I have to admit I loved my recent trip to Tulum, Mexico. Saying the pueblo is laid back is an insult. There’s not a lot to do other than relax and eat, but that’s exactly what Tulum does well. Tulum boasts high-end, new-age Mexican flare intermingled with local taco shops and street vendors supplying touristy trinkets. It’s bohemian and it’s cool. And it’s got a freshness that makes it inviting to tourists but local enough to keep you interested. You can spend hundreds of dollars a day in this town at lavish hotels and 5-star eateries but Tulum can still be a budget traveler’s paradise. Here’s how to explore Tulum, Mexico on a budget with the Tulum budget travel guide:

Tulum Beach v. Tulum Pueblo

It’s important to start by saying that Tulum is split into two areas: Tulum Beach and Tulum Pueblo. Tulum Beach is exactly as it sounds, it’s the beach town. Whereas Tulum Pueblo is about 5km inland and has a more “local” feel. Tulum Beach hotels and restaurants are far more expensive than the Pueblo. I’d recommend saving money by staying and eating in Pueblo and renting a bike or scooter to get to the beach. Additionally, some hotels in Pueblo have partnership with the beach resorts and you can meet a minimum spend at the resort to stay for the day on their private beach.

Getting There

If you’re headed to Tulum via air, you’re most likely landing at the Cancun International Airport. From the Cancun Airport the easiest and most cost-effective way to get to Tulum Pueblo is taking the ADO bus from the airport.

There are a couple direct busses from Cancun Airport that run to Tulum throughout the day but your flight time has to work just right to land one. Your best bet is to take the ADO bus to Playa del Carmen, which runs every 30 minutes, and then a separate ticket to Tulum. You can purchase your bus ticket right outside the airport terminals at the ADO stand. At the time of writing this, the stand only takes cash. The bus ride to Playa del Carmen is about an hour long and will cost you about $11 usd per person.

When you arrive at the Playa del Carmen bus station purchase another ticket for a bus to Tulum. The ticket office will want to put you on the next bus available and it’s most likely a second-class bus. (Just expect not as many amenities and you’ll be fine!) The bus ticket from Playa del Carmen to Tulum Pueblo will be about $3 usd per person and take about 45 minutes.

If you’re not interested in taking the bus or have a strange arrival time, you can negotiate a taxi from the airport to Tulum for around $110-120 usd. You could also ask your hotel to schedule a pick-up at the airport.

Where to Stay: Best places to stay on a budget

It’s far more cost-effective to stay in Tulum Pueblo than Tulum Beach. I got a great rate of $90 a night at the Coco Hacienda Tulum, a Mr. and Mrs. Smith boutique hotel at the end of the strip. It’s boasts a millennial feel with most guests under 35. The hotel was amazing but if you’re on a budget know that the cocktails at the hotel are excellent and worth it (but pricey) and you can find cheaper accommodations without the additional amenities elsewhere in town.

In general, most hotel rooms will run you around $80-$175 in Tulum Pueblo.

With the majority of accommodations in Tulum boutique hotels, consider booking on hotels.com. Every 11th night is free with the rewards program and most of the Tulum hotel options are available to book through the site.

Things to do in Tulum on a budget

Tulum is a small town with a laidback lifestyle. With a “go slow” mentality, leisure activities generally involve eating or swimming. Here are a couple of my favorite budget things to do.

Food Tour

Tulum has two things it does well: food and leisure. Be sure to get involved in the local food scene by taking one of the many food tours available. We took two tours while in Pueblo. The first was Eating with Carmen which I booked through Viator. (I used Rakuten for 10% cashback on my purchase, too.) We loved the food tour so much we booked a Tulum Taco Tour Airbnb Experience with Victoria.

If you only have time to choose one, I’d recommend the Airbnb food tour with Victoria. Victoria was very knowledgable and gave some great suggestions for our stay in Tulum, too. Since it was a small tour, the spots she takes you to are super local and she offers a variety of taco types throughout the tour, too. Her tour costs you $19 per person to book plus the costs of the food you decide to eat. Almost all the tacos are less than $0.75 a piece you can purchase. More than anything, you’re paying for her expertise and local experience.

Visit the best cenotes in Tulum

There are many, many cenotes to choose from in and around Tulum. Some are super Instagram-worthy, which has made them quite expensive and crowded to visit. If you’re not into swimming for hours and lounging around, you most likely won’t get your money’s worth at many of the cenotes around Tulum. I found this guide super helpful in choosing the best cenotes for our trip.

