What To Do in Tulum, Quintana Roo – México

I travelled to Tulum for four days in October 2018 and it was wonderful! Here’s a guide with everything you need to know about traveling to Tulum.

Transportation:

We travelled from the airport to Tulum using the ADO bus. It cost $252 pesos and the trip lasted approximately 2 hours. The bus makes one stop in Playa del Carmen before arriving in Tulum. From the bus station in Tulum, we walked to the house where we stayed.

Getting around Tulum – we used the following forms of transportation to get around the city:

Walk – We typically walked in the early morning and late evening when temperatures were moderate
Bike – bikes were included with our Airbnb; this was our primary means of transportation – DEFINITELY rent a bike in Tulum. The town is extremely bike-friendly
Colectivos – $35 pesos one way; we used this for traveling far distances down the main road; it has a hitch-hiking feel, but it’s a common, inexpensive way to get around town

It was very easy to get around Tulum. My cellular services worked as normal so I was able to use apps like “maps” to figure at where to go.

Weather:

Temperatures ranged from low to high 80s with partly cloudy to clear skies. We encountered midday rain a couple of the days, but it was off and on and only lasted approximately 30 minutes. It was very hot and I got a major tan so definitely bring a hat and sunscreen for protection.

Tulum Packing list:

Swimsuits and cover ups
A pair of Flip flops
A pair of Sandals
A pair of Gym shoes
One pair of jeans
Tops
Shorts
Beach towel
Snorkeling kit
Back pack or large tote bag
Crossbody purse
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Baseball cap or floppy hat
Portable phone charger
Water bottle
Umbrella/rain poncho

Money:

Initially, I planned to take $500 USD to Mexico. However, after consulting a friend who regularly travels internationally, I learned that all I needed to be comfortable was a couple hundred dollars. I ended up taking $400 USD (in cash) with me, but only exchanged $260 and that was more than enough to be comfortable.

The exchange rate for US Dollars to MX Pesos ranged from $15-$17. Definitely wait until you get to Mexico to exchange money and do not exchange at the airport.

Where to Stay:

We stayed in an Airbnb in the heart of Tulum and it was amazing! This 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house was very comfortable and came with bicycles for us to use during our trip. One of the neighbors served as the housekeeper and the host provided us with a number of recommendations for food and activities so that we could get an authentic Tulum experience.

Here’s a list of everything I did in Tulum: