There are so many amazing things to do and sights to see in Tulum, Mexico that sometimes it can feel overwhelming and you're not sure where to even begin. With thousands of tourists being bused in from Cancun, it's better to go off the beaten path a bit and explore on your own.

In addition to visiting the Tulum Ruins and snorkeling with sea turtles in Akumal, you should also check out the Ruins of Ancient Coba.

What's cool about the Ruins of Coba is that you can still climb them, including the highest temple, unlike the majority of the ruins in and around the Yucatan. And I counted, it's 120 steps to the top. The views are beautiful from high above.

The ancient city of Coba itself is huge, but once you're inside you can rent bikes and ride your way through the ruins, stopping as you please. You could spend an entire half day here... but if you're like me, you'll want to go early to beat the crowds, getting in and out to visit the surrounding cenotes.

After exploring the ruins of Coba and returning your bikes, just down the road is Cenote Choo-Ha, a lesser-known (meaning less populated) underground cenote. It's about 100 feet underground and when we got there, it was completely empty, making it feel more like a secret world than a ride a disneyland surrounded by tourists.

After you've got your fresh water feel, join the land above and head back towards Tulum and grab some afternoon beachside cocktails and the yummiest seaside Italian meal of your life at Posada Margherita. Literally, best food, hands down. You won't regret it.