People say there’s always something great to do in Tulum, and it’s true.
Whether you are into art, spirituality, or nature, or want to experience traditional Maya culture, every day you spend in Tulum and the surrounding area is definitely bound to be a fun, memory-filled experience.
We’ve come up with two day-long itineraries for you, to make the absolute best of your stay at Shibari Tulum. Part 1 is all in Tulum town, and Part 2 is for adventurous souls who want to explore the traditional Maya villages near Tulum.
Day Itinerary 1 and 2:
Whatever you choose to do, first you’ll wake up to the birdsong in your comfy suite in the lush jungle here at Shibari Tulum. Take a dip in the pure waters of our cenote, to start the morning completely refreshed. After a tasty breakfast at our cenote-side restaurant Atta, you’ll be ready to head out to your first destination:
DAY 1: In Tulum
Beach Morning: Playa Paraiso or Playa Pescadores
Both of these beaches have a friendly, chill local vibe. Relax to the sound of the waves, enjoy the wide blue vista, and stretch out in the velvety-soft sand under one of the many palm trees lining the beach.
Rent bikes to ride to the beach or talk to our staff to help you arrange beach transportation.
After a few hours at the beach, you’ve probably worked up an appetite, so head into town to grab some ceviche:
El Capitán (two locations)
This ceviche restaurant is a Tulum classic, and it’s easy to see why: fresh ingredients, friendly service, and delicious flavors check all the boxes for a great post-beach lunch.
And don’t forget the dessert:
Panna e Cioccolato Gelato
Another long-time Tulum fave, this downtown gelato spot has 50+ different creative flavors like elote (corn on the cob) and chocolate with chile. Yummm…
Now that your hunger’s been sated, time to shop:
Shopping in Town:
Walk or bike on either the beach road or the main road of the town (Carretera Tulum-Punta Allen), and as you amble around, you’ll come across tons of cool shops. Plenty carry one-of-a-kind pieces, handmade here in the area. A few to check out: Caló’s silky, billowy dresses; Josa Tulum’s comfy-chic beachwear; Spiritum’s organic cotton wear, and Kaahal Home, for Mexican-folklore-inspired home goods.
Don’t forget to stop into Shibari Tulum’s boutiques too! Our Shibari Boutique offers gorgeous eco-chic fashion and accessories. Or fall in love with exquisite indigenous-inspired jewelry and art at our Tuuch Boutique.
You’re probably in need of a break by now wherever you’ve ended up, so head to Shibari Tulum’s cenote club and refresh your energy in our cool, clear waters. Lounge on our cenote deck awhile, or grab a chaya juice at our Naj Café. You’ve got to charge up for the night!
Later, treat your senses to a delicious, intimate dinner at our restaurant Atta. Then hang at our Sayab Lounge Bar, a jacuzzi club with artisanal cocktails, surrounded by nature.
If you still have energy to burn, head back into town—nightlife in Tulum is always jumping! See the plate smashing ritual and fire show at Ilios restaurant around 10 pm. Catch live music and artisanal mojitos served out of a VW bug at the boho-cool Batey Mojito and Guarapo Bar. And if it’s a Saturday near a full moon, Papaya Playa Project has a party you shouldn’t miss.
Have fun, but…don’t stay up toooo late! Tomorrow you’ll want to embark on Part 2 of our itinerary!
DAY 2: Villages, Ruins, and Sacred Waters
While Tulum town has so much to offer, if you want to truly immerse yourself in Maya culture, there’s no better way than to head to the surrounding villages.
Here, you’ll find lots of traditional palapa houses, freshly-made local cuisine with superfood ingredients like chaya and cacao, and ancestral traditions still going strong. First stop:
SFER IK Uh May Art Center
You’ll need to head a little past Tulum’s limits to visit this art center with architecture straight out of an Avatar movie. It’s actually in Francisco Uh May, a village about a 20-30 minute drive away.
But trust us, you’ll be glad you did. The gallery takes the Tulum eco-chic building style to a completely new level! You’ll walk over undulating woven reed floors through rooms that make cement and plant life seem completely harmonious together.
And of course, there’s art! If you visit in Summer 2023, you can see the piece “Mama,” a sculpture created to house the melipona stingless bees endemic to our region (check the website for details on current exhibitions.)
Sfer Ik Uh May is open 10 am to 6 pm daily.
At: Grulla 23, Francisco Uh May
Cost: 200-400 pesos (discounts for students and seniors)
Our staff is always happy to help you arrange transportation.
Your second stop:
Coba Archeological Site
This ancient Maya city is huge—about 30 square miles! But luckily, you can rent a bicycle or hire a tricycle taxi to explore its many “sac-bes”: ancient Maya paths that connect each building. Hire a tour guide to help you imagine what life was like here a thousand years ago. See the huge Nohoch Mul pyramid and check out one of the Maya world’s best preserved ball courts.
Coba has a lot more shade compared to Chichen Itza and Zamá, which definitely helps with the heat, but you’ll still be happy to jump into one of the refreshing cenotes close to Coba after all that sightseeing:
Cenotes Choo-Ha, Tamcach-Ha and Multum-Ha
These cenotes offer a very different experience from our tranquil open-air cenote at Shibari Tulum. Instead, they are cave cenotes, and almost completely covered over by rock, with just a little daylight peeking in. You’ll feel like you’re swimming embraced by Mother Earth, which can be a powerful experience. Not to mention the water stays super fresh and cold!
Quick Maya lesson: Can you guess what “ha” means in Maya? Hint, it’s in the names of tons of cenotes. Yup, that’s right, “ha” means water.
Coba’s Archeological Zone is open from 8 am to 6 pm, and entrance is $90 pesos.
The three cenotes can be reached from the ruins by bike rental in less than 15 minutes, and cost about $100 pesos each to enter. Open from 9 am to 5 pm. Life vest rental available.
End up with a visit to the village of Coba. You can pick up some delicious late lunch at:
La Casa de los Gorditos
Try the scrumptious cochinita pibil, a pork dish cooked in a fire pit that’s so traditional and popular it could basically be on the flag if the Yucatan peninsula ever became its own country. Vegetarians can enjoy the sisil-pak, a Maya pumpkin-seed and tomato dip, plus fresh handmade tortillas. Yumm…this is what eating locally is all about.
Calle 10, in Coba. Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Prices approx. 100-200 pesos per person for a generous meal.
After a full day experiencing art, history, and cenotes, come back to Shibari Tulum for a relaxing evening yoga class or a luxurious massage at our Spa Kan, and a fusion-cuisine dinner at Atta, that’s art in its own right!
Seriously, can a better day exist? Now you can lie back on a balinese bed, stare up at the stars, listen to the forest’s night sounds, and just be grateful for a day packed with beautiful experiences you’ll probably remember forever. Life at Shibari Tulum…it’s truly beautiful.