20 most iconic Instagram spots in Tulum, Mexico
Come with me to explore the most iconic Instagram spots in Tulum, Mexico! Be it ancient Mayan ruins, palm-lined beaches, gorgeous cenotes, or photo-perfect cafes, Tulum has an abundance of photo-worthy places.
We spent four weeks in Tulum exploring everything in the city and all the famous bucket list destinations around it so I can safely say that there is something for everyone in Tulum!
In this post, you will find the best Instagram spots in Tulum with descriptions, photos, and locations on the map. No other city in the Yucatan Peninsula can compete with Tulum when it comes to eye-pleasing sights and places! Happy travels!
Read more » 10 must-see cenotes near Tulum, Mexico
1. Follow That Dream street sign
Follow That Dream street sign is one of the most iconic Instagram spots in Tulum and the Yucatan peninsula. Thanks to the publicity on social media, this simple sign has become its own symbol for all kinds of travelers.
Once this sign was part of a local boutique shop business housed in the nearby building. As of 2024, the business has moved to a different location in Tulum downtown but the iconic sign remains in the same spot at the side of the street in Tulum hotel zone.
Location: Follow That Dream
2. Ven a la Luz sculpture park
Sculpture park ‘Ven a la Luz’ (‘Come to the Light’) is one of the most iconic tourist attractions and one of the most beautiful Instagram spots in Tulum, Mexico!
The impressive 10-meter-high statue was created by a South African artist for a festival that took place in Tulum in 2018 but ever since has become a landmark in Tulum for all its visitors.
The sculpture and other art installations are located in a closed area that you can visit for an entrance fee. When we visited in the morning it was 80 pesos per person. It symbolizes the deep connection between humans and nature.
Although other art installations inside the small park are quite simple, the big ‘Ven a la Luz’ statue is impressive and I very much appreciate the work that was put into creating this piece of art! Worth a visit!
Location: Ven a la Luz
3. Tulum Archeological Zone
Tulum Archeological Zone is among the most visited Mayan ruins in Yucatan peninsula and in Mexico thanks to its proximity to Tulum (a 5-minute ride from Tulum center). The scenic ruins sit on a 12-meter-high seaside cliff right next to the Caribbean Sea.
Did you know? Tulum in the Mayan language means ‘wall’ or ‘fence’.
The name, probably, comes from the fact that Mayan Tulum city was protected by a 3-5-meter high wall. Tulum was one of the last major cities built by the ancient Mayan civilization and they only reached prominence between the 13th- 15th centuries.
Although the site is beautiful, there are no pyramids or large temples which makes it a bit less impressive than other Mayan ruins in Yucatan. The most notable structures here are El Castillo (The Castle), Temple of the God of Wind, and Temple of the Frescos.
Interestingly, the Temple of the Frescos was used as an observatory. Mayans are known for their ample knowledge of astronomy and their tracking of the sun. There are observatories in many other Mayan ruins in Yucatan Peninsula.
The most iconic photos you can get at the seaside viewpoint overlooking the coastal cliff, the Caribbean Sea, and the God of Winds Temple in the background (see first photo!). Another one of my favorites was the Temple of the Frescos.
The parking lot for the ruins is located about 600-700 meters before the actual entrance. We had to pay the entrance fee in two parts – one was for the Tulum Mayan ruins and another fee was for entering Tulum National Park (small fee in cash!).
Location: Tulum Archeological Zone – Parking lot
4. The colorful Tulum letters
No matter where you travel in the Yucatan Peninsula every city, every town, or village has those iconic colorful letters with the name of the place put on display somewhere in a central location.
Tulum is no exception and there are plenty of them! One of the Tulum signs is in Parque Dos Aguas – the main park in Tulum downtown. However, this sign is built of cement or limestone and is not a colorful sign.
We saw a colorful Tulum sign next to the parking lot where you drive to the Tulum archaeological zone. There was also a sign of red Tulum letters. However, my favorite was a Tulum graffiti on the wall however those tend to quickly fade away.
There is also a quite well-known Tulum sign outside the city located next to a brewery. There are large blue Tulum letters made out of wood with swings inside the letters U. However, it quickly needs some love and renovation work.
Location: Sign at the park – Sign at Mayan ruins – Sign on the wall – Sign at the brewery
5. Cenote Calavera
Located just a 5-minute drive from Tulum downtown Cenote Calavera is not only one of the closest but also one of the most popular cenotes near Tulum. It is also one of the most photographed cenotes in the area.
