17 Stunning Tulum Instagram Spots (2023)

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If you’re going to Tulum, you’ll want to check out these 17 Instagram spots to make all your follower jealous. That is the point of social media after all, isn’t it?

Quick Rundown On Tulum

Tulum is about an hour and a half south of Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula and has been the hottest destination in Mexico for the last few years.

It’s known for its nightlife, beach clubs, and beautiful beaches. Tulum isn’t a perfect town, as it’s still growing. There will be things there that might annoy you or cause you to think twice about it.

One thing is for sure though, around every corner is a photo opportunity. That’s right, Tulum has more Instagram spots than anywhere else I’ve been.

Here, we’ve chosen 17 of our favorites that are easy to find and worth visiting. These Instagram spots will have your followers double-clicking and filling up the comments with heart-eyes, star-eyes, and fire emojis.

17 Tulum Instagram Spots

1. Ven a la Luz

Ven a la Luz is a 30-foot sculpture by artist Daniel Popper. It’s a signature Instagram spot in Tulum and one of the most recognizable landmarks.

“Ven a la Luz” translates to “come to the light.” Popper says, “The portal symbolizes our deep connection with Nature and ourselves.”

The sculpture originally was a portal from Tulum beach into the Ahau Tulum resort. Now it sits in a sculpture garden just outside the resort. When I visited, there was an entrance fee of 60 pesos ($3 USD). I suspect this will go up as more sculptures are added to the garden.

At night, the sculpture contains lights, the brightest of which shines from the open chest of the sculpture. To me, that adds significance to the meaning of the sculpture, its name, and its original placement.

2. Tulum Ruins

The Mayan ruins in Tulum are some of the most picturesque in existence. They sit along the shores of Tulum beach. Some of the structures offer views of the ocean from the cliffs overlooking it.

This ruin site had rare access to land and sea trade routes, which made it an important hub. These days, it’s an attraction that provides some of the best views in Tulum.

Getting Mayan ruin structures in the same frame as Tulum’s beautiful beaches will drive your Instagram followers crazy!

3. Follow That Dream Sign

This was my favorite Instagram spot in Tulum, mainly because nobody was around. It’s still low-key, compared to a lot of the others. That scores big points in my book!

This spot is marked on Google Maps now, but phone service in Tulum is notoriously terrible.

The sign is located across the street from Sueños Tulum and right next to Lolita Lolita, a small boutique clothing store. This is a free photo spot and fits nicely if you’re trying to see Tulum on a budget.

4. La Playa Selva

One of the best things about Tulum is how it has integrated with the nature around it. The town, the hotels, and the clubs have managed not to dominate and take over the beach or the jungle behind it.

Rather, the buildings and the town have merged beautifully together. This is showcased at Playa Selva. It’s a resort with private bungalows and beach access. It’s billed as a private beach, but if you’re walking along the shore, you’ll pass by/through it.

This resort wonderfully combines Tulum’s two greatest features, the beach, and the jungle. Snap a few photos when you walk by. It’s a lovely sight.

5. Te Quiero Tulum Sign

This is the first of our Tulum Instagram spots that is not located at the beach. Rather, it is located in town. Do not discount the town of Tulum. While most of the attractions are at or near the beach, the town of Tulum contains many hidden gems.

You’ll find this sign along the road that leads to the beach, near the Funky Burrito Town restaurant.

Of course, “te quiero Tulum” translates to, “I love you Tulum.” Take a picture here to proclaim your love for Tulum to your followers!

6. Sfer Ik

Located along the road between Tulum Pueblo and Tulum Beach lies Sfer Ik. I walked past its entrance twice without knowing at first. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t make that mistake.

It’s billed as a museum, but I see it as more. Museum dulls down the visual stunningness that lies inside Sfer Ik. The building is sphere-like and combines concrete, wood, and vines in ways I’ve never seen and couldn’t possibly have imagined.

When you enter, you’ll pay $10, take off your shoes, and leave behind any equipment you might be carrying. The quiet inside will be a welcome break from the busy street outside.

The exhibitions that lie within display the works of visual artists that are defining “art” in new and creative ways. The way the structure interacts with the natural light and landscape will impress you, and likely leave you wondering how to even describe what you saw.

Take the time to appreciate the quiet and the details of this unique Tulum Instagram spot.

7. Beach Please Sign

This sign is another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it photo opportunity. You’ll find it on your walk along Tulum Beach, between Mulberry Project (which we’ll talk about in a moment) and Playa Selva.

Signs like this are Instagram spots that are everywhere in Tulum. This one in particular is one that not everyone will have. The Beach Please sign will make your Instagram feed even more unique.

