If you ever googled for the best tropical destinations around the world then it is very likely that Tulum was featured in every article. Because of the beautiful beaches, the tropical weather, the amazing food and the bohemian lifestyle, loads of people around the world love to travel to Tulum and spent their summer or winter holiday here.
But did you know that Tulum is officially just a little town in the jungle that is about a 15 minute drive from the beach and doesn’t have any airports close by? If you want to travel to Tulum you fly into Cancun and from there you can take a bus (2h) or take a private shuttle (1.5h).
The private shuttle can drop you off at any location but if you travel by bus you arrive at the bus terminal in the town of Tulum. The town itself only consists of one long main street with some residential buildings around it and has a complete different vibe then when you arrive at the beach area where all the big hotels are located. The town is cute and although there is mass tourism it still has a local vibe to it.
So where should you stay? You can stay both in the town or at the so called ‘Zona Hotelera’ at the beach, both have a collection of beautiful and great hotels and both have a lot to offer. One is also not excluding the other since you can travel to the beach or town easily by bike, scooter, car or taxi.
Staying at the beach area is more expensive, not only the hotels are more pricey but also the prices in the restaurants are a lot higher and you don’t really find any supermarkets in this area to do basic groceries. Since most hotels are located right on the beach the benefit is that you can dip in the warm water of the Caribbean ocean in just a few steps. This area is also the place to be if you’re into nightlife and fancy dining.
If you like to stay close to the beach we would recommend you to check out the beautiful small design hotel ‘Tulum Treehouse‘.
Staying in the town is a more affordable option, there are plenty of great hotels here as well and the town offers the best local restaurants in the entire area for decent prices. Staying in the town means that you are not close to the beach but you can still get there easily. Keep in mind though that if you want to travel back from the beach to the town in the evening or at night biking is not a safe option and we would advice to take a taxi.
If you stay in the town than we would recommend to take a look at ‘Jungle Keva Tulum‘, an award winning hotel with a beautiful pool, yoga classes and free bikes!
What can I do in and around Tulum?
Besides the beautiful palm tree beach, Tulum has a couple of other great things to offer. Along the coast you can find one of the Mayan ruins and around the entire area you can find tons of cenotes where you can swim or dive in. Tulum is also very known for its art installations, small musea and boutique clothing shops that are definitely worth a visit. Also try to get a seat in the Azulik bar during sunset, it is absolutely stunning.
If you have a bit more time you can take a tour or rent a car and go to Chichén-Itzá, one of the New World Wonders. Because of its popularity it is a very touristic location but the history is very impressive and for that reason an interesting visit if you are up for a little road trip.
Tulum might not be cheap but it is truly one of the most perfect summer destinations in the world.