It got its fame on social media thanks to its unique looks – a big circular hole in the ground with stairs and a swing. Next to the big hole, there are two smaller ones where you can jump through and get inside the water.
Calavera means a skull in Spanish and this cenote supposedly resembles one. The big hole is meant to be the mouth and two smaller ones are supposed to be the eyes. See it for yourself! There might be some truth to it!
Cenote is well maintained – there are all the facilities you might need for a day of water activities including showers, toilets, a bar with drinks, and a resting area with chairs and hammocks.
The biggest downside to this cenote is that it is rather small. There simply isn’t enough space for too many people but it does get crowded during the day. If you want to truly enjoy it then come here in the morning. It might not be worth it afterwards.
Entrance to the cenote was 250 pesos per person which is actually one of the cheapest prices amongst cenotes near Tulum. However, considering the small space for jumping into the water it seems rather adequate.
Location: Cenote Calavera
6. Chichén Itzá Archaeological Zone
Chichen Itzá is the most famous Mayan site in Yucatán and one of the most visited places in Mexico. A place that must be on your Tulum itinerary! It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and voted among the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Historically it was one of the largest Mayan cities dating back to 600 AC. It existed as a major regional center for many centuries until its decline by the 12th century. It still operated until the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century.
Chichén Itzá archaeological zone consists of multiple temples, pyramids, structures, and even a sacred cenote (cenote sagrado) where Mayans deposited valuables and gifts including human sacrifices as a form of sacrifice to their rain god Chaac.
The most famous structure is, of course, the great pyramid El Castillo (the castle) which is also known as the Temple of Kukulcan. The pyramid with the temple on top of it is 30 meters high and was built sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries.
Chichen Itza gets crowded so I recommend arriving first thing in the morning. The site opens at 8 AM, the parking next to the entrance opens at 7:30 AM. We arrived even before that so that we could be amongst the first ones in.
For parking, we paid around 100 pesos in cash but for the entrance fee (by card) we paid more than 620 pesos each. For the best photos, I recommend backing away from the pyramid so you can create a nice photo composition with plants, benches, and trees.
Location: Chichén Itzá
7. Matcha Mama
Located at the far end of the Tulum hotel zone is one of the most iconic cafes in Tulum – Matcha Mama. It offers smoothies, açaí bowls, nice creams, juices, coconut water, and more!
However, what makes it extra photo-perfect are the aesthetics – pink and white wooden boards, pink plant pots, charming swings, and a surfboard with catchy writing – I love Tulum so Matcha. One of those iconic Tulum Instagram spots!
We also got ourselves two refreshing bowls and ate them while swinging on the swings and watching cars pass by. Honestly, I’m not really into these bowls and it could have been sweeter. I was happy to try it but wouldn’t necessarily go back.
If the Tulum hotel zone isn’t your area, then do a quick googling because Matcha Mama has multiple locations around Tulum including in Tulum downtown (Tulum Pueblo).
Location: Matcha Mama
8. AZULIK City of Arts – SFER IK Uh May
Located in the jungle a 30-minute drive from Tulum, AZULIK City of Arts is an out-of-this-world handmade artisanal creation that takes you on a journey through never-seen-before spaces. In simpler words, it is a contemporary art museum.
When I first entered this place my first thoughts were about the The Lord of The Rings movie where elves lived in those otherworldly places in the trees. It was hard to fathom how they built and how they even came up with all of that!
First, they took us by a wooden bridge to the entrance, performed some kind of ritual, and then asked us to take off our shoes. You can only walk around barefoot there. Then they let us enter the building.
Only phone cameras are allowed in and no outfit changes are allowed!
The City of Arts is a massive building all connected in one space – there are wooden pathways built to explore the upper side of the building and then lead you down to the floor. The ground level is connected with other rooms and spaces.
Every room and space features something unique and creative. Once you are done exploring you get your shoes back and can walk outside to explore the surroundings. There is a pool, a restaurant, and more hidden nooks to explore.
The whole place felt like I was on a different planet. The entrance costs 400 pesos per person and it was worth it. An added bonus are those endless photo-perfect Instagram spots all around the property!
Did you know? There is another museum in the Tulum hotel zone – SFER IK Tulum. From what I gathered from reviews it is a much smaller place for the same price and thus feels not as price-worthy. Read more about these museums on their website!