8. The Mulberry Project

The Mulberry Project is a great bar on Tulum Beach where bartenders tailor cocktails to your individual preferences. It’s a unique experience and a great spot for photos.

Spending an afternoon here will give you that beach buzz we all love so much, and send you home with some beautiful photos to share with your Instagram crowd.

9. Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Dos Ojos is one of the most popular in and around Tulum. It’s a bit pricey and can get crowded. But, it’s that way for a reason. It’s beautiful.

I’m begrudgingly including it on this list due to its beauty. Usually I don’t like crowded sites and attractions, but sometimes that’s hard to avoid. This is one of those times. It’s worth checking out.

10. Cenote Corazon del Paraiso

This cenote is far less crowded, which makes it more attractive to me, and a lot of other people (I hope). The water is a deep blue that really shines because it’s an open air cenote.

The aerial view of this cenote is incredible. If you’re into drone photography, you’ll want to find a way to get your drone up above this cenote. Usually drones are frowned upon or even prohibited. But sometimes there are workarounds. That’s all I’ll say about that (good luck).

11. Cenote Suytun

Cenote Suytun is the last cenote I’ll mention. Cut me some slack on this one, as it’s a ways from Tulum. It’s the farthest away on our list actually. But if you’re an Instagram photo enthusiast, you’ll want to at least hear about this place.

If you’re really into photography, you’ll be able to get a great picture here. It’s a cave cenote with a small opening in the roof where the sun shines in and lights up a platform that walks out into the water.

From inside, the views are not what I would call amazing. But, with camera tricks and effects, the results can be stunning!

12. Here Is The Dream Sign

I mentioned earlier that the Follow That Dream sign is pretty low-key (and free). The even lower key is the Here Is The Dream Sign. This may be an attempt to replicate or even rip off the other sign, but it’s still another cool spot to grab a photo.

If you post it after the Follow That Dream, you’ll be giving double meaning to “Instagram Stories.”

It’s located on the north end of the beach road, just outside Santo Mercado Tulum. This restaurant is a great place to eat, and a bonus Instagram spot, as the entrance provides an excellent background.

13. Mayan Monkey Bar Swings

If you’re into the hostel scene like I am, Mayan Monkey is a great place to stay. It’s a big hostel with a great party scene and a very photogenic rooftop bar and pool area.

The bar is lined with swings hung with rope. It’s similar to the swings down by the beach that you might have heard of. But this scene is far easier to get a picture with. The swings down by the beach have people crowded around trying to get pictures.

If you decide to stay at Mayan Monkey (and I recommend that you do), there is a bonus Instagram spot inside the hostel where only guests are allowed. Their atrium and common area will give you some good pictures too.

14. Bio-Natural Tulum Cafe

For all the health-conscious visitors to Tulum, you’ll want to stop by Bio-Natural Cafe. They’ve got a great organic menu and a store offering organic snacks and even an ice cream bar!

I recommend going in the evening after sunset. After you get your ice cream and snacks, have a seat on the patio for some great ambiance and a great scene to post to your Stories.

15. Coba Ruins

I hope you’ll cut me some slack on this one, as it’s about an hour away from Tulum on the way toward Chichen Itza. There are two reasons I couldn’t leave it out though. One, I love ruins! Two, it really is a beautiful place with some great opportunities to take pictures.

It sits deep in the jungle and isn’t as heavily restored and excavated as larger sites like Chichen Itza, so it’s really cool to see the structures in a more natural environment.

16. Mia Restaurant & Beach Club

If you’re in Tulum, you’ll likely spend at least one of your days lounging by the beach. Mia Restaurant and Beach Club is a great place to do this. It might not be as famous as Taboo or Papaya Playa Project, but it has something neither of those has: peace and quiet.

While there are some loud and fun beach clubs, I know some people (like myself) enjoy a peaceful day by the beach. You’ll find that at Mia Restaurant and Beach Club connected to Selina Tulum.

The cabanas and day beds provide a great view of the ocean and are a comfortable and photogenic (of course!) place to spend your afternoon.

17. Playa Paraiso

Just south of the Tulum Ruins, you’ll find Playa Paraiso, or “Paradise Beach” in English. This beach isn’t quite as clean and nice as the beaches further down the coastline.

The one big positive about Playa Paraiso though? Fewer people. There aren’t as many people on this beach, which makes it a more attractive destination for some.

Also, on the shores of Paradise Beach, you’ll find the famous crooked palm tree you might have seen, one of Tulum’s more recognizable Instagram scenes.

Map of Tulum Instagram Spots

Tulum FAQs

Tulum or Cancun?

