The Inside Scoop on Traveling to Tulum
Tulum, Mexico is THE hot spot right now for travelers, influencers, and everyone in between.
It’s obvious why, Tulum is BEAUTIFUL, decently affordable, and has limited travel restrictions. Getting to Tulum however, is a little bit of a journey itself. But don’t worry bestie, I gotchu.
Flights
Your first step is to buy your flight! You’re going to choose the Cancun, MX airport as your destination. I like to check Google flights first to see different pricing and you can see which days are the cheapest to travel.
Fortunately I was able to book a non-stop flight, but when I visited Tulum in January, I had a stop in Dallas first.
Airport Taxi/Shuttle
Once you arrive in Cancun, you’ll go through immigrations, customs and baggage claim to get your shtuff. Expect some cute security doggos to come smell your bags as you wait (hide your drugs kids!)
Then the chaos ensues. Jk it’s not that bad, but you will enter a sea of taxi, car rental, and hotel promoters trying to fight for your business. If you already have a rides and hotels set up, just say “No gracias” and keep walking!
The taxis at the airport are regulated by the Federal Government so the prices for a ride to/from the airport are inflated. Prices will vary from $89-$150 USD for a ride to Tulum depending on what service you book with, but you can book a private shuttle here for $89 USD! The ride is about 90 minutes long and tip is not included.
TRAVEL HACK
• If you want to save some money, you can take the bus (it’s like a greyhound bus so it’s comfortable). The cost is only $10 USD but the ride is about 3 hours long depending on traffic. This is what I did and it was fun to see more of Mexico along the way!
Transportation in Tulum
So you’ve made it to Tulum - HOORAY! You have plenty of options for how you’re going to get around, and there’s lots to do and see (Tulum destination blog coming soon!).
Rent a Bike
The cheapest option and most preferred (and fun) way is to rent a bicycle and pedal your way through the city. A lot of hotels and air bnb’s have free bikes for you to use, but there are a ton of options for bike rentals.
The traffic can be CRAZY so you can save time biking versus driving or taking a taxi. This is a good option if your trip is going to be a few days to a week long.
Barbell Bike Tulum has a 4.9 rating on Google, so check them out!
Rent a Scooter/ATV
If you want a speedier road option, there are tons of places to rent an ATV or a moped/scooter.
Tulum Scooter Rentals has bikes and scooters, and they deliver your bike right to you! Rentals for 1-3 days are $35 USD/day and rentals for 4-7 days are $32 USD/day.
Taxis
Taxis are easy to get because they’re everywhere, but each driver chargers their own rates. During busy season they take advantage of tourists and charge stupid high prices for short rides, but traffic is also a nightmare during busy season.
Just be ready to shell out anywhere from $200-$800 pesos which is about $10-$40 USD, honestly pretty comparable to an uber ride.
Bring Pesos With You
A lot of ATMs in Tulum and Cancun are broken, so your best bet for having pesos on hand is to call your bank before the trip and order yourself some.
There are some banks here in Tulum where you can use their ATM, but you’ll get charged a fee. I highly recommend getting pesos before your trip to bring with you! Almost all taxis and a lot of restaurants require cash, plus you’ll need extra cash for tips.
Be Smart
If you’re traveling anywhere in Mexico, just please be aware of your surroundings. If you’re traveling alone and you’re a woman, you already know what I’m about to say.
Don’t walk around the city or the beach on your phone looking down or with cash out in your hands. Keep everything close to your body, zipped away, and know where you’re going.
But don’t be afraid to mingle! You will meet tons of fun people in Tulum from all over the world who are friendly and down to adventure. Just be smart ;)
Have A Freaking Blast
You’re in one of the most beautiful places on this Earth. Go check out some cenotés, the Mayan ruins, beach clubs, vibey restuarants, and have the time of your life.
Make sure to follow me on IG for more of the inside scoop on traveling to Tulum! <3