Welcome to the ultimate Tulum travel guide!
Tulum is a boho-chic town that has become a luxury travel destination.
With its world-class food and boutique hotels, it’s a breath of fresh air from the mega-resort cities of Mexico.
Let’s dive right in.
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Before You Go…
Something important to know BEFORE you go, is that many places in Tulum are cash-only.
So bring cash, and have it changed to pesos as soon as you can!
We rarely were given the correct change/exchange rate when we tried to pay for things in American dollars.
Also, most taxi drivers speak very limited English.
They know names of popular destinations, but it’s helpful to have screenshots of locations or addresses, just in case!
Read more: 10 Things To Know BEFORE Visiting Tulum
Main Areas Of Tulum
The Beach/Hotel Zone
This is where the most expensive hotels, restaurants, and shops are. And for good reason- the beach is beauuutiful!
Downtown (The Pueblo)
Downtown is about a 15 minute drive from the beach strip, and it’s got a much more local feel, with the cheapest food and stays.
Aldea Zama
Located right in between downtown and the beach, this is where lots of luxury condos and retail are in development. More on that later!
Pro tip: This handy-dandy map is perfect for navigating your way around Tulum.
How To Get To Tulum
The most popular way to get to Tulum is to fly into the Cancun airport, then take a bus or taxi down to Tulum.
You can also rent a car and drive yourself, although I’ve heard police shakedowns are more prevalent on the highway between Cancun and Tulum.
If you decide to rent a car, I highly recommend booking a rental car through RentalCars.com.
Personally, I use them every time I plan a trip.
I LOVE that they compare prices across every company at once, which saves a ton of time hunting down the best deals.
Less time researching, more time on the beach right??
If you’re looking for the most budget-friendly option, I recommend taking the ADO bus, which is the public bus system in Mexico.
The buses are actually quite comfortable and clean, with air conditioning and a bathroom on board.
There is a terminal right at the Cancun airport, so you can easily purchase a ticket after going through customs.
If you prefer taking a taxi, it’ll cost a bit more, but you’ll get to run on your own schedule.
Where To Stay In Tulum
Your budget is going to be the biggest variable here, as there’s a huge range of options. Remember when we talked about the different areas of Tulum? This is where they come into play!
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Downtown is home to many well-rated hostels and cheap hotels.
Hostel Che Tulum and Mama’s Home Hostel are just two of the many traveler favorites.
I’ve seen rooms downtown for less than $20USD a night!
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Staying in Aldea Zama worked out nicely for my husband and me.
We were able to Airbnb a beautiful luxury condo for about $100USD a night
This placed us conveniently right in between the beach and the more affordable food downtown.
If you’d like to stay on the beach, there are some hotels such as Coco Tulum that are in the higher-mid range.
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If you’re on a luxury budget, Be Tulum, Azulik, Nômade, and Casa Malca are just the beginning of all the gorgeous luxury hotels in Tulum.
*Keep in mind that you can still experience all of these nicer places without having to stay there- they all have beach clubs that you can enter/hang out at for a minimum spend.
Related: What To Pack For Tulum: Complete Tulum Packing List 2022
What To Do In Tulum
I go into a ton of more detail in my Best Things To Do In Tulum post, but I’ll give you the highlights here.
Beach (duh!)
Hellooo beach bums!
Tulum’s beaches are one of its most popular attractions, and you could spend your entire trip just sipping cocktails with your toes in the sand.
(Also, apparently it’s common to go topless! So… when in Rome Tulum!)
There is a small stretch of public beach, but it’s not well maintained, so beach clubs are the way to go.
You’ll find one at every hotel, and this is how you’ll have access to nicer beaches, day beds, etc.
They’ll each have their own minimum spend (what you have to spend on food and drinks) to use to their facilities.
Pro tip: The further south on the beach you go, the nicer (cleaner) and more exclusive (expensive) it gets.
