Headed to the Riviera Maya in Mexico and wondering how to get around Tulum? We’ve got you covered. This once quaint town a couple of hours south of Cancun has turned into a hotspot for digital nomads and immigrants with bouge boutiques, swanky apartments, grand hotels and tasty restaurants, it’s easy to see why it’s become so popular. However, with a rise in popularity comes challenges, such as increased footfall, more cars on the roads and endless construction projects interrupting the infrastructure.
In this blog, we take a look at the best ways of getting around Tulum, give you an insight into our experience, and hopefully give you everything you need to know to ensure transport headaches aren’t a key theme of your trip.
How to Get Around Tulum in 2024
1. Bike
The easiest and most cost-efficient way to get around Tulum is on two wheels. Renting a bike is the go-to option for most people. Tulum is flat, and there are cycle lanes on many of the roads, making it safe too.
Additionally, most shops and restaurants have bike parking, so you can go about your day without worrying if your bike will be there when you return.
However, there are downsides to using a bike. If you want to explore further than Tulum, you’ll be riding on some pretty busy highways with big trucks passing at speed and dust flying everywhere. Also, it can get pretty damn hot. Riding early in the morning and around sunset is okay, but in the middle of the day, it is tough going!
Also, consider where you’re staying and where you want to visit. If you’re staying in the hotel zone, it’s around a 15-25-minute ride into Tulum Centro.
We rented a bike for around $100-150 MXN pesos per day, and it made our time in Tulum much more enjoyable. We stayed on the edge of Tulum Centro and were able to get to the beach, Mayan ruins, Cenote Cristal, Palma Central, and explore all of Centro on bikes.
🚲 If you’re looking for some adventure but don’t want to rent a bike for your whole trip, this 5-star trail bike cenote tour takes you through the jungle to cool off in 2 or 3 cenotes and includes lunch to fuel your ride!
🚴 Alternatively, if you don’t fancy peddling in the heat, this e-bike tour will give you the same sense of adventure but without the aching legs.
2. Scooter / Moped
Still thinking about how to get around Tulum because you don’t fancy cycling? A moped or motorbike could be your next best option. With prices starting around $400 – 500 MXN pesos per day, it’s another cost-effective way to explore this area of the Riviera Maya with the freedom of your own transportation.
One main benefit of a moped or motorbike is you can travel further and faster, meaning your exploring range is broadened, and you’ll be able to pack more into your itinerary. Also, it means you can bypass all the traffic (Tulum Centro and the main roads in and out of the town can get very busy!).
We wouldn’t recommend a moped unless you’re a confident rider. Most of the time, the roads are relatively quiet, but when the traffic stacks up, Mexican drivers aren’t shy of switching lanes quickly and squeezing through tiny gaps.
🤿 One of the best things we did in Tulum, and can highly recommend is this snorkelling tour. Head out to shallow reefs and swim with turtles, sting rays, and other tropical fish.
🌍 Alternatively, if you’re short on time and want to squeeze multiple things in, take this 5-star private tour which takes you to Mayan ruins, reef snorkelling, cenotes and caves.
3. Car
Renting a car in Tulum isn’t a great idea. Honestly, it will take ages to get anywhere, and then you’ll have to find parking, which is such a headache. Your accommodation will probably have parking available, but if you wanted to go out for dinner, you’d probably find yourself searching for a space for ages, followed by giving up, parking at your accommodation and walking or taking a taxi.
If you want to take a day trip to somewhere further afield, perhaps down to Bacalar or similar, we’d suggest renting a car with DiscoverCars, but if you’re not planning to go further than an hour away from Tulum, a car is definitely not needed. It’s more hassle than it’s worth, and it’s expensive.
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4. Colectivo
Colectivos are minivans that act as buses in the local area. They run up and down the Riviera Maya, with a route going north to Playa Del Carmen or continuing south. However, they aren’t a great option to get around Tulum itself. You could take one from Tulum Centro to Tulum Ruins, but that’s about it.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to get to some cenotes or explore areas outside of Tulum itself, then Colectivos are perfect for this. The buses run frequently, every 10 – 15 minutes, and cost just $40 – 60 MXN pesos.
One thing to note is, the buses only run in Centro. There aren’t colectivos in Tulum’s hotel zone. So, if you’re staying here, you’ll need to make your way to Centro before getting on a bus.
5. Taxi
When wondering how to get around Tulum, most people instantly think a taxi would be the best option. While this is incredibly convenient, as there are hundreds of taxis around, it is super expensive.
Even though the prices are stipulated by the local government, they are significantly higher than surrounding areas. For example, in Playa Del Carmen, we paid $200 MXN pesos for a 10-minute journey. In Tulum, it cost us double that at $400 MXN pesos!
If budget isn’t a concern for you, then taxis are great. However, for budget-conscious travellers, we’d suggest only getting taxis if it’s a last resort.
🛕One trip you might want to consider getting a private driver for is a day out to Chichen Itza. Get driven to one of the 7 wonders of the world, enjoy the morning with a private guide, and then head to Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman to cool off, before finishing with a local lunch in beautiful Valladolid.
6. Walking
Last on the list of ways to get around Tulum is walking. Tulum is a picturesque town, and if you’re not planning on venturing far, walking means you can get up close with your exploring. If you’re staying in Centro and only plan on going further out a few times, then we suggest walking. You’ll meet more people, find spots you’d never otherwise have seen, and experience what life’s really like in Tulum.
On the days you want to go further afield, you can choose from one of the other ways to get around Tulum we’ve already mentioned. We decided to rent bikes for half our time in Tulum and walked the rest.
If we needed to get further afield, we took a colectivo and only took a couple of taxi journeys (to and from the bus station because we had all our luggage).
🌮 Even if you don’t decide to walk all the time, you should spend some time on your feet doing this 5-star walking food tour in Tulum. It takes you to some of the best local spots to try authentic Mexican dishes!
How to Get Around Tulum: FAQs
What is the best way to get around Tulum?
A bike is definitely the best way to get around Tulum. The area is relatively flat, the roads are wide and there are plenty of cycle lanes. Additionally, most restaurants and shops have bike stands outside, so you can lock your bike up when you’re away from it. It’s also the cheapest mode of transport.
Do you need to rent a car in Tulum?
Renting a car in Tulum isn’t recommended unless you want to take a lengthy road trip. The roads in Tulum regularly get busy with bumper-to-bumper traffic, making it slow-going to get anywhere. If you want to get around, a bike or motorbike are much better options than a car. However, if you’re planning on doing some day trips away from Tulum, we recommend renting a car using DiscoverCars.
🚘 Haven’t arranged getting to and from Cancun airport yet? This 5-star private transfer will get you there quickly and in comfort. And, it means you won’t have to wait in line for a busy bus.
How to Get Around Tulum Summarised
Getting around Tulum is easy because you have so many options. Honestly, you’ll probably find that you use a mixture of all the above because circumstances will dictate your chosen transport method. Our ultimate recommendation is to plan your trip with transport in mind. That way, you can rent bikes or a moped for the days you’ll be exploring close by, rent a car for a day or two of going further afield, and plan to grab the colectivo for a trip to Playa Del Carmen.
What we know is whichever way you choose to get around, you’re going to have an amazing time in Tulum!
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