Cancun vs.Tulum Overview
Cancun, Mexico One of the most popular resort destinations in the world, Cancun (officially Municipality of Benito Juarez) is situated on the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun has become a major tourist destination because of its white-sand beaches lined with hotels and resorts hosting thousands of guests every year.
Tulum is a Mayan city located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. It lies south of Cancun and north of Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya region. Its beaches are popular with tourists for their clear waters. Tulum is also the closest major settlement to the pre-Columbian ruins of Coba, which are located just south of town.
Tulum vs Cancun Beaches
Tulum: The most well-known beach in Tulum is at the tip of Tulum Pueblo (also called downtown), and it’s an incredible place to swim, snorkel, kayak and even sail. It’s surrounded by two resorts: the all-inclusive Gran Caribe Real and the eco-friendly Tulum Jungle Resort. The water in this area is calm year-round and not subject to tidal changes, but you will need to get out past the barrier reef into the ocean proper for the best, most comfortable swim. If you want to do some snorkeling in the area closer to shore, head south down the beach toward Kantenah for a bit more seclusion and much better visibility.
One of the smaller beaches on Tulum’s coastline is located between Kantenah and El Sacrificio (a couple of miles south of downtown). It’s a calm, shallow bay that boasts much better snorkeling than most beaches in the area.
This is a great beach to swim and snorkel on your own in an otherwise bustling destination. If you want to be within walking distance of some of Tulum’s best hotels, check out Playa Norte. It’s the white-sand beach that lines most of Tulum Pueblo, and it stretches from Boca Paila south to Sian Ka’an. This is one of the best beaches close to town: huge, beautiful and accessible (although there are no palapas).
Snorkeling at Holca Beach near Kantenah. The visibility is fantastic, but a swimmer could get trapped in the past without paying attention to the flow of ocean currents. Great for snorkeling; not so great for swimming.
Cancun: Cancun’s most popular beach is Las Olas Blvd., which runs parallel to about 1 mile of beach between Punta Cancun and Isla Mujeres. Also popular is the hotel strip along the northern edge of Hotel Zone, which runs from about Punta Cancun south to the Gran Caribbean ferry dock.
While you can find less-crowded beaches on the outskirts of Hotel Zone, Las Olas Blvd. remains a good bet for excellent swimming, snorkeling, and diving. The northern end of the beach is lined with palapas for your comfort (which you’ll need if you want to spend time in the sun) and costumed watercraft vendors to entertain your kids. Plenty of people swim at Las Olas Blvd., but if you walk north toward Punta Cancun, it tends to be a much calmer area than the southern end targeted by tourists.
Ostional Beach and Xcacel Reef near Akumal
Akumal: Ostional Beach – A great place for scuba diving, this beach can get pretty windy so wait for calm days before going. Snorkelers will also enjoy seeing marine life that cannot resist the area’s calm waters. Xcaret Park – 3 km² of lagoons, beaches, and mangrove swamps near the Riviera Maya. Xel-Ha Park – The most visited tourist attraction in the Riviera Maya, this water park features a large freshwater lagoon that is connected to the sea by a natural canal full of marine life.
El Bolson: is known for its incredible snorkeling, so if you’re looking to get wet without jumping off the side of a boat (which happens on many tours around here) head for one of these two beaches. Both offer excellent snorkeling conditions year-round with little or no waves depending on the season.
Playa San Gerardo: Probably the most famous beach in all of Chiclayo. You will find fine, white sand and clean water here. Good sunsets and good swimming are a sure bet every day of the year. It has gentle rolling waves ideal for boogie boarding. The only downside is that you can find truckloads of people having fun on this beach with you, so it might not be considered private even though technically it is.
Cancun Food vs Tulum Food
Cancun: Cancun is a beach town. And even if you’re visiting for business or pleasure, most everybody ends up on the beach at some point during their trip. So ordering food there comes pretty naturally for us Yanks who are used to laying out in the sun with snacks and drinks.
Cancun’s cuisine does not disappoint! Save your appetite for dinner so that you can take advantage of the many restaurants right off Cancun’s main drag (Avenida Kukulcan). There are also plenty of hotels with room service, which becomes almost necessary after a long day at one of Cancun’s world-famous resorts.
Tulum: has a plethora of great restaurants! In fact, Tulum was ranked #3 by Lonely Planet as having the best food in Mexico. Most of the restaurants are small and on the beach and they are all local places. They offer a wide range of authentic Mexican dishes, with seafood being the standouts. There is everything from low-key casual to upscale fine dining.
You can find plenty of wonderful fresh seafood in Cancun as well if that is your thing, but I prefer the Tulum restaurants! The area between Cancun and Tulum had some excellent restaurants as well; however, many of them are now closed because the tour buses stopped going there. (Tourism has dropped off quite a bit since the hurricanes last year.)
The majority of people that come to IslaMar seem to be using it as a home base for excursions into Tulum and the surrounding areas. If you are looking for more of a “honeymoon” or “romantic getaway”, I would recommend checking out Tulum!
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN TULUM VS CANCUN?
It depends on what you want to do. If it’s just relaxing and hanging out on the beach that is a 1-day thing, but if you want to go snorkeling or do some of the activities I mentioned above in Tulum, then 2-4 days would be best. In this area, there isn’t anything like “nightlife”, so you have to go into town for that. We love being here and hanging out at the beach in the afternoons, then going into Tulum for different activities during the day and night!
HOW MANY DAYS To Spend In TULUM?
I would recommend three to four days if you want to go snorkeling, do some of the activities I mentioned above in Tulum, or visit the nearby cenotes. This area doesn’t have much nightlife so it’s best to head into town for that. We love being here and hanging out at the beach in the afternoons, then going into Tulum for different activities during the day and night!
HOW MANY DAYS To Spend In Cancun?
If you are trying to decide between Cancun and Tulum, I think it’s a toss-up. They each have their own charm; so really it just depends on your preference! If you like clubbing, drinking, and tons of people around then go to Cancun.
If you are like me, then I would recommend a week or more. It’s a big town and there is plenty to see and do. Check out some of my suggestions above about what to do in Cancun on your trip!
