Tulum is a vibrant beach town on the Riviera Maya, about two hours south of Cancún. White sandy beaches, the intensely blue water of the Carribbean and the backdrop of a lush green jungle make Tulum a stunning place to visit.
Besides the beautiful nature, the beach town offers uncountable amazing restaurants, cafés and hotels. Believe me when I say that you’ll never run out of new restaurants to try. Tulum is certainly the most instagrammable place I’ve ever been to. If you want to get a perfect shot for “the gram” you shouldn’t miss out on these Tulum Instagram spots.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links I will receive a small commission which helps me to maintain my site. This has no extra cost for you and you will make my day!
Table of Contents
Tulum Instagram Spots
Follow that dream sign
The “FOLLOW THAT DREAM” sign is one of the most iconic Tulum Instagram spots. It’s located in Tulum’s Zona Hotelera at Lolita & Lolita boutique. Across the road there’s the “Sueños Tulum Hotel” so the easiest way to find the sign is by putting the hotel into Google Maps.
I love Tulum so matcha
The swing with the “I love Tulum so Matcha” sign is certainly also one of the most photographed Tulum Instagram spots. You’ll find it in the café Matcha Mama where you can buy a fresh and nutritious smoothie bowl or a Matcha drink.
Ven a la luz - Ahau Tulum
The giant sculpture Ven a la Luz (Come to the Light) symbolises the deep connection of humans with nature and it should create awareness of the sensitive ecosystem of Tulum. It’s located at the entrance of the Ahau Hotel in the Zona Hotelera. To get there, just put Ahau Hotel in Google Maps.
There’s almost always a queue in front of it and everyone has a limited number of photos that he or she is allowed to take. As with all the other spots, I recommend getting there rather early in the morning.
Cenotes
A cenote is a natural hole in the ground that exposes ground water. The Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico is famous for these natural formations and is home to lots of different cenotes.
Almost all cenotes work great for an Instagram photo spot. Here are some of the most famous cenotes:
- Gran Cenote
- Cenote Calavera
- Cenote Dos Ojos
- Cenote Ik-Kil
- Cenote Suytun
- Cenote Choo-Ha
- Cenote Carwash
No matter which cenote you visit, try to be there as early in the morning as possible. Preferably right when they open. The famous cenotes can get super crowded during the day which takes away the beauty of this pristine natural wonder. Also, you can go swimming in the cenotes so for the photos it will definitely be better if the water isn’t full of people.
Gran Cenote
Gran Cenote is located very close to the center of Tulum and it’s one of the most famous cenotes. I got there a few minutes before they opened and some people were already queuing to get in. Try to be fast to get inside so that you can admire this beautiful place before the crowds arrive.
Cenote Dos Ojos
Dos Ojos is also one of the most famous cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula. The water looks incredibly beautiful but the cenote is usually quite crowded during the day. Also here I recommend visiting early in the morning.
Cenote Suytun
Cenote Suytun is especially magical. It’s located in the small town Valladolid about an hour from Tulum. There’s a hole in the ground above the cenote that lets the light shine through right onto the platform in the middle of the cenote.
This happens at noon when the sun is right above the hole. But be aware that the cenote will be packed with visitors at that time. When I visited Cenote Suytun I went there early in the morning when they opened and we were the only ones for about half an hour, allowing us to enjoy the beauty of the place and to take our photos without being disturbed by others.
Cenote Choo-Ha
Cenote Choo-Ha is located in Coba, about an hour by car from Tulum. There are 3 cenotes next to each other but cenote Choo-Ha is the only one worth visiting. Don’t waste your money on the other two.
When visiting Coba, I recommend exploring the ancient Mayan Ruins of Coba too.
Kaan Luum Lagoon
Kaan Luum Lagoon is a hidden gem in Tulum that not many tourists know about. It’s a circular lagoon surrounded by lush green nature and a deep cenote in the middle of the lagoon. The long pier makes a great Tulum Instagram spot.
Crooked Palm Tree Playa Paraíso
I absolutely love this Tulum Instagram spot. A crooked palm tree always looks great on photos. This one is located on Playa Paraíso. Just put “Hotel Paraíso” in Google Maps and the crooked palm tree is right in front of it. I went there for sunrise and then took some photos in the morning light. The advantage of going there in the morning is the fact that the beach will be empty and you won’t have any people on your photos.
Chichén Itza
Chichén Itza is a 2 hour drive from Tulum but it’s well worth the journey. The ancient Maya ruins are part of the 7 modern wonders of the world and are impressive architectural wonders. For the perfect shot you should arrive in the morning or even right before they close in the afternoon.
Raw Love
Raw Love is definitely one of the most instagrammable restaurants in Tulum. There’s one next to the beach in the Zona Hotelera and one in the town center of Tulum. For a more Instagram-worthy picture head to the one next to the beach.
I recommend trying one of their amazing smoothie bowls. They look too good and they’re delicious!
Where to stay in Tulum
Tulum has lots of accommodation options for luxury and budget travelers and everything in between. In general, Tulum is divided into the Zona Hotelera on the beach and the town center. Down by the beach, you’ll find mainly luxury hotels and apartments while in the town center there are more budget-friendly hostels and Airbnb’s.
I always enjoy staying in Airbnb’s as it’s often a more personal experience than staying in hotels. Check the map above to find your perfect Airbnb in Tulum.
