Best way to visit Tulum on a budget

Tulum has become a super popular destination, and for good reason. With some of the best beaches in all of Mexico, good vibes, and a mix of local and gentrified experiences it’s a hotspot for those looking to truly escape. But, as always, that comes with a cost. That’s why I’ve put together this guide on how to visit Tulum on a budget, to help you visit without breaking the bank.

So if you’re looking to find how to save on your hotel, airfare, where to eat, and what to do on a budget you’ve found the right place. And if you’re looking to learn more about budget travel hacking be sure to check out my complete guide (so you can start saving money and traveling more).

Is Tulum expensive?

Tulum is no longer the backpacker-friendly destination it was ten years ago. Instead trendy bars, member-only beaches, and acai bowls have brought with it higher costs than similar beach towns across Mexico. However if you have your heart set on visiting Tulum you can still do it on a budget, and I’ll show you how. 

Just know that going into a trip to Tulum you need to set your expectations to your budget. If you’re set on trendy beach resorts you’ve seen on Instagram you’ll likely be paying $350-$550 per night. But with a few small changes you can save money on your trip.

>> Choosing between Tulum and Playa del Carmen? Check out my guide to choosing the best destination for you.

Tulum trip cost: my experience

I found that with the right mindset Tulum can still be an affordable travel destination. One of the biggest things to keep in mind is that it is touristy so you have to get off the beaten path and know a bit about Mexico to find ways to save while also having a more local experience.

All to say, prices are high in Tulum only because the tourists make it that way.

On my own trip I paid less than $1,200 for two, including my airfare, hotel stay, activities, and food. But I know people who have spent well over $5,000 on their trip (because they didn’t know how to find the savings).

 Here’s how I saved money on my own trip (for two):

• We flew to Cancun with airline miles at just 20,000 American Airlines miles and about $80 per person round trip from Kansas City (Don’t forget to download my favorite app to help you do the same!)
• Upon arrival at the Cancun airport I booked two tickets on the ADO bus to Tulum. We booked the next bus from the airport, which had a stop in Playa del Carmen, but you can also book a direct bus depending on your timetable. I booked the ADO bus back to the airport. The ticket is about $15 each way on an air conditioned bus.
• We took the collectivo (more on that below) to get around most of the time. This is very local with little to no signage about how and where to be picked up and dropped off. But if you can navigate it you can pay less than $0.50 per ride. 
• I booked a Booking.com hotel deal and saved hundreds of dollars for the weeklong stay. In the end I paid $90 per night for our hotel stay for a November off-season booking for a hotel in the Tulum Pueblo.
• We ate local food about 50% of the time, with street food and taquerias making up the majority of what we ate. Because we saved so much money on our hotel and airfare, we opted to eat Tulum’s known-for amazing gastronomy for the other 50% of our dining experiences.
• I booked two guided experiences and did the rest of our activities on a DIY basis.

With these savings hacks, we spent 5 nights in Tulum and spent $1,156 for two people.

How to save money on your trip to Tulum

There are a few proven ways to help you save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, on your own trip to Tulum. Here are a few of the best ways:

Getting to Tulum on a budget

Because there are so many airlines and two airport options flying to Tulum can actually be pretty cheap if you have some flexibility in your travel dates. You can either fly into Cancun or directly into Tulum’s new airport, the only difference is the hour and 40-minute drive you’ll add if flying to Cancun.

If you have travel points (like with a travel rewards card) you can transfer you points to book flights really cheap, just paying about $80 in taxes roundtrip. I recommend using Point.Me to easily find your best airfare deals with points. You likely have savings you didn’t even know about!

When should you visit?

Mexico has such a seasonality to travel which really impacts the price per night. I’d recommend traveling shoulder (or even off season if you don’t mind a chance of rain) to save big.

April and May are some of the best months to visit to save money and beat the crowds. But I’ve visited the Yucatan during hurricane season in October and November and had no problems.

Travel Tip! If you have a flexible schedule, try Thrifty Traveler. They offer some amazing flight deals (like $120 to Cancun from Kansas City). You can use code KENDYL10 for an additional discount!

Taking the bus from Cancun to Tulum

Currently the cheapest option to get from Cancun’s airport to Tulum is the ADO bus. You can easily purchase your bus ticket in advance or at the counter upon arrival in Cancun. There are several busses that run directly to Tulum from the airport but depending on your arrival time a transfer in Playa del Carmen can get you to Tulum faster.

The new Tren Maya is open for some routes but the Cancun to Tulum connection is not yet operational. This will give you another option to get to Tulum from Cancun but will also cost more than the ADO bus.

How to save money on hotels in Tulum

Tulum is actually broken into two parts: Tulum Playa (Beach) and Tulum Pueblo (Town). Most tourists stay in Tulum Beach where everything from food to taxis to hotels is higher in cost.

Tulum Pueblo is the more local area, yet still highly touristy, that has some amazing restaurants, hotels, and just a better overall local(ish) Mexican vibe. Staying in Pueblo will cut your hotel cost in half (or more) making it well worth the trip to the beach instead of staying on it.

Keep in mind that Tulum sees a high and low season. During high season (December to April) prices will be considerably higher.

