Tulum Travel Guide
Everything you need to know about planning a trip to Tulum, Mexico
TULUM TRAVEL GUIDE CONTENTS
Quick Info | Book Your Trip | Tulum Blog | Things To Do | Hotels | Restaurants | Nightlife | Budget | FAQ
The most visited destination in the state of Quintana Roo, Tulum’s undeniably beautiful beaches draw many young travelers and digital nomads around the world. Filled with archaeological sites and Jungle-style Airbnbs, Tulum is definitely a great vacation destination in Mexico, especially for those who are looking for vibrant nightlife. In this Tulum travel guide, you will find everything that you need in planning your trip to Tulum Mexico.
✈️ Tulum Travel Quick Info
- 🇲🇽 State: Quintana Roo
- ⏰ Timezone: Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5)
- ✈️ Airport: Cancun International Airport
- 💲 Currency: The currency in Mexico is called Mexican pesos (MXN). Mexico also uses the $ sign so don’t be confused if you see this all over town – it’s not in USD so don’t be fooled!
- 🔌 Power plug: Mexico uses a type A socket (US, Canada). For more information about power plugs in Mexico, see this link (with photos)
- 📱 Mexico sim card: The best provider that works in Oaxaca is Telcel. See our complete Mexico sim card guide for more information.
- 🛃 Visa: In November 2021, Mexico stopped granting visitors a 180-day visa. It really depends on the immigration officer how many days he/she will give you but just show proof of accommodations (with dates) and it should be fine.
- 🤟 Language: Everyone in the travel industry can speak English in Tulum although some local street food stalls can only speak Spanish.
- 🪅 Culture: Tulum has a small-town culture where everyone knows everyone. It is a famous party destination for Spring Breakers and is also a great travel destination for those who wish to see cenotes.
- 📶 Wifi: Not all areas of Tulum have good wifi but resorts and boutique hotels can have up to 25 Mbps Internet speed.
🗺️ Tulum Map
🏖️ Book your trip to Tulum Mexico
🚦 Tulum Transportation Guide
- 🚕 Tulum Airport transfer: The airport that serves Tulum is Cancun International Airport. It will take about 45 minutes to get to Tulum and the transfer price starts at $60 USD. You can book your airport transfer to Tulum before arrival but you can also get a shared ride once you are at the airport.
- 🚶♀️Walking: Tulum is a small town and when you are in the center, everything is walkable. This is the best way to see Tulum! Depending on where you are staying, you can use the location “Tulum Centro” on Google maps to know how far the walks are. This is the center of town where you will find all the things to do, landmarks, and attractions.
- 🚌 Bus: Within the town of Tulum, you don’t need to take a bus but if you are going to nearby destinations in Quintana Roo like Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or Bacalar, the busses from Tulum are very efficient. You can also visit the cenotes of Tulum by bus!
- 🚗 Rental cars: The best way to get around Tulum and Quintana Roo is by renting a car at Cancun International Airport. The daily rate is about $45 USD for a Sedan (4-seater).
- 🚴♀️ Bicycle: Tulum is a bicycle town! This is the locals’ preferred mode of transportation and you will also see many Tulum tours on a bicycle. The daily bike rental in Tulum starts at $25 USD.
📍 Tulum Attractions
National Park
Underground River
Historical landmark
Popular cenote near Tulum
Lake with turquoise water
Limestone cenote
Ancient Mayan site
Amusement Park
Unique experience
Iconic Tulum beach
Eco Park
Instagrammable sculpture
🏄♀️ Things to do in Tulum
🛏️ Tulum hotels: where to stay
🌮 Essential Tulum restaurants
☕ Best cafes in Tulum Mexico
🍸 Tulum bars and nightlife
💰 Money and Costs
- 💵 US dollars: Tulum is still a cash society and only Mexican pesos is widely accepted. Some establishments will accept US dollars but at a lower conversion rate. You can also exchange USD to Mexican pesos upon arrival at the airport.
- 🏧 ATMs: As a small town, Tulum experiences cash shortage on ATM machines. It is best to take out money once you arrive at Cancun International Airport, before taking your airport transfer to Tulum.
- 💳 Credit/debit cards: Credit cards are widely accepted in major establishments in Tulum but not everyone accepts Amex. Visa and Mastercard are the most accepted credit cards.
- 💸 Tipping: f you didn’t like the service, 10% will do but if you liked the service, you can tip up to 20%. Tipping is recommended especially in restaurants as Mexico’s daily minimum wage is very low. The tipping culture in Mexico and the US is the same so you can also tip as you would do it back home in the US.
⁉️ Tulum Travel FAQs
