Our guide will provide you with our insights, advice, and recommendations for your future travel to Tulum! We’re excited that you’ll be visiting our favorite destination and second home.
Before you travel to the United States by air
All air passengers returning to the United States from Mexico, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are no longer required to have a negative COVID-19 test result before flight departure before they board a flight to the United States.
GETTING AROUND
It is totally feasible to not rent a car, but you have to plan somewhat ahead. On weekends, it took us an hour to drive half a mile on the beach road because of potholes. So consider all of this before traveling up and down the beachside. We highly recommend booking your airport transfers and rides ahead of time (you can book in advance here). Alternatively, you can rent bikes, which is great if you’re staying in certain neighborhoods like Aldea Zama or La Veleta. Due to inflation costs and lack of ride-sharing, taxis are usually the go-to mode of transportation, but expect to pay high. Most of the taxis will not negotiate, as there are many tourists who will pay their fees. Our best advice is to ask for the price before you get into the vehicle and not after. We also recommend building your own Tulum adventure with our private Tulum transportation, see our prices here, and reserve a van for the day with unlimited stops.
WHERE TO STAY
Tulum is divided into these neighborhoods:
- Playa Paraiso (just south of the archaelogical zone);
- Tulum Beach (upscale boutique hotels, happening dinner experiences, and beach day clubs);
- Tulum Pueblo (Tulum Town for casual dining and accommodations);
- Aldea Zama (tucked between the beach and downtown, community neighborhood with villas and cafés); and
- La Veleta (bordering the edge of downtown, equivalent of Santa Monica’s Montana Street, dotted with upscale yoga studios, boutiques, cafés, and hotels, not the greatest roads and not exactly walking distance to the beach)
There is a neighborhood for everyone, but larger groups stay in Aldea Zama or La Veleta due to the bigger space. If your party is 6 persons or fewer, we recommend our hotel partners here.
Jashita Tulum. We love the aesthetics and vibe of Jashita. Beautifully designed and away from the public crowds. Feels like a 5-star boutique resort on its own island. Ideal for romantic couples or those who don’t want to deal with the loud party scenes or nightlife.
Jashita Villa (also known as Virginia Villa) in Aldea Zama, a sister property to Jashita Tulum, it is an ideal stay for larger groups of 8-10 persons. The aesthetics are clean and minimal. Best of all, it’s gated, private, and super spacious. There is a rooftop pool, large dining room, and outdoor concrete baths. We ordered in, and it was the best idea ever.
La Valise. One of the most luxurious and prettiest boutique properties on Tulum Beach, ideal for couples and small families. The breakfast views are amazing, and we love sunbathing leisurely on the private patio and their exclusive guests-only beach club beds.
XELA. Beautiful architecture and one of the best rooftop views we’ve seen in Tulum, ideal for couples and small families. The infinity pool and the lounge areas are perfect backdrops to relax or co-work.
NEST. Another one of our favorite accommodations on the beach. Casual, yet chic, and well-designed describes NEST perfectly. We celebrated our friend’s birthday here, and it was very memorable. Excellent customer service with celebration experience. The breakfast is included, and we love their exclusive guests-beach beds.
For accommodations, please contact us for recommendations and reservations. Our team will assist you with date availability and take care of your other bookings as well, such as transportation and tours.
WHERE TO EAT
We love eating in Tulum! There are plenty of dining options. From street tacos to high-end cuisine, Tulum has it all. Go down Avenida Satelite (avenue) at night and you can find several vendors from tacos, tortas, birria.
Taquería Honorio – They have a restaurant, but it used to be street food. Budget-friendly sit-down service, and the quality remains. They serve traditional Mayan food with handmade tortillas.
Negro Huilacoxe – Our favorite sit-down Mexican restaurant in centro Tulum. Must try their corn ribs and quesedillas.
Pinches Tacos – Our favorite tacos in the La Veleta neighborhood, asada and vegetarian, por favor. Also order their sides like the elote and guacamole.
El Agavero | Cocina Ancestral & Mezcaleria – A great place for local cuisine and pretty mezcal cocktails.
Il Bacaro – Our favorite pizzas and reasonably-priced cocktails in the La Veleta neighborhood.
Wang Tulum – Yes, you can find delicious Shanghai dumplings in Tulum. Look no further than this casual sit-on-crates eatery. Chef and owner, More, has her own family recipe and make them from scratch.
Sukothai – There is also legit good Thai food in Tulum. Not bad for Tulum. Order their curries, soups, and a boba drink to satisfy those Asian food cravings.
Burrito Amor – We ate here twice because we’re all about clean, healthy burritos with quality ingredients. My go-to is their rib eye burrito, marinated in epazote with whole black beans, purple onion, pico de gallo, and avocado.
ilios – This is our favorite new hot spot in Tulum to celebrate any special occasion for dinner. Delicious Mediterranean food, beautiful looking patrons, and a spectacular show, what more can you ask for. Be sure to contact our team to get the best tables here.
Fonda Huauzontle (no website), near Scotia Bank – The discovery of this hole-in-the-wall tiny restaurant made my day. For around $6 USD per person, you get a drink, soup, and a main entrée. And their daily dishes are so good. Try their chilaquiles or chicken mole.
WHAT TO DO
Tulum Ruins – If you haven’t been to the Tulum Ruins, do go! It’s a serene setting — the ruins overlooking the blue Caribbean waters below is a quite picturesque. It’s $5 USD to park your car and walk 10 minutes to the Ruins. I would also recommend hiring a private guide if you’re into history and culture. It’s simply fascinating. We also offer a Tulum Ruins and Cenote tour here, in case you wanted to book an experience without the hassle.
Cenotes (our private tours) – Of course, when in Tulum, it’s mandatory to visit a cenote or two. Cenotes are water-filled sinkholes created when the roof of an underground cavern collapses. The Mayans believed cenotes to be a gateway to Xibalba, the underworld, and the god of rain, Chaac, was believed to live at the bottom of these sacred open water pools. Tip: don’t wear sunscreen and respect nature when you’re in the cenote. Be sure to browse our cenote tours or read why you should book a cenote tour with us here.
Yacht, https://www.tulumyachts.com/ – One of the best Tulum experiences is chartering a boat for a few hours or a full day. Of course, browse Tulum Yachts, our sister company, for the best boat rentals.
We still have so many Tulum recommendations and photos to share. Stay tuned for other posts! And follow us on Instagram at gotulumtravel! ❤️
For other Tulum-related posts:
Most Instagrammable Spots in Tulum
Where Should You Stay in Tulum: Center or Beachside?
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If you need help with planning your trip to Tulum, contact us! We have a team that can help you with your Tulum transportation and tours!
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