Once a sleepy little beach town, Tulum has turned into quite a trendy destination over the past few years. Celebrities and influencers flock for the yoga and vegan food, Instagram spots, and pricey beach clubs.
While this all tends to bring the costs up, it is still very possible to visit Tulum on a budget.
Know before you go
The official language: Spanish
Currency- Mexican Pesos (mxn), 15 mxn is equal to about $1 cad.
Plugs: the standard voltage is 127 V and the frequency is 60 Hz. They use type A and B plugs (the same as Canada)
Safety: Mexico has a reputation for being unsafe, but honestly I’ve never had a problem. Travel smart, be aware of your surroundings and don’t walk alone at night.
When to Visit
November to April is the dry season, meaning lots of sun and less humidity! There’s also quite a bit less seaweed on the beaches during this time. However, if you can handle the heat during the summer months, it’ll be much less touristy and you can get some great deals since it’s the off-season.
Getting there
The ADO bus is by far the cheapest way to get to Tulum. From the Cancun Airport to the bus station in downtown Tulum, it only cost 330mxn. The busses are comfortable and air-conditioned, pretty much the same as the busses in all-inclusive packages that take you to the resorts. They run multiple times a day and it takes 1.5-2 hours to get there.
A taxi or private transfer might be more convenient and will be similar in price if you’re traveling in a group of 3 or more.
Where to Stay
When choosing somewhere to stay, Tulum is broken up into two parts: Tulum Pueblo, and Zona Hotelera on the beach. Tulum Pueblo is a much more cost-effective area to stay in. The most affordable way to do it will be to stay in a hostel dorm.
Mayan Monkey Hostel is an amazing hostel located perfectly between downtown and the beach zone- nothing was more than a 25-minute bike ride away. We stayed in a 12-bed female dorm, each bed has linens, towels, a privacy curtain, a reading lamp, power sockets, and a spacious locker. There’s free wifi, AC, 2 bathrooms and 2 showers.
It was clean, the staff was all super friendly, and the common areas were beautiful. Dorm beds start at $20 cad per night, there are also private rooms available but they’re quite a bit more expensive.
It is more of a party hostel, they have a great happy hour with 2 for 1 drinks and even theme nights, but the music turns off by 1:00 am every night.
Getting around
Rent a bike
Renting a bike is the best way to get around Tulum especially since the traffic in the Zona Hotelera can get so backed up. There are bike paths all over, and where there aren’t it’s easy to weave through the cars.
Most hostels have bikes to rent, we got ours from Mayan Monkey for 210 mxn per day, but you can get bikes in Centro for as cheap as 150 mxn – about the same as one taxi ride.
Colectivo
These are the cheapest way to get around in Mexico- some rides will cost as little as 15 mxn. You have to flag down a van from a stop on one of their routes. If the van is full, you’ll have to wait for the next one. However, sometimes there will be people sitting on the floor as well.
Taxi
The most expensive way to get around in Tulum, but on the plus side, there will always be one available. Can be more cost-effective when you’re traveling in a group because you can split the cost.
Things to do
Check out the Tulum Archeological Zone
A sight you simply cannot miss when visiting Tulum is the Tulum Archeological Zone. This Mayan city was built right on the coast with stunning views of the ocean. Entry only costs 85mxn.
You can get a guide for around 600 mxn, but there are plaques with information written in both Spanish and English in front of the structures making it very easy to navigate on your own.
Swim in the Cenotes
The Gulf of Mexico is said to be the location where the meteor that killed the dinosaurs, hit the earth. The impact is also said to be what created the cenotes- underwater cave systems that stretch through the Yucatan Peninsula. There are said to be over 6000 of them in the Yucatan alone, however only 2500 are registered.
Gran Cenote
The most popular of the cenotes in Tulum. Arrive early, around 10 or 11 tour busses from all over the Riviera Maya start showing up.
Entry is on the expensive side at 500 mxn, but this includes snorkel gear and a life jacket. Lockers are available for an additional 30 mxn.