Location: AZULIK City of Arts – SFER IK Uh May
9. Cenote Suytun
Located just over a 1-hour drive from Tulum, Cenote Suytun is one of the most iconic cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula. Nowhere else you will find a stone pathway leading into the middle of a large underground cenote with a hole in the ceiling above it.
If you time your visit right, there will be a light beam shining through the hole and illuminating the whole place. Or maybe it will shine right onto the stone platform. We arrived in the morning so we did not see the light beam.
Tip! We visited this cenote on March 9th and the stone platform was dry. However, the water level can be higher or completely cover the platform after rainy periods. The best way to make sure how it looks is by checking recent reviews on Google Maps.
Location: Cenote Suytun
10. The crooked palm trees at Playa Paraíso
Playa Paraíso or Paradise Beach is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Tulum. Thanks to its white sand and tropical palm trees it also is one of those perfect Instagram-worthy places.
Playa Paraíso is a public beach with toilets and changing rooms but there are also beach clubs on this beach with all the facilities you would need for a relaxing time at the beach.
The beach is located inside the Tulum National Park and it means that at one point you will have to pay the entry tax (it was something like 60 pesos when we visited).
To get to the beach, we parked our car at the parking lot for the Tulum archaeological zone and then walked to the beach (20-30 minute walk). Near the parking lot, they offer bicycle rentals for the day if you wish.
Location: Playa Paraíso – Photo location
11. Cenote Atik Tulum
Cenote Atik Tulum is one of the most gorgeous cenotes near Tulum – located only a 15-minute drive from Tulum downtown it is the perfect place to go to spend a day in the jungle swimming in turquoise water.
It is actually more than a cenote and features a jungle park filled with hidden sculptures, art objects, and photo spots. More and more surprises are waiting behind every bend in the trail. This is the most Instagrammable cenote near Tulum for sure!
Entrance to Cenote Atik Tulum was 350 pesos per person which is something you get used to near Tulum – prices here are higher! But you get extra value – besides all the necessary facilities you also get to visit fun objects in the jungle.
We visited Cenote Atik Tulum right before closing time so we did not get a chance to swim in the cenote. But it looked wonderful – like an oasis. It is an open cenote surrounded by high walls and a waterfall in one of the corners.
If you look deeper there are other stairs where you can enter the water apart from the obvious stone staircase from the entrance side. To get to the secret stairs you have to walk a jungle path along many sculptures and art objects.
There were walls covered with skulls, fountains, a pool with a large bust above it, and many more unique objects for unique photos. If you are looking for a gorgeous cenote near Tulum – look no further! This is it!
Location: Cenote Atik Tulum
12. Roc Luxe Tulum
Roc Luxe Tulum is a five-star hotel and beach club in the Tulum hotel zone. It is a thing here in Tulum for hotels and beach clubs to create photo-worthy impressive entrances and many also have them!
But Roc Luxe Tulum definitely stands out with one of the most unique and beautiful entrances! It reminded me a little bit of SFER IK Uh May art museum but on a smaller scale.
You don’t have to stay at the hotel or visit the beach club in order to take photos at this gorgeous entrance ‘maze’. I approached the security guard and he showed me the area where I could take photos and that’s it!
The entrance has a gorgeous white-greyish space – an entrance hall that continues as a tunnel with big holes dotted all over them and plants sticking out through the holes. Seems like a complicated project and totally worth the effort, if you ask me.
Location: Roc Luxe Tulum
13. Coba Archaeological Zone
Exploring ancient Mayan cities should be on anyone’s bucket list when visiting this side of Mexico! Coba Archaeological Zone is one of the largest Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula and one of the closest ones to Tulum.
The Mayan ruins are located just a 45-minute drive from Tulum making it the perfect place to go for a fantastic day trip from Tulum to discover an ancient city in the jungle!
Coba ruins once were one of the most important ancient Mayan cities in the area. The archaeological site boasts multiple stone pyramids, temples, and other important structures.
Entrance to the site is paid in different parts – parking and two different entrance fees, so don’t forget to bring some cash with you. All the buildings are pretty much scattered around the jungle so you can rent a bike there (we walked, it was ~5 kilometers).
One of the most impressive buildings is the temple pyramid Nohoch Mul. At 42 meters (137 feet) it is one of the highest Mayan structures in the Yucatán Peninsula. Only Calakmul in the State of Campeche is higher than the Coba pyramid.
Most of the structures in Coba date back to the 7th-10th centuries. Coba once was a large center of the Mayan civilization reaching 50 thousand inhabitants but was already abandoned by the 16th century during the Spanish conquest.
A couple of years ago it was possible to climb the pyramid in Coba, but not anymore. I wasn’t sad about it tho – it was fun walking the narrow paths through the jungle and finding Mayan ruins along the way!
Location: Coba Archaeological Zone – Parking lot
14. Gran Cenote
Gran Cenote located just a 10-minute drive from the center of Tulum downtown is one of the closest cenotes to Tulum. And over the years it has become one of the most popular ones as well.
The beautiful Gran Cenote boasts gorgeous turquoise water and different swimming areas all connected in one big crystal clear pond. There is one part out in the open but there are also two cave tunnels that lead to other swimming areas.
Here comes the best part – there are small turtles that live inside the cenote! Part of the cenote is restricted where you are not allowed to swim because turtles usually live there. But sometimes they wander off and I got to swim together with a turtle!
Another great thing about Gran Cenote is that a life jacket and snorkeling gear are included in the price which comes in handy if you wish to explore the see-through water. You must shower (and wash your hair!) before swimming.
Entrance to the cenote was 500 pesos per person. We visited more than 30 cenotes around the Yucatan Peninsula and this was the most expensive cenote out of all but this is what you get near Tulum – prices are quite steep.
Over the years this turquoise-water cenote has become a landmark for visitors traveling to Tulum. Thanks to its picturesque colors it is also amongst the most photographed and Instagrammable places near Tulum. We liked it!
Location: Gran Cenote
15. Wooden artworks at Tulum Hotel Zone
Tulum Hotel Zone is like no other! The whole beachfront is lined with hotels, beach clubs, and restaurants and there is one thing you will notice immediately as you walk down the main street – they have the coolest photo-worthy entrances!
One of my favorite ones was Roc Luxe Tulum which I already mentioned before but then there were a couple of super unique wooden entrances perfect for a unique Instagram photo!
Probably one of the most well-known and most photographed entrances is for Mía restaurant and beach club. They have created a gorgeous wooden tunnel with boards like sunrays laid out on all sides.
One of my personal favorites was the blue bunny at Soy Tulum Beach Club. I know, it is a bit creepy to walk through its mouth and those eyes are especially weird but I can also acknowledge that they did a creative job here, haha!
There was another monster at Akiin Beach Tulum. Seemed like a dragon or something from the Mayan culture. However, Vagalume Beach Club had a wooden hand and a bee. There were simpler wooden entrances at Ziggy’s as well as Leemba Beach Club.
We stopped by all of them in the morning and they were all crowd-free so we could easily take photos and nobody said a single word to us. One thing to note is that these wooden things do wear out and some of them will need renovations soon.
Location: Mia Restaurant – Soy Tulum Beach Club – Akiin Beach Tulum – Vagalume Beach Club – Ziggy’s – Leemba BeachClub
16. Muyil Archaeological Zone
Located just a 20-minute drive from Tulum is a wonderful Mayan pyramid and ruins – Muyil Archaeological Zone. Although the ancient Mayan city is not among the biggest sites, it is among the most unique ones – a perfect place for unique photos!
Firstly, this is one of the longest-inhabited ancient Mayan cities in the area, and some artifacts there date back to the 4th century BC. They lived here possibly up to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.
Secondly, Muyil ruins stand out with their unique architecture – it has characteristics of an architectural style typical in the Peten region in modern-day Guatemala which signifies close ties with ancient Mayan cities in the South.
It is believed that Muyil was part of a long trade route that connected the ancient Mayan cities in today’s Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. Mayans used a network of water canals to ship goods like jade, chocolate, honey, and salt as well as other goods.
Muyil archaeological zone features a group of different structures and temples and a big pyramid deeper into the jungle. It is a unique-looking pyramid and you won’t see a pyramid like this anywhere else in Yucatan – definitely worth a visit!
Location: Muyil Archaeological Zone
17. Cenote Taak Bi Ha
Cenotes are some of the coolest Instagram spots in Tulum and Cenote Taak Bi Ha is one of the most iconic ones! It is located just a 30-minute drive North in an area dotted with gorgeous cenotes many of which are connected by underground cave systems.