We opted to just visit one cenote, Cristal Cenote located to the south of town. Cristal is known for being a more local environment and few tour groups and cheaper admission ($7 usd). The water is crystal clear with an open-air format, a couple decks and tall jumping platform. You’re likely to spot some snorkelers coming to the surface before heading into the caves below, too.

It’s important to know that some cenotes require a guided tour. If you like to snorkel or dive, purchasing a guided experience might be worth it. But if you just want to hangout and enjoy the views heading to a cheaper, more local cenote for a couple hours would be the best use of your money.

Tulum Beach

Tulum Beach is located about 5km to Tulum Pueblo. There are multiple public beach areas, all of which are free to visit. Some resorts and hotels allow you to utilize their beach space if you pay a minimum food and beverage, too. You can easily access the beach from Pueblo via bike or scooter rental or opt for a taxi. The taxis from town to the beach will charge around $10 usd, which is about the same rate as a daily bike rental.

How to visit the Tulum Ruins

The Tulum Ruins are a large archeological site of the Mayans and includes standing structures and walking trails. The best part of the ruins are the stunning ocean views among the cliffs. Once inside the site, the ruins also include access to a small beach. There are many street vendors trying to sell touristy items between the entrance to the walking path and the ruin ticket office. All the vendors are incredibly overpriced not worth your time.

You can go to the ruins alone or can hire a guide at the gate. We opted to learn a bit beforehand and only pay the $4 usd entrance fee per person. A taxi can take you from Pueblo for about $5 usd one-way. But be warned, the taxi stand heading back to Pueblo will want to charge you double. I’d recommend taking the local transportation, a colectivo van, back to Pueblo. The colectivo stand is just a short walk from the start of the Tulum Ruins park. It will cost you around $1.20 usd to return to town.

Other Things to Do

You can venture away from from Tulum and visit some great reserves and Mayan sites in the Yukatan area, too. Most hotels can help coordinate group tours but you can also opt to rent a car and visit some of the sites yourself. It might include places like:
- Punta Laguna Nature Reserve
- Day trip to the Coba or Chichen Itza Ruins
- Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve - I've been told to see the best parts of the park you must go with a guide 

Where to eat in Tulum

Tulum has a great mix of high-end foodie favorites and street food classics that make it a perfect town to explore multiple cuisines at a variety of price points. Compared to US prices, the high-end establishments (think small plates, new-age menus with fancy DJs and cocktails) will run a party of two about $40-60 for a couple drinks, appetizers and entrees. Of anywhere I’d recommend getting off the budget food scene for a night or two, it would be Tulum. The cosmopolitan approach with fantastic local ingredients has created a dynamic and well-versed food scene. So splurge, please. But, there’s also some cheap eats worthy of your time, too. Here are just a couple of my recommendations:

Humo

This small plate eatery features new-age Mexican cuisine that’s mostly cooked over a wood grill with a DJ playing oddly funky music throughout your meal. What the restaurant might lack in its cocktails (they were fine) it more than makes up for in its interesting assortment of Mexican options. I recommend the guacamole and the octopus tacos.

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El Grifo Tulum

If you’re into craft beer or spirits, this place has a great selection for an afternoon pick-me-up. The bar features locally crafted mezcal and beer selection that is specially curated. It’s a small place in the middle of the main street in Pueblo – you can’t miss it.

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Tacos de Canasta

This taco stand is only open from 10:00a until the tacos run out Monday-Saturday at the entrance of the El Asadero restaurant. The family makes amazing steamed tacos with a variety of fillings. You can choose from different salsas and vegetables to go on top. A taco here will cost you around $0.60 usd each – well worth the investment. Locals also come for their fresh orange juice.

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The Best Al Pastor

There is a small night street market where the main street meets Calle Geminis S. On the corner closest to the Scotiabank are the best al pastor tacos in town. And the best part? Five tacos will cost you less than $2.50 usd.

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Burrito Amor

This place is 100% catering to the tourists and no one else but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. The restaurant is all about clean eating through healthy, local ingredients and the burritos (think very clean eating Chipotle) are excellent. The burritos are very large and come wrapped in banana leaves. They are large enough that with an appetizer you can split one with a friend.

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La Reyna de Michoacan

On a hot Tulum day stop by La Reyna for some popsicles with Mexican flavors. A local favorite is the pineapple with chili. The stand is located right by the park, it’s the perfect place to stop after walking around town for a couple hours.

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