8 Travel Tips for Tulum, Mexico

Tulum is a paradise on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, tucked away south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. With a small town and a single-lane beach road surrounded by the sea to the east and dense jungle to the west, visiting Tulum feels like you’re in a hidden paradise.

And while it might feel like a hidden paradise away from the crowds of Cancun or Playa del Carmen, Tulum has grown in popularity considerably over the years, making this a hotspot destination for those seeking a spiritual escape, a tropical beach vacation, or a bougie party scene. (If you’re like me, you’ll be there for all three!)

A blog post on Tulum travel tips has overwhelmingly been one of my top requests from readers since I visited for the first time in October/November 2020.

You can see some posts I’ve created for Instagram here, and check out my Tulum IG Story highlight to get a feel for the experience!

Here are my top 8 tips for traveling to Tulum, Mexico:

1. When deciding where to stay, there are three main areas most people choose from:

Beach Road
Tulum Town
Aldea Zama

Where I Stayed in Tulum:

We stayed at Coco Limited on the beach road, and I really enjoyed it. I loved the beach-y, jungle decor, the size of the rooms, the fact that every room has its own hammock, and how the restaurant looks out over the water.

The WiFi in both rooms I stayed in at Coco Limited was strong enough for me to get my business tasks done at all hours of the day. (There was an hour when a tropical storm came, however, that the electricity went out, but when it came back on the WiFi returned!)

The second location I stayed at was Outsite Tulum. Outsite is a company that has co-living/co-working properties for digital nomads around the world.

It was fun to meet other travelers who worked remotely or had an online business like me, plus the nightly rate was decent since I became an Outsite member.

After staying at Coco Limited, which was closer to the north side of the beach road, the location of Outsite Tulum (on the south end of the beach road) felt a little far. There are resorts and restaurants lining the beach road, but there was less lighting at night so I took a taxi to get back if I was by myself at night.

2. There is only one road going in and out of the Tulum beach road

The road that takes you in and out of Tulum runs north to south. It is just one dirt road that has a lot of potholes with no sidewalks on either side.

Be prepared for slow traffic if you are in a taxi or rental car (you’re in vacation mode now, anyway!), and keep your eyes on the road if you are riding a bike or motor scooter so you don’t hit a pothole and fall.

When it rains in Tulum, it’s obvious that this dirt road will get really muddy. Without proper sidewalks, if you are walking in the rain (I recommend taking a taxi if this happens), be prepared for your feet and shoes to get muddy, and I don’t recommend long pants or dresses if rain is in the forecast. I wore a pair of strappy sandals that I could easily rinse off with all the mud.

Even if you do take a taxi and it’s raining (especially if it’s during hurricane season, it’ll rain hard), you’ll still need to get from the taxi into the hotel/restaurant/shop, which means you will likely have to step through the wet/muddy part.

It’s a small sacrifice for an amazing destination!

3. The food is incredible

Many of the popular restaurants along the beach road offer a trendy atmosphere with beautiful jungle-inspired, bohemian decor, and DJ music. The food at most of these restaurants is Mexican-fusion, offering a host of salads, tacos, sandwiches, steaks, fish, empanadas, and desserts. I was surprised by how good the food was - it truly was some of the best food I’ve had traveling, and of course I loved the atmosphere.

My favorite restaurants in Tulum are Rosa Negra (we loved it so much we went back a second time), Taboo, and Bak. It’s hard to go wrong because the food is great and the atmosphere is really fun if you’re looking for a party vibe.

Keep in mind these types of restaurants are not cheap (at least compared to other parts of Mexico like Mexico City or Tijuana), but if you are looking for a quality meal, it’s totally worth it.

I typically spent around $50-65 USD for a glass of wine or a cocktail, an entree, and shared appetizers and/or dessert.

There are quieter restaurants as well (I liked La Onda for pizza), and plenty of smoothie/smoothie bowl type shops or stands along the beach road.

Personally, I LOVED the cacao coffee smoothie bowl at Yoga Shala’s smoothie stand, which is right across from the Raw Love entrance and near Jungle Gym.

And while I didn’t make it to downtown Tulum (I know, I know), I’ve heard restaurant fare is much cheaper there compared to the beach road and that there are plenty of great restaurants in town as well.

4. Find ultimate relaxation

Looking for a place to get away with spa days, massages, and all the works?

Tulum has no shortage of relaxing spa treatments. Most of the resorts will have a spa menu, and you can find what you’re specifically looking for online or by asking in person.

5. Embrace your spiritual side

In addition to typical spa treatments, many people in the conscious community are attracted to Tulum because of the abundance of yoga classes, energy healing sessions, and spiritual events that are on offer.

Balance your chakras, partake in a cacao ceremony, or book a spot on a retreat in Tulum.

There are many ways to use the energy of Tulum to tap into your intuition, raise your vibration, and seek clarity on the next phase of your life.

6. Carry cash

Bring (or get) pesos and USD when you arrive in Cancun. Taxis within Tulum are all cash-based, and some businesses or small restaurants are cash-only. Most restaurants, shops, and convenience stores take credit cards.

The ATMs in Tulum need electricity, and considering Tulum is practically in the jungle, if there is a rainstorm or hurricane, the ATMs might go out.

The day before I needed to fly home, I realized I didn’t have enough cash for a taxi to get to the airport. I tried multiple ATMs along the beach road and they were either completely off or didn’t work properly.

Finally, I found an ATM that dispensed money in USD only, which worked for the taxi. I got lucky! I recommend getting more cash than you think you need, just in case.

7. A Paid tourist visa is required for 7+ day trips

If your trip is longer than seven days, you’ll be required to pay $35 USD for a 6-month tourist visa as a US citizen. We paid for ours when we entered customs at the Tijuana airport.

Don’t lose the paper they give you with the visa on it! You will need to present this paper at customs when you return to the airport to depart Mexico. Otherwise, you could get fined.

8. It Takes about two hours to get from the Cancun airport to Tulum

To get to Tulum, you’ll probably fly into the Cancun airport. It costs about $100 USD each way to take a taxi (pay for it in cash in pesos or USD unless the driver specifically says they can do a card). It takes about two hours to get from Cancun to Tulum.

There are also semi-private vans you can take with 8-10 passengers, or you could take the bus or rent a car.

Note that when you exit the Cancun airport, there are a bunch of companies with employees hustling trying to offer you their service.

Be proactive and get cash at the ATM ahead of time, and decide which transportation type you prefer to reduce any overwhelm you might experience.

Personally, we felt the taxi was perfectly fine, comfortable, and easy, as it took us right to our hotel. However, there are many options to choose from depending on your preferences and budget.