Playa Santa Fe

Santa Fe Beach is one of Tulum's relatively few public beach access points.

While beaches in Mexico are legally accessible to the public, much of the beachfront space is taken up by private beach clubs and resorts. So while anyone can walk along the sand or swim in the water in any area, the using a club's chairs, shade structures, amenities and parking areas usually requires an admission fee or purchasing food or drinks from the club.

Santa Fe Beach is a wide sandy public beach area that lies adjacent to the Santa Fe Beach Club. The public beach has views of the Tulum Archaeological Area to the distant north. The beach also sits at the end of the lengthy dead-end road heading north from Tulum's Zona Hotelera. A street closed to vehicles but open to walkers and bicyclists leads from the beach to the Tulum Ruins about 750 meters to the north, so Santa Fe Beach makes a popular spot for those looking for a quick swim after a visit to the ruins.

Parking along the road outside the beach tends to fill up quickly. Bikes may be more ideal for accessing the beach.