Cancun and Playa del Carmen used to be the “hot spots” in Mexico, that is until every Millennial started seeing their Yoga mentors and favorite artists visiting Tulum on Instagram. While Tulum’s ancient ruins and beautiful cenotes have always deserved a visit, Tulum’s Boho vibe is the reason for this town’s bump in tourism. Here are a few things to know before your first visit:
Make Sure To Have Cash
Most places in Tulum only take cash, and the ATMs are few and far between. Take enough cash with you in the start of your trip so you don’t have to worry about it. I learned my lesson the hard way and had to walk barefoot 15 minutes to a broken ATM, followed with taking a taxi to the nearest grocery store in my bathing suit.
It’s Not As Cheap As You May Think
Thanks to Instagram, Tulum is pretty popular right now, especially with young and famous people. This means that accommodation and restaurants are a little more pricey than you may expect for Mexico. But hey, you might get to see your favorite Instagram Yogi or Michelle Rodriguez hanging out on the beach.
Staying at the Beach Vs. The Town
You can choose to either stay in the town of Tulum or near the beach. Both have decent restaurants and good nightlife. However, they are a short car ride apart and if you go during a busy time like New Years, there could be traffic. Staying at the beach is probably a better option, especially if you plan on going there daily. However, don’t miss out on the town’s nightlife, which is also worth a visit.
Getting there from the Airport
Tulum is about 2 hours South of Cancun. Your choices range from renting a car, taking the ADO bus, or getting a cab. I recommend renting a car for Tulum, especially if you would like to see some of the nearby ruins in Coba or any of the cenotes. If the car rental from the airport is too expensive, you can also take the bus to Tulum and rent a car there which will be cheaper. Terminal 1,2, and 3 each have a ADO bus stand. The ADO to Tulum will end up costing you around $7 usd.
Save Time for the Cenotes
There are plenty of cenotes in the area to explore, so you’ll probably need to do some research to find out which ones you would like to see. If you would like a less crowded experience (and better photos), it’s best to hit the cenotes early. I highly recommend visiting Cenote Suytun, which is an underground cenote near Chichen Itza.
Choose Your Ruins
The Tulum ruins aren’t the only ones that should be on your list. If you have time, try to visit Coba (an Ancient Mayan city in the Yucatán) or Chichen Itza (one of the World Wonders). The ruins in Coba are cool because you can actually climb up them. Chichen Itza is packed and about an hour away, but it’s worth it if you’re into ancient history.
Hesitate While Ordering Ordering that Cocktail
As you know, Tulum is in Mexico, and Mexico is pretty infamous for getting visitors sick via water. Be careful if you decide to order cocktails (due to the ice) or other items like salads that could have been washed with unfiltered water. I didn’t get sick myself in Tulum, but a lot of my friends did. Nothing ruins a trip like stomach issues.
The Public Beach vs. The Beach Clubs
If you do decide to stay in the town, you’ll notice that there’s a fork in the road when you get to the beach. If you go left, you will hit the public beach, and right takes you towards the beach club area. The public beach is where a lot of the locals go and there’s fewer restaurants and bars. If you head right to the beach clubs, that’s probably the area you want to be in (with restaurants, beach bars, yoga studios and shops).
Speaking of Beach Clubs, Don’t Miss Out On:
Papaya Playa’s enormous beach front bar, restaurant, and sand dance floor. Papaya usually has DJs spin funk and soul music on weekdays. On the weekends, you can stay up dancing all night or attend their monthly Full Moon parties.
Eufemia’s laid back vibe made it one of my favorite beach bars in Tulum. It’s much smaller than some of the other beach clubs, but laying on mattresses on the sand while drinking out of a coconut is under-rated.
Nomade is a trendy boho vibe restaurant and beach bar. Head here if you would like to grab a nice dinner in the sand. Nomad has a very cool feel to it, and the decor is as pretty as the food. I also saw some of the best looking people here that I’ve ever seen in my life (possible model convention going on).
If you’re staying in town, head to:
Batey: a hip restaurant/bar with live music, a vintage Volkswagen beetle and a quirky mojito machine.
Pasito Tun Tun: A bar specializing in Mezcal drinks and bar swings
Have any questions about visiting Tulum? Feel free to leave a comment below!
