Family-friendly cenotes near Tulum

The Ultimate Family Guide to Tulum: Kid-Friendly Cenotes and Lagoons

One of the founders of Anana Babysitting Tulum, a Mexican-born, former UCLA biologist, has been living in Tulum since 2017. Her expertise in local ecosystems and culture, combined with a personal goal to provide families with the highest quality service, led her to create this comprehensive guide for those seeking the best possible experience in Tulum.

This guide will help you discover the best of Tulum, ensuring a fun-filled and stress-free vacation for your family.

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Kid-Friendly Cenotes & Lagoons in Tulum

(recs from a former UCLA biologist living in Tulum)

A quick tip: most of these locations are cash-only, so be sure to have plenty of Mexican pesos on hand.

For private tours hosted by a UCLA biologist contact Adventure Collective Tours

• Gran Cenote

  This is one of the most popular and kid-friendly cenotes. The entrance fee is currently $500 MXN per person. It features a large, open-air area with clear water, friendly turtles, and shallow sections that are safe for younger swimmers.

  Cenote Zacil-Ha:

  Known for its crystal-clear waters and family-friendly amenities, Zacil-Ha is a fantastic choice. The entrance fee is around $200 MXN per person. It has a separate kids' pool area, which is a great bonus if your children prefer a more traditional swimming experience.

  Cenote Escondido & Cenote Cristal

  This is a fantastic 2-for-1 deal that's perfect for a low-key family outing. For a joint entrance fee of around $300 MXN, you get access to both cenotes, which are located on opposite sides of the road. They are open, tranquil cenotes with a more local, authentic feel. Both have platforms for jumping and plenty of space to swim, making them a great way to experience a true Tulum cenote without the massive crowds.

Kid friendly Lagoon: Milum Lake Club (at Laguna de Nopalitos)

• We highly recommend Milum as the perfect place for a family day trip. The day pass is approximately $300 MXN per person. Located just 15 minutes south of Tulum, this beautiful lagoon club offers a superior experience. Unlike Kaan Luum, which has a more basic infrastructure, no food, and can be crowded on weekends, Milum has a large grassy area for kids to run around, as well as plenty of individual shaded tables that are perfect for a family picnic. You can also rent kayaks to paddle around the calm, clear water, and they have additional activities like beach volleyball, a pickleball court, and a climbing wall.

For private tours to more off the beaten path cenotes + hosted by a UCLA biologist contact Adventure Collective Tours

Kid Friendly Activities in Tulum

Yay! You've made it to Tulum. There are a ton of amazing things to do and here are our list of kid and family friendly activities in Tulum that will help ensure you and your family have a great time. These recs come from the founder of Anana Babysitting Tulum who worked as a Biologist at UCLA before returning to Mexico in 2017.

• Explore the Tulum Ruins: Take your kids on an adventure through history as you explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum. This archeological site is perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and is an educational and visually stunning experience.

Locals tips: There is no shade in the ruins. We recommend that you go as early as possible. There rates are 417 pesos ($20usd approx) to enter the National park (mandatory fee) and 100 pesos for the ruins ($5 approx cash only).

• Take a Cenote Tour: A cenote is the entrance to the underground river system here on the Yucatan Peninsula caused by the collapse of limestone bedrock, and there are plenty of them to explore in Tulum.

Local Tips: Cenotes are great for older kids who love swimming. There is an immediate drop off one you leave the entrance steps so make sure you bring a life jacket.

Pro tip: Want to ensure you go to the coolest cenotes? (the ones you won't see on instagram) message a UCLA Biologist to take you out on tour.

• Spend a day at the Beach: Tulum's beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world, with crystal clear waters and powdery white sand. Spend a day soaking up the sun, building sandcastles, and playing in the waves.

Local tip: La Zebra and Ikal (in the national park) are the most kid friendly beach clubs in the area. Follow this link to ensure you can find Ikal as the one on google maps isn't accurate and says you need to bushwack.

And for an adults only date, count on the most professional and experienced sitters in the area, Anana Babysitting Tulum.

Kid and Family Friendly Cenote tour with UICLA Biologist.

Amazing Children's Charity to Visit in Tulum

Tulum is our favorite place in the world for many reasons, but high up on the list is our collaboration with Los Amigos De La Esquina (LADLE), a local nonprofit that hosts fantastic activities for local mayan kids. It is an amazing non profit organization to visit in Tulum where you and your family can volunteer!

