Backpackers’ Guide to Tulum on a Budget

In City Guides, Mexico by Sheena4 Comments

Get set to tackle Tulum on a budget featuring information & prices on accommodation & transport for backpackers in Tulum Village.

Contents

Backpacking Tulum

The first thing to understand about Tulum is that it can be referred to 3 different areas:

  • Village
  • Beach
  • Ruins

They’re all close to each other but not within walking distance.

Backpackers like us should eat & sleep in Tulum Village.

Make a trip by taxi or on foot to the Ruins, which gives you access to a gorgeous, yet crowded, section of the Beach.

Tulum tour options:

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Erik at Temple of the Wind God

Erik at the Temple of the Wind God!

  • Tulum Village / Pueblo 

Highway 307 runs through the town centre.

Thus, it’s not a very attractive city, though it’s where you’ll find the cheapest food & accommodation in the area, along with souvenir shops, convenience shops & transport options.

If you’re on a budget, this is where to stay.

Photo courtesy of Hoja de Rutas.

Tulum Village

Budget travellers should stay in Tulum Village

  • Tulum Beach / Playa

Tulum Beach is one of the best beaches in Mexico. It’s a stretch of white sandy beach in Zona Hotelera, a hotel zone with around 70 rustic & boutique lodging options.

Most are cabanas with thatched palm roofs, though there are luxury resorts here too, as well as restaurants & bars.

Caribbean Sea at Tulum Beacj

Tulum Beach is sensational!

  • Tulum Ruins / Ruinas

An important Maya archaeological site sits atop a spectacular cliffside setting at the Tulum Ruins.

It’s a small complex with a lot of visitors but there’s no other place in Mexico where you can explore ruins lying amongst palm trees above a beach.

How to Get to Tulum Ruins

The cliffside, beach setting of Tulum is so spectacular that even the crowds can’t ruin in – find out what not to miss and how to get to the Tulum ruins

Read more
Tulum Ruins & Beach

Tulum Ruins has to be the most scenic archaeological site anywhere in the world!

Tulum Accommodation

We stayed at Hotel Maya, which is a couple of minutes walk down from the ADO bus station on Avenida.

A room with private bathroom & wifi was MN$300 pesos / $16.70.

It was adequate & clean enough but just like Tulum Village, it’s not somewhere you’d want to stay longer than you have to.

For more information check out Lonely Planet’s Mexico Travel Guide.

Hotel Maya in Tulum

Hotel Maya is one of the better budget options in town

Getting Around Tulum

Colectivos do not serve the nearby attractions around, such as the Gran Cenote.

There are no local buses either so this forces you to take taxis or walk very long distances in the heat, if you’re stubborn like us. You could also try hitchhiking.

Gran Cenote cave

Visit the Gran Cenote in Tulum

Getting to/from Tulum

The cheapest way to get to Tulum from Playa del Carmen is by colectivo. They depart very regularly from Calle 2 near Avenida 20. The ride costs M$40 pesos & takes 45 minutes.

Take an ADO bus to Chetumal, the route is not served by colectivos.

Tickets cost M$139 to M$155, depending on the discount you get – always book ADO buses at least a day in advance for up to 60% discounts.

Did you enjoy reading our Budget Guide to Tulum?!

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Tulum ruins beach

*** The Final Word – The cliffside setting of the Tulum ruins is unbeatable but Tulum Village is a dive ***

What do you think of Tulum – love it or hate it?

Visited in June 2016

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Comments

  1. We used bicycles as a way to get around! We rented bikes for 80 pesos a day and got around much faster to all the ruins and cenotes 🙂

  2. thanks I’m really anxious, I’ll travel end june with my son 10 years old 🙂

    1. Author

      Tulum is great, you’ll love it! Perhaps you could stay at one of the many resorts in Tulum to make you feel more at ease – and enjoy a bit of luxury at the same time. Have a great trip 🙂

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