Hey everyone!
I know it’s been an eternity since I last updated my website, but I’m back and I can’t wait to show you guys what’s coming! I’ve been really busy these past few weeks between moving into my new place, organizing all the upcoming content and planning a really special project I will be telling you guys about in the next few days!
Anyway, I’m so excited to be sharing this post with you guys. Recently I traveled to Tulum, Mexico with my boyfriend, my girl Claudia Frau and some other friends. Every day was an adventure – we had such an amazing time. I never expected Tulum to be so beautiful. Tulum is one of those hidden gems that is gaining popularity as a tourist destination recently. Its location on the Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula puts it in such a beautiful area and region. It has all the same gorgeous beaches that Cancun has, but without the massive touristy crowds. Some people even call it the Paris of Mexico. It’s a hot spot for yoga retreats, boutique shopping, resorts, and nightlife.
What to expect:
Language: Spanish is the main language spoken, although most working in the tourism industry also speak English.
Currency: The Mexican Peso is the currency in Tulum. $1 USD = 19.77 Mexican Peso (amount is subject to change)
Credit Cards and Banks: Upmarket restaurants and hotels will take Visa and Mastercard payments etc, but your best bet is to always carry cash. While US Dollars are accepted at some restaurants and shops, you’ll typically end up paying more than if you pay with Pesos, so take advantage of any of the local ATMs in town not the beach road. The ATMs in town charge you a low exchange rate.
Safety: Tulum is extremely safe, but like any destination, don’t leave your belongings unattended, don’t carry money in your hand, and please be respectful of the locals and the flora and fauna. You are fine to walk around at night, just use your street smarts and be aware of your surroundings.
Climate: The average temperature for Tulum remains at about 80 °F (30°C) throughout the year. It’s hot and tropical. The rainiest time of the year is between June and October, while the busiest season for tourism is in the dry period between November and April. However, the rain in Tulum always fluctuates. The rain comes and goes, it never rains for a full day. Our weather apps would always tell us that it would rain all day and it would always come and go.Other things to note:
– There is a seaweed problem:
There’s an overabundance of Sargassum seaweed scattered throughout the Tulum shore. I say this only because I don’t want to trick anyone into expecting the typical Caribbean turquoise, see-through waters to swim in that you would see in others parts of Mexico. However, it all depends on the day. Sometimes the beach would be crystal clear and seaweed-free for a day or two but then they would come right back.
– Mosquitos in Tulum:
It’s a wet, tropical country so there are many mosquitos. How much of a problem are they? Quite problematic. I barely got bit by mosquitos but all my friends would get devoured by them daily!
Getting around in Tulum:
Tulum is a relatively small town, but it is divided into four main areas. Most things are a little far to walk to, so renting a bike, getting a taxi or renting a car will be your best bet. We rented a car for the entire time we were there and this was the most comfortable option. We stayed at an Airbnb so the car was great for shopping at the grocery store.
Tulum Town: The main town area is located right by Highway 307, while the beach is a little further away, and is home to several markets, spas and hotels. This is where the banks, shops, cafes and the small nightlife district is located, and is the first part of Tulum you will see when you arrive.
Aldea Zama: Aldea Zama is a newly built, eco-friendly and luxury residential area, located between Tulum and the Caribbean beaches, directly in the jungle. Theres a huge variety of extremely affordable luxury Airbnbs and hotels in this area. All the Airbnbs we stayed at were there. Aldea Zama is about 20 minutes from the main hotel road in Tulum so again, renting a car is your best bet! Taxis tend to charge a very high price for transportation between Aldea Zama and the main hotel road.
Tulum Beach Road: This road is where you begin to see the beautiful Caribbean beach, so if you’re looking to relax and unwind this is the place to go. It has a beautiful white sand beach, great restaurants, a few boutiques, spas, and several hotels. The great thing about this road is that you can take a whole day to walk around and check out all the different bars, cafes, and boutiques it has to offer. You can even stop by the hotel resorts and lay by the beach, eat lunch and have drinks too. However, keep in mind that most hotels require you to spend a minimum of 250-1,000 pesos ($30-50 USD) if you want to spend the day there. (I will be posting a second Tulum Blogpost with all the hotels we visited and our reviews on them!)
Tulum Ruins: The ruins are a short distance away from Tulum Town. If you didn’t rent a car, there are plenty of taxis that can be found in all three areas of Tulum that can take you to the ruins. This is where you can explore the Mayan ruins that date from the 13th and 15th centuries.
Transportation from Cancun to Tulum:
When you travel to Tulum, you fly through the Cancun airport (CUN). I recommend getting a private transfer with a bus company, paying around $60-80 USD for a taxi or renting your own car. There are dozens of car rental companies you can find right outside the airport.
We rented a car through Hertz and it was a terrible experience. They lied to us about our vehicle price and continued to charge us for inexplicable fees. It wasn’t just us, almost EVERYONE in line at the Cancun Hertz location were furiously arguing with the employees. So pro tip: Don’t use Hertz. If you’re considering a car I would recommend going outside the Cancun airport when you arrive and there you’ll find numerous trustworthy Mexican car companies that would charge you extremely cheap prices.
Is Tulum Safe?
The short answer is yes. I have been twice this year and felt that the town, Aldea Zama, and the main beach road are very safe. We always felt comfortable walking at night. While Tulum is safe, it isn’t as safe to leave your belongings unattended wether you are at a restaurant, bar or even the resorts! Always keep an eye on your things.
So despite what you probably heard about Mexico being super dangerous and violent against tourists, it’s practically nonexistent in Tulum. But if you are traveling to Mexico, I suggest you check the US Department of State’s website for advisories in particular areas and read up on the current situation.
Something I did have to mention before I finish up with Part I of this post:
Tourism is destroying the local ecosystem. I only recently learned about this in the documentary on Tulum called The Dark Side of Tulum. The intention of this documentary is to not only create awareness, but to establish real environmental change, present real solutions, and feature the stakeholders who are making a difference. I highly recommend we all do our part so we can protect magical Tulum!
Also, something we noticed is that while we followed all the COVID guidelines, most tourist were incredibly disrespectful and never followed the local guidelines (face masks, social distancing, etc). All hospitality employees followed the guidelines perfectly but it was frustrating to see a lot of tourists not being mindful of other peoples’ health and constantly littering.
Alright, that’s it for Part I. Thank you for reading! I hope you guys liked this Tulum intro blog post. I’m currently working on Part II which will be a specific guide on where to eat, what to do, several reviews of the best hotels to visit and more info on the Airbnb we stayed in at Aldea Zama. Stay tuned!
