I usually steer clear of major tourist traps when I travel, but many of the sites in and around Tulum are truly worth seeing. For just a few pesos, you can view the Tulum Ruins a few minutes from town. They are on the coast and simply stunning, even if you have to dodge people to get your great view. The last time I visited the ruins, we opted for a tour guide (it was cheaper and we skipped a huge line so we said, why not?). I'd actually highly recommend getting a guide! Even though I'd been to the ruins before, we had a charismatic (and hilarious) guide who told us way more about the history of the area than I'd ever gleaned just from reading the information posted around the ruins.
The Sian Ka'an biosphere, Muyil River Float, various cenotes in the area, and other Mayan ruins like Coba are truly worth a visit as well. They live up to expectations and are amazing experiences.
