Tulum has become the place to see and be seen, and with good reason; it’s absolutely beautiful. You’ve likely heard the buzz and seen the pictures all across social media of just how gorgeous it is. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to learn that with great beauty comes a not so pretty price tag. Is it really worth spending the hundreds of dollars to stay on the beach for that 1 picture, that you’ll likely wait in line to take. Is it really worth it or just another overrated, overhyped tourist trap that you should skip?
Okay, so what makes me the Tulum expert? Well, I’m not. I just love the energy I feel from the moment I touch down in Quintana Roo. In fact, I love it so much that I managed to go back 4 times within a year, making stops in other cities, but none hitting quite like Tulum. Sure you can search the web, YouTube and IG for ideas of where to stay and what to do, but most Tulum centric content focuses on the beach, its resorts and nightlife/party vibe. Yeah, okay, that’s fun, but what about those of us that just aren’t about that lifestyle anymore? Maybe you’re more into exploring and adventure, or maybe you simply don’t want to spend $200+ on dinner, per night 🫣 (yeah, no thanks). There’s so much to do and see in, around and near Tulum that the pic for the ‘gram’ will be the furthest thing from your mind.
Have you bought your ticket yet? No, ugh... wait ummm hello Tere, you can’t just expect people to take your advice in theory, get to the details already goodness gracious, you’ll see it’s more than another generic beach town.
Getting there and where to stay
If you’re a frugal traveler, you’ll be looking for the best deal on flights, rides and places to stay. If you fly into Cancun International, Tulum is just a short ~ 45 minute ride down Carretera Federal 307, that's basically the Yucatán's I-95, sounds fancier in Spanish for sure though 🤭. It’s actually a nice ride, as you pass through Playa del Carmen and what seems like an endlesss array of resort entrances on the way.
If you're more of a 'let's get straight to it' type of traveler, you may be able to skip the drive and fly right into Tulum's new International Airport- Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum Felipe Carrillo Puerto, but keep in mind that with smaller airports, you may have fewer flight options and sometimes higher fees, so please, do your homework before booking.
With Tulum being a relatively small town, you may not NEED a car if you're staying in town, but you’ll likely be intrigued by the option to rent and ride a bike to get around 🚴🏽🚴🏼♀️🚴🏽♂️. This is fun, in theory, but remember, if you aren’t a rider, it’s not about how you feel getting somewhere , it’s the willingness and ease of getting back that you have to be concerned about 🥴. Renting a car gives you the flexibility to change plans if you’d like, or extend your fun, in time and distance, so make sure you build that or other transportation into your travel budget too. The Collectivo, which is their public bus, allows you to get around for cheap, a few bucks per ride/rider, but you're stopping constantly and fitting as many as possible in so be ready for the stop and go, on and off and cramped ride along the way.
Okay, you're there, and you've got some options on how to get around, naturally you need to figure out where to sleep. You've got options, resorts, hostels, or my personal Tulum fave- Air BnBs 🤩. The key when picking where to say is to have an idea of what you'd like to do during your visit. I could give you the whole resort this, resort that but that's not what I'm trying to get you to see. There's a time, place and vibe for resorts and hotels, and then there's Tulum. Fun fact, there's an ordinance in Tulum that restricts all buildings built to being no taller than 4 stories high; big whoop right? Um, YEAH it is! Most Air BnBs have private rooftop plunge pools which can't be obstructed by some random tall building next door- 🚫🏢 🤬. Check out some of the spots we've stayed.
Top travel trip when considering staying in an AirBnB: try to stay close to Tulum Centro (downtown). Some of the apartments look amazing, but may be a bit out of the way, which can make it more of an 'in for the night' type trip. You're in the right city if that's the vibe you're going for, just be sure to grab some snacks and drinks at what I affectionately call the "Mexican Walmart' - Chedraui (they legit have like everything.) They've got a great selection of food and drinks to choose from, so just try to remember that you're there for a good time, not necessarily a long time, so don't buy all the things just because it's there. Oh y'all don't do that? Just me whoopsy...🫣🤭🤷🏽♀️.