Where to stay in Pueblo

• Kaab Tulum (my top choice!)
• Botånica Tulum
• Meteora Stay & Coffeehouse Tulum

Where to stay on the beach (on a budget)

• Hotel Poc Na Tulum (my top choice!)
• Playa Selva
• Uman Glamping & Cenote Tulum

Want to stay at a resort? Consider using points and miles on a hotel stay. One of the best redemptions in Tulum is staying at the Secrets Tulum Resort and Spa for starting at 25,000 points a night (compared to $550+). You can transfer Chase points to Hyatt to book this hotel.

One of the easiest ways to save more money on your hotel is to login to your hotel account when booking. Booking.com is my favorite because you can see huge savings on your hotel stay! 

How to get around: Take the collectivo

The collectivo system is one of the best ways to save money on transportation in Mexico. You basically find the right van headed in the direction you want to go, tell the driver where you want to get off, and pay a small fee.

If you feel overwhelmed taking public transportation in another country try asking your hotel how to take the collectivo and they’ll show you the ropes. But I promise you can do it!

Where to eat in Tulum on a budget

I’ll be the first to admit I went to an amazing sushi restaurant and had perfect acai bowls in Tulum but one of the best ways to save money is skipping those places and going inland to find more local offerings. 

Here’s a list of some of my favorite cheap eats:

Tacos de Canasta

This place opens every morning at 10:00am with a line down the block. The tacos are steamed with whatever meats of the day in a large basket and are just delightful. They also serve fresh orange juice, which I recommend trying.

Be sure to arrive early, as they are there until they run out every day. 

La Reyna de Michoacan

Paletas, or popsicles, are this place’s specialty and it’s no wonder why. With amazing flavors, the perfect location, and not to mention popsicles in the yucatan, it’s a stop worth making. (I highly recommend trying the chili and mango.)

The best Tacos al Pastor

Located on the corner of Geminis Sur and Avenida Tulum, this al pastor stall is open in the evenings during the street food market. You can get 5 tacos for less than $3 and they’ll be some of the best you’ve ever had.

Antojitos la Chiapaneca

Located right on the main strip of Tulum Pueblo you’ll find this authentic taqueria. Two favorites are their al pastor, which is sliced thin with a pineapple on top and their cochinita pibil. Get yourself a glass of horchata and enjoy some authentic tacos for lunch or dinner.

La Campechanita

Located at the end of the main road you’ll find this family-run vendor selling their famous shrimp and other seafood tacos. It’s a bit off the main strip but you can’t miss it once you get close, as locals will be lined up to get their tacos during lunch.

CantinaRoo

If you have never experienced a Mexican cantina you are missing out. Though each one is slightly different the general understanding is that you pay for drinks and you’ll get free food. Come here and listen to some live music, dancing, and drink a Corona. 

Other affordable places to eat

- Burrito Amor | $6 bean and cheese burrito that's as big as your head
- La Coqueta Tulum  $5 chimighanga and $4 fries
- El Alux Restaurante Bar | $7 relleno negro and cochinita pibil 

Things to do in Tulum on a budget

Tulum is really a place of price gouging when it comes to guided experiences. You can (and should) save a lot of money by avoiding most guided tours, especially for the Tulum Ruins and cenote experiences.

You can visit these places on your own for a fraction of the price. Basically, your best bet to save in Tulum is to follow my 70/30 rule. 70% of your activities should be local and/or DIY and 30% should be guided experiences or more touristy activities.

Here are a few things you can do on a budget in Tulum:

Eat everything during a food tour

Though the upfront cost is higher, this guided food tour will feed you enough for an entire day. You’ll learn a lot about traditional Yucatan foods and find some truly local spots to go back to on your own, which will save you money over the course of your trip.

Visit local cenotes

While cenotes like Cenote Zacil-Ha, Cenote Dos Ojos, and Cenote Ik Kil are super popular and beautiful, they also have higher price tags to visit.

Instead consider Centoe Cristal (my personal favorite – there were 3 people there when we arrived) or Cenote Escondido. These less-toured options will give you amazing vibes around 150 pesos per person.

How do you get to the cenotes? There are a few ways to get to the local cenotes. Some collectives will run routes but you can also rent a scooter or take a taxi. Ask your hotel which option is easiest to get you there. We rented a scooter for the entire day and visited a few cenotes with our $20 rental from our hotel. 

Check out the Tulum Ruins (without a guide)

Unless you’re a huge history buff, you don’t need a guide to visit the Tulum Ruins. Instead visit yourself and just pay a small entrance fee of less than $5. (You can read up on the ruins’ history before and after your visit.)

Join a taco tour with a local

I highly recommend this taco tour with a local guide for less than $40 per person. You do have to pay for your tacos (each one is less than $1) but you’ll get a great look at some local hotspots while learning a little bit more about Tulum’s history.

Head to the public beach

Playa Paraís is one of Mexico’s best public beaches with locals from the entire Yucatan coming here on the weekends. The best part? It’s free to visit.

If you want a more luxury experience at the beach you can get a ResortPass. This gives you a day pass access to some of the best beach resorts in Tulum without having to pay thousands to stay there for the week.

FAQs

More Tulum Tips + Inspiration

I hope you enjoy your trip to Tulum! There are so many ways you can save money on your own trip if you just think a little outside the box. Here are some more helpful posts for your planning:

• Are you deciding if you want to visit Tulum or Playa del Carmen? I’ve created a helpful comparison to help you choose
• Don’t miss my Cancun packing list for a perfect list of what to bring on your trip