Cenote Taak Bi Ha is a gorgeous underground cenote with crystal clear water as well as large rock formations – stalactites and stalagmites. You can jump into the water from a stone platform built above the water. And take cool photos there!
We visited this cenote on Sunday morning. At first, we were the only ones in the cenotes but soon many small group tours arrived but they all quickly disappeared snorkeling in the many hidden corners of the cenote.
After a short while their tours ended and they all drove away leaving us the only ones inside the massive cenote. It was magical! Entrance was 350 pesos per person with life jackets included in the price. But it is 100% worth it!
Location: Cenote Taak Bi Ha
18. Colorful street art in Tulum downtown
One of my favorite activities in Tulum was hunting down the most colorful street art murals in Tulum downtown. They do have a lot of them over there!
The easiest way to spot street art is just by keeping your eyes open whenever you are walking around or commuting to places in Tulum downtown.
However, there are some places we discovered that featured especially cool and colorful street art. One of those places was Calle Sol Oriente Street.
We walked a section of this street starting from Parque Dos Aguas park along Calle Sol Oriente Street up until the intersection with Calle Geminis Sur Street.
I counted about 20 to 30 different street art murals during this 10-minute walking distance! There were a lot of them at the Tulum Art Factory and some were hiding in the side streets.
However, there are many of them along the main street in Tulum downtown – Avenida Tulum. Just walk along and check out the sidestreets. We spotted this cool astronaut street art (last photo) in the Calle Beta Sur side street.
Location: Calle Sol Oriente Street
19. Photo spots in Tulum Hotel Zone
Here’s a suggestion – wake up one morning and take a walk (or ride a bicycle) along the Tulum Hotel Zone street and use this opportunity to check out other photo spots along the way!
We did exactly this one Sunday morning as we arrived at the hotel zone, parked our car at one of the parking lots, and just walked. It isn’t the most scenic walk but there were some pretty unique spots to stop by along the way.
At Kapen Ha Mall we saw these blue angel wings and a mushroom with a bench, at BT Live Tulum Hotel we found this LOVE art installation but on the opposite side of the street near Vagalume Tulum, we found this Tulum chair.
The truth is Tulum is under construction all the time – every season there are new places while others close so there is no guarantee any of this will be there. Just go for a walk and keep your eyes open – you will surely get many photos for your Instagram!
Location: Kapen Ha Mall – BT Live Tulum Hotel
20. Convento de Santo Domingo in Uayma
In case you are traveling to places like Chichen Itza or Cenote Suytun consider making a short detour to Uayma town to see one of the most colorful photo-perfect places – Convento de Santo Domingo.
The beautiful building is a former convent built by the Franciscans in the middle of the 17th century. It was built by using stones from Mayan sites. Yes, including from the nearby Chichén Itzá.
During the second half of the 19th century, the church was burned down during a Mayan rebellion. Only more than 100 years later the roofless church was finally restored and was officially reopened to the public in 2004.
The captivating building stands out with its unusual decorations – the white roses and stars symbolize the veneration of the Virgin Mary but the red color represents sacrifice and martyrdom. There is also a green color that symbolizes hope.
The front of the Uayma church also depicts a large headless eagle which is a symbol of the Franciscans who built the church. Over the last few years, this church has become a unique landmark in the Yucatán Peninsula thanks to its colors and symbols.
We visited this church on Saturday and at 11 AM it was open so we could enter the inside of the church for donations. By the way, the entrance is from a sidestreet – Calle 21. The interior was beautiful but not as bright.
We also noticed another building on the corner of the Park of Uayma which was decorated with unique illustrations. Interestingly, we saw illustrations exactly like these in the old photos inside the convent. Could be another renovated historical building.
There isn’t much to see in Uayma so there’s no need to plan a longer stay here – 1 hour will be plenty to take unique photos and check out the beautiful church!
Location: Iglesia de Uayma
Happy exploring!
We stayed for four weeks in the hustle and bustle of Tulum exploring everything this famous destination had to offer including the mysterious Mayan ruins, secret cenotes in the jungle, tropical beaches, the rich local food scene, and cutest photo spots.
Besides our stay in Tulum, we also spent a couple of months traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula, including the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, and exploring all the corners of this beautiful peninsula.
From white-sand beaches to dark underground cenotes, and ancient pyramids – there’s just so much to see! I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did and I hope you get some travel inspiration from this blog post for your travels! Happy travels!
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