A Quick Guide to Visiting Tulum
My first trip to Mexico was such a great experience! We chose Tulum because we wanted to be near the beach and the opportunity to be immersed in the local culture while still benefiting from the amenities and safety of local tourism.
And I am so glad we picked Tulum for our first trip to Mexico, let me share a little bit with you about why you should also visit Tulum and what to do while you’re there!
Before You Go
Bring Pesos with You
We found that the best exchange rate was from our banks at home. Most places took USD but at a lower exchange rate than we wanted to pay.
Bring extra pesos – I made the mistake of only taking a about a hundred dollars worth of pesos thinking that I could use my Visa most places. This did not work out so well – most places took CASH ONLY including the nicer restaurants that we visited.
How to get to Tulum
There are a couple of options for getting to Tulum. The best way is to fly into the Cancun International Airport and either rent a car or take a bus/shuttle to Tulum.
Rent a Car
Renting (or driving) in Mexico can be a bit controversial – everybody’s got their opinions! But we did it with no troubles and fully enjoyed our freedom to go wherever whenever.
We booked our car for a total of $95USD for 6 days through Alamo, which included the minimum TPL (third-party liability) coverage that is required in Mexico. Keep in mind, a lot of rental companies will not include this in their online rate and will surprise you with it at the rental counter. Definitely do your research!
Take a Bus/Shuttle
If you’re not confident about renting a car to drive, you can catch a bus at the airport. These are available immediately after leaving the international terminal, can’t miss it!
The drive to Tulum was about ~2 hours (about 80 miles) and directions could not be simpler – it’s two turns from the airport to the center of Tulum.
Where to Stay in Tulum
Tulum is split up into two areas: Tulum Town & Tulum Beach. Tulum Town is definitely the more budget friendly of the two areas. You can expect to pay almost double for a similar accommodation on the beach.
Now if you’re just set on having great beach access and are okay with giving up on some of the more modern amenities then check this one out:
Hotel Zazil Kin
This hotel/hostel offers cabins/cabanas for rent for as low as ~$75 USD/night. You may have to share a bathroom, give up A/C during your visit, have limited device charging abilities but let me tell you why this place is so so worth it.
Our cabana was only about 100 feet from the beach. You can’t get any closer to the beach. The beach was fully equipped with plenty of lounge chairs and a restaurant (hands down the best guacamole in Tulum). Many of the beach clubs in Tulum will cost you a rental fee to use their chairs & a minimum food purchase requirement.
By staying at Hotel Zazil Kin or another beach front accommodation, you save money on beach access. I highly recommend staying here if you’re planning on spending most of your day out at the beach and don’t mind the simple life for a few nights.
The Strabon
After two nights on the beach, we headed into Tulum Town to stay in a boutique hotel. We found the Strabon on Airbnb for again, only ~$75USD/night. The rooms were very comfortable and the gals at the front desk had lots of great local food and beach recommendations.
The Strabon is located in an area with a lot of new construction. Many of the road and buildings near the hotel were still undergoing construction, so keep in mind that it may be very dusty and loud.
If you haven’t tried Airbnb yet and would like to received $40 off your first stay, click here.
What Not to Miss During Your Visit to Tulum
There is so much to do in Tulum! Tulum is saturated with great food, history, beautiful cenotes, and white sand beaches. No matter what you’re into, there is something for you! Let me share with you a few of my favorites.
Tulum Beach
You really can’t go wrong with a beautiful white sand beach and Tulum definitely delivers on these. Tulum offers both public access beaches as well as beach clubs that provide beach goers with lounge chairs (for a price) and food and drinks for purchase.
Best Beach Clubs
Coco Beach Club – we went here a few minutes before closing for a drink and were not charged the minimum for access to the club/beach. Coco has a great atmosphere and you’re never too old to enjoy a swing.
El Paraiso Beach Club – we spent an afternoon here. They charged approx. $15 USD for a day bed rental and a minimum $25 USD food and drink purchase. We were not very impressed with the quality of food or service but the location and beach area were great.
A couple other beach clubs that we didn’t visit but I’ve heard good things about are Ziggy’s Beach Club & Papaya Beach Club.
If you’re looking for a FREE public access beach, Playa Paraiso is your best option. You can find free street parking along the main road near the beach.
Cenotes
The Yucatan Peninsula has hundreds if not thousands of cenotes. Cenotes are swimming holes that can be found either above ground or in caves that are caused by a very vast underwater river system. These cenotes are probably the most beautiful & unique feature of the peninsula.
There are many cenotes that are a short drive from Tulum – you could spend a whole day (or a week) going from one cenote to the next. Each one is unique in its own way. Make sure you save time to visit at least a few of these natural wonders.
Want more information on visiting these cenotes in Tulum? Check out my blog post on Tulum Cenotes here.
Tulum Ruins
The Tulum Ruins were only a 15 minute walk from our hotel on the north side of Tulum Beach (another benefit to staying at Hotel Zazil Kin).
Make sure you arrive early because the area does fill up fast with tourists.
What makes these ruins unique compared to other ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula is their proximity to the ocean. There’s even a public beach that is included with the admission price.
Chichen Itza
One of the World Wonders, this place is a MUST SEE. The drive from Tulum was an easy two hours. And like most tourist locations, getting there early is necessary to avoid the crazy crowds. But with that said, we didn’t arrive until about 10 am on a Saturday morning and was still able to get this photo without anyone in the way.
Some things to know about visiting Chitchen Itza:
- It is HOT, HOT, HOT. Dress appropriately and wear sunscreen.
- Entrance fee for foreign tourists is about $25 USD. You can pay with a credit card but they will charge you a small fee.
- Wear good walking shoes, you will have to walk a lot in between ruin sites.
Where to Eat in Tulum
Every day in Tulum is Taco Tuesday. There are very few things this Texas girl loves more than some good ol’ Mexican food.
If you’re sticking to a budget, try to eat in town. The prices in town are very budget friendly while restaurants on the beach can be very expensive. We did eat at a couple of restaurants on the beach but I found them greatly over-priced and over-rated.
If you’re looking for the best value and most authentic food options, stick to eating in town. And if you know the right places, you can get aan amazing delicious lunch for under $2 USD.
Cheap & Delicious Taco Options
Antojitos La Chiapaneca – We both ate for only $3USD total! The al pastor tacos were AMAZING! I did not get pictures of this place or the food – I was too hungry and the food was too good! (definitely not a food blogger over here). Probably one of the most famous spots in Tulum for cheap & delicious tacos.
Taqueria Honorio – this place was PACKED with locals when we arrived and with good reason too. The tacos were some of the best. You can easily eat here for only a couple of dollars each.
Other Tulum Town Food Options
Burrito Amor – Delicious burritos. More of a touristy place but we enjoyed the food and ate here twice during our visit.
El Sudaca – One of my favorite restaurants in Tulum. I love empanadas and El Sudaca’s empanadas are so delicious! Sometimes I kinda wish I could go back to Tulum just for these empanadas. I wonder if they ship to Texas?
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