Things to do
By now you're familiar with the beautiful beaches of Tulum, but what else is there to do? Like many of the cities across the Yucatán, Tulum prides itself in it's historical Mayan energy and preservation. Surrounded by natural beauty, you could walk alongside the Caribbean Sea through the Mayan Ruins, stroll along nature trails of the local theme park- Xel-Há surrounded by lush greens and animals, or dive into some of the most beautiful Cenotes strewn across the town. You can find adventure, exploration, education or simple tranquility through seclusion the possibilities are nearly endless but entirely up to you.
Tulum ruins: Whether you''re into learning more about history as a whole or you're simply someone who enjoys learning about different cultures, taking time to visit the ruins in and around Tulum is a must. Regardless of your direct or indirect ties to this culture, getting to learn more about how these ancient tribes lived and thrived over decades and centuries is at the core of things to learn. Access to the ruins in Tulum can be a bit confusing as the city continues to develop roads and paths for access and new structures to support growing tourism and residents, the cost to enter is about 6 pesos per person. It's important to also note that a key method of preservation of these ruins is distance from 'normal society' so be sure to wear some good walking shoes and have bottles of water on hand. These ruins offer little to no shady areas and as you overlook the beauty of the Caribbean Sea you'll easily forget that Sun is beaming and burning you up crispier than my little iguana friend 🥵.
Xel-Há: You'll likely notice across the Yucatán is the use of 'X' as the start of many words especially as they relate to Cenote locations or the group of the Xcaret Parks in the area.
Xel-Há means "where the water is born" as a reference to the many underground rivers that flow into the inlet.'
Fun Fact: Xel-Há is home to the largest waterslide in the Riviera Maya standing at 98 feet tall.
Cenotes Casa Tortuga Tulum:
Another great adventure and tour that I consider so worth tit, is a visit to Cenotes Casa Tortuga Tulum. It's a great day trip/tour that takes you through 4 cenotes - 2 open air and 2 underground. This is a park guided tour, so you will travel with a small group of other visitors to the park as you walk across the area learning about the different trees and history of the cenotes and their deeper history and meaning in the Mayan culture. This si also home to two great jump spots sure to hit a sweet spot for the thrill seekers. They also offer a zip line view across the cenotes, but honestly, I'd say put the 💵 💵 towards visiting Xplor for more activities and views.
There are tons of Cenotes in the area so don't shy away from exploring those in and around the Tulum as well. Some are even accessible through hotel stays or short bike rides from town. Just sharing Cenotes Casa Tortuga Tulum as a first option.
Snorkeling:
Looking to continue your water adventures? The waters just off shore are great for snorkeling and scuba diving (if you're certified) 🤿. These waters are surrounded by reefs full of fish, stingrays and sea turtles just minding their own business, so remember you're there to look, not necessarily touch. Most tours will take you all the way to the edge of the Tulum Ruins seaside which makes for great photos as well as additional learning of the details related to the Ruins and their history. You may even get to see some of the older canons and other artifacts under water as well.
Walk Tulum City Center:
Last but certainly not least, especially if you're on a tighter budget, you've got to go visit TUlum City Center. It's considered Tulum's downtown and is where you'll find great spots to eat, drink and relax with locals and other tourists alike. From streetcar meals to fancy dinners to live music in smaller bars along the side streets. Make your way a little further in to town and you'll find yourself amongst the locals in the park or walk through the local flea market open in the evenings and weekends for some great finds. I could name so many places to eat and drink, but we'd be here all day; so I've listed a few below for simple reference, but go with your gut, well stomach on this one actually.
Book your Trip!
So the moral of the story is there's so much more to do in Tulum than sitting in a overpriced cabana, on an overcrowded beach 🏖️ sipping an overpriced drink🍹 just to take an overrated and likely overdone picture 📸 #nothankyou. Now what? Ready to book? Maybe you're still thinking and planning... that's okay too. Not trying to push you to head to Tulum or some of my favorite spots, that wouldn't make sense, because then I'd have no place to stay 🫣- I kid, I kid. I'd vote ten times over for more real sightseers and true travelers to head to the many areas of the world that re less traveled and more misunderstood. The culture the food, the history is all worth the trip. The pics should be the bonus NOT the focus.
Check out my posted reviews and YouTube videos linked below for more info. Hopefully you found value in this read and in the images/videos linked to keep you exploring new cities and countries near and far. More importantly, I hope you make this life fun because you can and should no matter what.
Check back for more posts and videos of more places and things to go, see and do. Note that some links are affiliate links, earning me a small commission at no cost to you 🫣.
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