Cenote Calavera
Known as the gateway to the underworld, temple of doom Cenote, and skull Cenote- which makes sense because Calavera means skull in Spanish. The name comes from the shape of the Cenote having 2 small holes and one large hole that together looks like eyes and a mouth.
The underwater cave holds the remains of over 125 people, meaning it was likely a place where Mayan sacrifices occurred. Now it’s a popular swimming and diving spot, but I’ve heard the locals won’t go anywhere near it.
Entry to Cenote Calavera costs 250 mxn, and it’s open from 9:00am-5:00pm. Although it’s not as popular as Gran Cenote, it does still gets fairly busy.
Relax on one of the public beaches
Tulum is known for its beautiful white sand beaches.
Playa Paraiso, Playa Santa Fe, Playa Pescadores, and Playa las Palmas are located just south of the Tulum Ruins and are much more affordable options compared to Playa Tulum, where you’ll have to pay cover or spend a minimum amount at beach clubs to get access to the beach. These are all perfect spots to pack a bag with some snacks and drinks, lay out a towel, and spend the day baking in the sun.
Explore the streets of Centro
A busy area filled with cafes, restaurants, shops and different styles of accommodations – this is the original Tulum town before it started expanding. You’ll find everything you need in Centro, including supermarkets and pharmacies, bus stops/stations and bike rentals. There are a few parks where street food stalls set up at night, and many locals live in this area as well.
Explore the Holistika Jungle Art Walk
Nestled in the middle of the jungle just outside of town, Holistika is a magical hotel based around wellness. They offer many different classes to their guests; while we were walking through the property there was yoga going on, people were taking ice baths, and we even found a sweat lodge. They also have an art walk that is completely free even to non-guests!
The Holistika Art Walk is a collection of sculptures and paintings created by artists from all over the world, scattered along a trail in the jungle. The exhibit is meant to inspire you to connect and create with nature, and to live life to the fullest while respecting our planet.
Take a day trip to Akumal
Take the colectivo from 7 11 at the corner of the 109 and 307 for 40 mxn. It’s about a 30-minute drive. Make sure you double-check with the driver so he knows where you’re going, and listen for when he calls out “Akumal” so you can pay him and hop off the bus.
Akumal beach is about a 10-15 minute walk straight down the road next to the colectivo stop on the highway. As you get closer, you’ll pass lots of stands with people selling tours and then some shops. Keep walking until you see the Akumal Dive Shop where you can pay 100 mxn to enter the beach or book a guide to go snorkelling with the sea turtles.
Take a day trip to Coba
Another ancient Mayan city and much larger than the Tulum ruins, at one time Coba was home to 50,000 people. Unlike Tulum, Coba is completely within the jungle, meaning way more shade which makes it a lot more enjoyable to explore. You can even rent bikes for 50 mxn.
The main pyramid, Nohoch Mul, is very popular due to still being able to climb it. However, due to covid it’s temporarily closed.
Coba is about a 45-minute drive down highway 109 from Tulum, you can take both the colectivo or ADO bus to get there. Entry is 100 mxn, and the ruins are open from 8:00am-5:00pm.
Places to eat
Tulum is full of incredible food. They have something for everyone, from high-end restaurants to no-frills local places and street food. Here are a few delicious local restaurants to try when visiting Tulum on a budget:
Los Chachalacos– located right next to Mayan Monkey. They have delicious tacos for a reasonable price, 35-40 mxn each, or 72 mxn for 3 tacos al pastor.
Burrito Amor– delicious burritos that come wrapped in banana leaves, averaging at 100 mxn.
El Sudaca – Argentinian food. Empanadas are amazing and are only 55-60 mxn each.
Succulenta – a family-run business, selling vegan Tamales for 55 mxn each.
Taqueria Honario– Rated the #1 place to get Tacos in Tulum. Tacos are only 22 mxn each.
Churros la Lupita – a cart set up just off the main road in Centro, sells 4 churros for 30 mxn. You can get them plain or with chocolate or caramel sauce.
Dos Parque Aguas – at night tons of food stalls set up on the street behind the park.