Below you’ll find some hotel recommendations for each budget.
Luxury hotels Tulum
Azulik is one of the most famous hotels in the Zona Hotelera of Tulum. It’s an adults-only beach resort which consists of high-end tree houses that immerse with nature. If you stay at the Azulik hotel you’ll find many Tulum Instagram spots even within the property.
La Valise is Tulum’s best boutique hotel located directly on the beach in the Zona Hotelera. On one side you have stunning views of the Caribbean and on the other side you’re overlooking the jungle.
Mid-budget hotels Tulum
Hotel Central Station is located in the heart of the town center in Tulum. Everything in the city center is close by and you can easily reach everything by walk. To get to the beach you need to take a bike or a colectivo (shared van) though.
Diamante K is located right on Playa Paraiso with private beach access. This dreamy hotel is perfect for those who want the feeling of staying in a luxury hotel but for a lower budget.
Budget hotels Tulum
Mayan Monkey is a lovely hostel in the heart of Tulum. If you don’t mind being in a shared room, they offer amazing value for money. But you can also rent a private room.
Ruta del Sol is a lovely little hotel right next to the bus terminal in the center of Tulum.
Best restaurants in Tulum
It’s really hard to say which restaurants in Tulum are the best. I’ve been to Tulum for 3 weeks and I have never had bad food all this time. There’s a vast selection of amazing restaurants, both in the Zona Hotelera and downtown. Here are my personal top 5 restaurants in Tulum.
Raw Love
Raw Love serves the best smoothie bowls of Tulum. I mentioned the café also above among the best Tulum Instagram spots. Their food is not only instagramable but also super delicious!
Del Cielo
Del Cielo is the perfect breakfast and brunch spot. There you’ll get smoothie bowls, typical Mexican dishes and all types of eggs.
La Hoja Verde
This one is my all-time favorite restaurant in Tulum, I could go there everyday. They serve the best buddah bowls and their freshly made juices are amazing. Try the Falafel bowl – I’ve never had falafel as good as those (and I’ve even been to Israel!).
Burrito Amor
Okay, I keep repeating myself by saying everything is “the best” but Burrito Amore definitely serves the best burritos of Tulum.
Best time to visit Tulum
The best time to visit Tulum is between October and December. During this time it’s rather dry and the town is also not too crowded.
From Christmas on and through New Year until the end of January Tulum is packed with tourists. The two times that I was in Tulum was both in January and to be honest, I wouldn’t recommend going at that time of the year. Streets and beaches can be quite crowded and for me personally it was just too much.
How to get to Tulum
The best way to get to Tulum is by flying into Cancún International Airport. From there you can either rent a car, take a taxi or take an ADO bus to get to Tulum. The most economic option is the ADO bus that drops you off right in the center of Tulum.
Otherwise, you could also fly into the international airport of Cozumel island, but then you need to take a ferry and additional transport.
Getting around in Tulum
Tulum is quite small and within the city center you can get pretty much everywhere by walking. However, if you want to go to the beach and your accommodation is in the center you’ll need a bike or a car to get there. I recommend renting a bike as there’s a permanent traffic jam in the beach area of Tulum and with a bike you can sneak your way through.
There are lots of bike rental agencies all around Tulum and you’ll get a bike for about 5-10€ per day.
If you want to visit nearby places such as Chitchen Itza or Coba, I recommend renting a car.
Is Tulum safe?
Yes, Tulum is safe. I’ve been walking around town by myself after dark and I felt completely safe. Just behave responsibly and don’t try your luck. Don’t go too far off the main road after dark and use your common sense. If there are no streetlights and no other people, you might not want to be there. But as long as you stay in the touristy area you should be fine.
January 30, 2021 at 3:20 am
This is the guide I didn’t know I needed! I’ve always wanted to visit Tulum, and now I want to go to each instagram spot you’ve listed here!!
January 31, 2021 at 2:58 pm
Thank you Lisa! Can’t wait for you to go!
January 30, 2021 at 3:46 am
Ah I love Tulum and all of its cute spots there. I definitely want to get back at some point and see more of these great locations. The restaurants and cafés were everything! 🙂
January 31, 2021 at 2:58 pm
I totally agree! I never had bad food in Tulum
January 30, 2021 at 12:39 pm
Visiting Tulum is on my list! The hidden gems you’ve shared are awesome. I will definatelly use that ideas on my next trip 🙂
January 31, 2021 at 2:57 pm
Tulum is such a lovely town. You’ll love it for sure!
January 30, 2021 at 2:37 pm
I love knowing about photo spots before I travel to a new destination. So thank you for sharing all of these fantastic locations!
January 31, 2021 at 2:54 pm
You’re welcome Krista! 🙂
January 30, 2021 at 6:59 pm
Great guide, I’ve been to a few of these locations but not the restaurants. Bookmarking for the future!
January 31, 2021 at 2:54 pm
Awesome, I’m sure you’ll love the restaurants!
January 31, 2021 at 12:06 am
We’ve been to Mexico four times now (Cancun, Holbox, and Cozumel) and we still have not visited Tulum. Great guide for when we go back, thanks!
January 31, 2021 at 2:53 pm
Hope you get the chance to visit Tulum, it’s beautiful!
September 13, 2021 at 10:40 pm
How did you get to the cenotes? Did you rent a car?
September 28, 2021 at 7:03 pm
Yes I rented a car 🙂