is a less-touristy answer to these hotspots. The town is a beautiful and legitimate slice of paradise on the coast.

Despite development, the town has been able to keep some of its fishing village character that put it on the map. While here, head out to the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park to go scuba diving and visit the local Las Mojarras and Verde Lucero Cenotes.

Or, head to the beach to grab a drink and catch the sunset. The town also has a ton of boutique hotels if you feel like staying overnight. 

How to get from Tulum to Puerto Morelos: 

🚗 Drive – The easiest way to get there from Tulum is to drive. Puerto Morelos is 1 hour and 20 minutes away.

🚎 Bus – The bus from Tulum to Puerto Morelos takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Ek’ Balam

🌿 Seaweed Rating: No seaweed Involved

🗺️ Distance from Tulum: 2 hours | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Guided tour to Ek Balam + Cenote

With a name that translates to “the black jaguar,” Ek Balam is a Yucatec Maya archaeological site just north of Valladolid. El Balam was constructed as early as 100 B.C. and was at its peak from 700-1000 A.D. However, it wasn’t fully mapped by archaeologists until the 1980s. 

Ek Balam is just an hour from Chichen Itza but gets way fewer tourists. So, if you want to see an ancient archeological site but without the crowds, Ek Balam is the place to do it.

How to get from Tulum to Ek Balam:

🚗 Drive – Ek Balam is about a 2-hour drive from Tulum

🚌 Tour – This guided tour to Ek Balam includes lunch and a cenote stop and will pick you up from your hotel in Tulum.

***

I hope you enjoyed my list of day trips! For more Quintana Roo travel inspiration, check out these 15 Best Day Trips from Playa del Carmen. Have fun exploring Tulum and beyond!