Beach Clubs
Coco Tulum’s minimum was $35USD/person.
Their food and drinks were more reasonably priced, and their facilities were nice, with not too much seaweed on the beach.
Be Tulum’s minimum was $60USD/person, and everything was more expensive, with cocktails ringing in at $20USD a pop.
However, their beach was pristine!
Casa Malca is one of Pablo Escobar’s (alleged) former mansions that has been renovated and transformed into a luxury hotel.
It’s become a tourist attraction, filled with quirky art and beautiful swimming pools.
There is a $55USD/person minimum spend to hang out for the day!
Rent A Bike
This is the most fun way to explore the beach strip, and the bike makes for a great photo prop!
Explore Cenotes
Cenotes are sinkholes that expose the groundwater underneath.
Swimming through the crystal clear water is truly magical, and there are thousands across the Yucatan!
Here are just a few of the most popular:
Gran Cenote
Located only a few minutes from downtown Tulum, this cenote is huge and super photogenic.
Due to its proximity to Tulum, it’s one of the most popular cenotes to visit.
Get there early to beat the crowds!
Cenote Dos Ojos
Dos Ojos is also popular because it’s very close to Tulum.
While it is pretty cool to visit, I think scuba diving is the ideal way to explore this cenote.
Casa Tortuga Cenotes
Casa Tortuga is actually a park with multiple cenotes all in one area.
They offer guided tours, which I highly recommend.
Our guide taught us interesting facts and helped us swim through underwater caves, which was an experience I never would have gotten on my own!
Read more: 15 Best Things To Do In Tulum, Mexico
Visit Mayan ruins
Tulum isn’t far from Chichen Itza, but there are also awesome Mayan ruins right in town!
The Tulum Ruins are the remains of an old Mayan port city, and are dramatically set against a beautiful beach backdrop.
Unfortunately, the beach was closed when we visited, but you can usually walk down to the beach as well.
Read more: 15 Best Things To Do In Tulum, Mexico
Take A Yoga Class
There’s nothing like a sunrise, beachside yoga class to start your day in paradise!
Snorkel
About a 30 minute drive north of Tulum, you’ll find Akumal, a resort community.
You can actually snorkel with sea turtles here!
Nightlife
The nightlife in Tulum is ultra-chic, and full of beautiful people!
Many of the upscale restaurants like Casa Jaguar and Gitano transition to intimate, jungle-party type clubs by night.
Rosa Negra is a serious VIBE, sparklers and all.
Papaya Playa Project is famous for their full-moon parties.
Also, make sure to read #10 on my 10 Things To Know Before Visiting Tulum.
Where To Eat In Tulum
Tulum is definitely a foodie Mecca!
You could eat at a new, delicious restaurant for every meal and still not get to try everything!
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You MUST stop at Antojitos La Chiapaneca when in Tulum.
Located downtown, this taco stand serves up the best street tacos, with tacos priced at less than $1USD each!
The pastor is the best, and it’s really cool to watch them prepare it.
Chiapaneca stays open late, but fills up fast!
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The açaí bowls at Matcha Mama are so delicious!
Order up a bowl and a cold brew here for breakfast.
Then, snap a photo on their swings (one of the most photographed spots in Tulum) while you wait.
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Casa Jaguar is a perfect choice for a more upscale dinner- the food is amazing, and cocktails are delicious.
With a small number of tables situated throughout a jungle-like courtyard, the ambiance couldn’t be dreamier.
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Kin Toh at Azulik serves up avant-garde Mayan dishes, and for a truly remarkable experience, you can reserve one of their “nests.”
If you’re down for the $1000USD minimum spend, you can dine in a private, tree-house like booth, overlooking the jungle and beach!
Shop The Tulum Essentials
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This was a great read! Very straight to the point. I’m planning a trip to Tulum in May with my husband and this was so very helpful, thank you much! Your blog, you and your photos are beautiful!