Tulum's beach is on the Sian Ka'an side — south-facing, which means it has different sand and water dynamics than Playa or Puerto Morelos. The water is famously turquoise; the sand is finer and lighter. The whole 10km strip is technically public (Mexican beaches are all public), but most access points are gated by beach clubs or hotels.
**Public-access beaches:**
- **Playa Paraíso** — the most photographed Tulum beach, just outside the Tulum Ruins entrance. Public access through a small parking area. Soft white sand, gorgeous water, no facilities (bring your own everything). Free entry. Best 9am–noon before crowds.
- **Playa Pescadores** — the local fishing-village beach, north end of the Hotel Zone. Free, lower-key, fishermen still launch boats from here. No sunbeds — bring a towel.
- **Playa Las Palmas** — between Playa Paraíso and the Hotel Zone restaurants. Quieter, somewhat hidden. Small parking lot.
**Beach clubs (paid access):**
- **Ahau Tulum** — long-running beach club, day-use ~1,200 pesos minimum spend. Yoga decks, swing-bar Instagram setup.
- **Coco Tulum** — vibey beach club, beanbag-style seating. Day-use ~1,000 pesos.
- **Mia Restaurant Beach Club** — restaurant-driven, food-focused, smaller crowd. Lunch + beach combo.
- **Be Tulum** — the high-end play. Hotel beach club, ~$50+ USD/person minimum, beautiful setting.
**The sargassum reality:**
April–August is peak sargassum (brown seaweed). Some weeks the beach is pristine; other weeks it's piled up. The current breaks differently along the strip — north end (Playa Pescadores, near the ruins) typically clears faster than the south end. Check the live cam on Sargassum Monitoring before you go. The hotels rake their patches daily; public beaches don't.
**Logistics:**
- Parking at Playa Paraíso: 100–150 pesos at the small lot.
- Taxi Pueblo → beach: 150–250 pesos.
- Bike: 150 pesos/day rental, ~15 min ride.
- No street parking is reliable on the Hotel Zone strip — always pay a lot.