As hot of a spot as Tulum is, many people are still choosing Cancun over it. Why? Well, in my opinion, it’s because they don’t know any better, so let’s take a look at some key factors that help people choose between Tulum and Cancun.

• Convenience – Cancun probably wins this one. Tulum is a 90-120 minute drive from the Cancun airport.
• Price – Most people go to Cancun for the all-inclusive, which can be a good deal, but still far more pricey than the Tulum budget options we’ve gone over here. Tulum for the win!
• Scenery – There are some pretty beaches in Cancun, but all the people and tourist traps ruin it for me. Tulum is newer, prettier, and still safely doable on a budget. Tulum FTW!
• People – Cancun is one of, if not the biggest tourist destinations in Mexico. While Tulum is climbing, and there are certainly tons of people, it’s different. Cancun is full of tourists. Tulum on the other hand is full of travelers, it’s different. I’ll take the travelers any day. Tulum FTW!

Bonus – The food is better in Tulum! The food and the whole experience in general are more authentic and less Americanized in Tulum.

Is Tulum Safe?

While almost nowhere can be considered completely safe, Tulum is generally considered to be a safe place to travel. The three states of the Yucatan Peninsula are some of the safest places in Mexico.

While you should still use common sense and stay close to the tourist areas, and not wander too far from the main roads, that’s true of any city in the U.S. as well.

I’d never recommend traveling to a city if I thought it would be dangerous for someone.

How Much Does Tulum Cost?

Staying in Tulum, especially if you want to spend time at the beach and enjoy the clubs and bars there, will cost more than most of the places I would typically go. This is due to its growing tourism popularity.

Tulum can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. The biggest costs though are hotels, beach clubs and restaurants, and transportation.

Mayan Monkey ran me around $13 a night, a fraction of what you’d pay for a normal hotel, especially by the beach. Taxi rides between the pueblo and the beach are pricey, running between $10 and $20, or more if it’s a peak hour.

If you stay at Mayan Monkey or find another suitable hostel, minimize your spending at the beachfront tourist traps, and minimize your taxi usage by renting a bicycle or walking, you can get away with a much smaller expense sheet.

It will likely cost more than going to Bacalar or Merida, because some of that spending is hard to avoid. But, it’s absolutely worth the experience. It’s beautiful and fun, and the food is great!

Oh, and did we mention Tulum has tons of Instagram spots?

There are more exclusive and luxurious options in Tulum in the form of private tours if that’s your jam.

How Much Cash Do I Need For Tulum?

The nice thing about traveling now is how much of it is taken care of online. Flights and lodging will both be taken care of online. In our packing list for Tulum, we suggest not bringing large amounts of cash with you.

When you get there though, you’ll want some cash. Tours, taxis, and everything that happens on the fly will be better purchased with cash. Even more accurately, better purchased with pesos.

Exchanging dollars for pesos comes with some unnecessary costs. So does using the ATM to get cash, if you don’t have the right kind of account.

Here’s your pro tip: open a checking account that does not charge foreign transaction fees and reimburses all ATM fees, like the one Charles Schwab offers. There are no monthly fees and no account minimums.

This account is a great way to keep track of travel expenses. I treat mine as my travel account, putting some in whenever I can and using only that money when I travel.

Without the looming threat of ATM fees, it’s easier to take out 1,000 or 2,000 pesos ($50-$100) every once in a while. This is much more ideal than taking a chunk of dollars and exchanging them along the way. The exchange fees add up, and you shouldn’t have tons of cash on you (or back in your room).

Is There Uber in Tulum?

As of the time of this writing, there is no Uber in Tulum. Taxis still own the streets. They can get pricey too.

Here’s some advice on taxis in Tulum:

• Don’t get into a cab without agreeing on a price.
• Don’t accept the first price you hear. They do not expect you to pay that price, but they’ll take it if you agree. Haggle!
• Talk to the driver. If they’re nice, you can exchange numbers and they may give you a better price on future rides. They also have hookups for tours and other activities.

One of my drivers ended up squeezing me on a tour with some other people the next day and I got some extra activities that I didn’t pay for due to how it all worked out. I just wanted to go to Coba but I ended up riding ATVs in the jungle and seeing some cenotes too.

I paid way less than the other people in my group, but don’t tell them that!

Summing Up Tulum Instagram Spots

As you might be able to tell from this post, Tulum is one of, maybe the most Instagrammable places out there! Around every corner is a witty sign, a cool tree, a great ocean view, or a beautiful piece of art.

If you’re into taking cool pictures when you travel, Tulum and all of its Instagram spots will be a worth trip for you.

If you do visit, enjoy the beauty, bring your party shoes and your appetite.

Have fun out there!

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