1. Playa Paraiso
If you need one reason why Tulum became such the world-renowned beach icon that it is today, take a look at Playa Paraiso. This unbelievable stretch of bone-white sand extends down the coastline, backed by brilliantly blue water and a row of languidly swaying palms.
This is one of the beaches that put Tulum on the map — and for good reason. The second you feel that powdery sand between your toes, you too will want to abandon all sense of reality and move down to a palapa-roofed beach hut for the rest of your life.
One thing to note about Tulum’s beaches is that they are never very far apart from one another. In fact, they live on basically one long stretch, so it is possible to hop from beach to beach without having to ever get in your car and drive. It makes it really convenient, but can also be somewhat confusing.
These days, Tulum is a little more highbrow than your basic palapas and beach huts, but the beach that drew the very first tourists to this part of Mexico remains the same — practically perfect.
2. Playa Ruinas
Not to be outdone, Playa Ruinas is another one of the top beaches in Tulum that put the destination in the spotlight. Success is baked right in when you have some of Mexico’s most beautiful and historic Mayan ruins on a cliff overlooking the beach below.
You may be sharing Playa Ruinas with a lot of people. That’s because not only is it beautiful, but the Mayan ruins that sit on the cliff above are among the third most visited archaeological sites in Mexico. With practically no tree cover, it can get really hot when touring the ruins. What better way to cool off than with a dip in the sea that has views of the ruins? To get to the beach from the ruins, follow the steps down the cliff from the El Castillo tower. You can’t miss it.
Still, it’s definitely worth a visit to this mind-bogglingly beautiful beachfront. And you can say you did something cultural at the same time — two birds with one beach net, if you will.