LADLE runs activities 6 days a week for kids ages 4-16 all based on art, wellbeing, environmental consciousness, and life skills. When LADLE began, 6 years ago, many of these wonderful local kids had never even been to the beach. Now the kids are the first invited to beach clean ups and beach events, they go birding, take dance classes, music classes, cooking class, do yoga and more!! The organization is wonderfully inclusive and does not charge any fee for the kids to join in on these activities. If you are traveling with your kids, an afternoon with LADLE will be an awesome way for them to play and see that language is no barrier for having a fantastic time and meeting new people! 

The kids from LADLE  are wonderfully curious, excited and loving kids and it is an absolute privilege to work with them and watch each one of them grow.

In 2021, the org inaugurated a community center made using sustainable materials and made a mural surrounding the entire building using more than 100,000 bottle caps!

It is an amazing place to spend an afternoon, getting to know a wonderful side of Tulum that is filled with love. 

Community Center in Tulum

Best Kid Friendly Beach Clubs + Hotels in Tulum

Best Kid Friendly Beach Clubs + Hotels in Tulum

Tulum is famous for it’s amazing beaches, natural beauty and of course it’s amazing beach clubs. Here we have a list of our favorite kid friendly beach clubs/hotels in Tulum so you and your family can enjoy the perfect day while on vacation.

Note: Many beach clubs in Tulum are adults only- if checking for a beach club outside of this list our advice is to send them a whatsapp message to know what their current policy is. Often time websites are not updated in time to reflect changes in policy

Top Kid-Friendly Beach Clubs

La Zebra + Lula (Hotel + Beach Club)

Beach Day at La Zebra

La Zebra is a staple for a reason. It is located on a wide, beautiful stretch of beach with plenty of space. The vibe is lively but grounded, and they are incredibly welcoming to families. Plus, the food is consistently some of the best on the beach strip. La Zebra has an amazing kids menu and little playground that is always a hit and easy parking.

If you are staying at the hotel, the first floor rooms of La Zebra have plunge pools and there is a pool on the second floor of the restaurant.

Lula is now a part of La Zebra and you can enjoy all of the amenities of both hotels. They are right next to each other.

Ana y Jose (Hotel + Beach Club)

A total win for parents. This spot features a dedicated playground, which is a rare find on the Tulum sand. It allows the little ones to burn off energy in a contained area while you enjoy the ocean breeze. It’s one of the most established spots in town and truly understands family hospitality. They also have a parking lot.

Ikal (Hotel + Beach Club)

Located near the ruins in the National Park area, Ikal has a much more relaxed, community-focused energy. It’s great for families who want a bohemian vibe without the heavy party scene. They often have a dedicated kids' program and activities that keep the little ones engaged with nature and art. They have a super kid friendly pool and kiddos will easily find friends to play with.

Mahayana & Zorba Beach Homes (Hotel)

If you prefer a "home base" feel, these private villas are unmatched. They offer a more intimate, boutique experience right on the water.

Note: While these are stunning private villas, keep in mind they do not have an on-site restaurant for lunch or dinner, so you’ll want to stock the kitchen or plan for nearby deliveries.

Tips for staying in Town in Tulum:

While the beach is the main draw, staying in the Tulum Town (Pueblo) area—specifically Aldea Zama—is a game changer for families.

Why Aldea Zama? It is currently the only fully walkable, pedestrian-focused neighborhood in Tulum. If you want to avoid the traffic of the main beach road and have the ability to walk to cafes, parks, and shops without a car, this is the place to be. It’s modern, paved (rare for Tulum!), and much easier to navigate with kids. It is about a 15-20min drive to the beach clubs mentioned above.

Quick Tips for Your Visit

• ATM Tips: There are very few ATMs on the beach zone and most give US dollars. There are exchange house

• Sitter Services: Remember that even on a family vacation, you deserve a date night! Contact us to reserve your sitter.

Dog sitter in tulum

Our team here at Anana babysitting Tulum prides ourselves on offering the highest quality care for all kiddos, human and dog alike! We offer professional dog sitters in Tulum.

We know how awesome it is to be able to bring your dog on vacation and having the peace of mind that you can have a trust worthy dog sitter watch your pupper in the hotel so you can stay out as long as you need, knowing your dog is well taken care of!

We’ll take care of feeding, potty time and anything else your doggo may need!

Book us for dog sitting in Tulum today!