Quick Guide to Tulum

Since Tulum is only 45 minutes away from PDC, we took a few day trips via the ADO bus and colectivo. I wanted to provide a quick travel guide to Tulum, in case you’re interested in visiting Tulum while staying in PDC.

Tulum is split into three zones:

• Downtown/Town center (Puebla): The main area of Tulum, where the colectivo and ADO bus will drop off/pick up passengers
• Hotel zone (Zona Hotelera): A narrow road that is near most of the beaches
• Tulum Ruins: Where the Mayan structures, and Mayan beach, are located

Note: The colectivo from PDC to Tulum should cost ~MXN 44 (~$2.20), while the ADO bus should cost ~MXN 65.

Where to play

Relax on the beach

The hotel zone has a long narrow road that offers restaurants, cafes, eco-chic hotels, boutique shops, and high-end resorts of both sizes. You can access the beach side from the main entrance, or almost any hotel/resort.

• Coco Tulum: This eco-chic hotel is located at the top part of the hotel zone. Coco Tulum provides beach chairs and umbrellas, as well as a platform with swings overlooking the beach and more seating options. In order to relax in front of their hotel, you have to buy a drink or food. There’s also free wifi provided.
• Casa Malca: Located at the bottom of the hotel zone, Casa Malca is Pablo Escobar’s former estate. It’s a beautiful chic hotel that captures you as soon as you see the entrance. The entry doors are made of tree trunks, and you’ll find antique furniture dangling like swings on each side of the entryway. Beside these swings are what look like curtains or wedding gowns sewed together, draping. The inside also provides beautiful decor and their beachfront has beds and hammocks attached to palm trees and wooden cabanas.

Visit a cenote

A cenote (suh-noh-tee) is a natural sinkhole formed from collapsed limestone that has exposed underwater rivers. There are an estimated 8,000 cenotes in Mexico. You can swim in the clear freshwater, or dive into the underwater cave systems found in many cenotes. Since the water is fresh in cenotes, you’re asked to wash yourself to remove any products on your body before going in.

• Gran Cenote: One of the more popular cenotes in Tulum. I’d advise going to this cenote early to avoid the crowds that come later in the day. If you’re going independently, you can bike or take a taxi to and from the cenote via Tulum.
  • Hours: 8 am-5 pm
  • Entrance fee: MXN 180 | ~$9.45
  • How to get there: 8-minute bike or taxi ride to/from Tulum
    • Taxi cost: MXN 100 | ~$5.25

Go shopping

In town, you can find small shops to grab souvenirs, clothing, and more for a lot cheaper than in the hotel zone. The hotel zone has many beautiful boutique shops, but the prices are ridiculously high! Think over $150 for a straw hat, so I’d advise doing all of your shopping in town.

Where to eat

Breakfast at Matcha Mama

They have smoothies, raw juices, ice cream, acai bowls, and more at Matcha Mama. We went in the morning and sat on their swings while enjoying our breakfast. Since it’s a picturesque place, I’d recommend coming early if you want pictures on one of the six swings provided, specifically the ones with the signs in front.

• What I ordered: Mango Tango smoothie
  • What was included: Mango, 🍌, ginger, turmeric, passion fruit goji berries, 🍯 and oats. Topped with bee pollen, 🥥, chia, almonds, and fresh fruit.
• Cost: MXN 150 | ~$7.88

The smoothie I ordered was delicious and fresh. It was also fairly large and filling for me. Doesn’t take much to get me full 😅.

Dinner & drinks at Gitano

This place is known for its live music, mezcal drinks, and dance parties. I, however, went on a Monday night for my birthday dinner and enjoyed a calmer atmosphere. Gitano is surrounded by the jungle and has beautiful decor, tiki torches, chandeliers hanging, and candles lit at every table. There’s a disco ball hanging in the lounge area inside. Gitano is easy to spot with its neon sign in front.

What I Ordered:

• Smoked sweet potato (cinnamon/cacao/local cream)
• Tostada (tuna sashimi/avocado/radish)
• Kisses in the Car (mezcal/rum/passion fruit/tangerine/habanero)

Cost:

• Tostada: MXN 180 | ~$9
• Smoked sweet potato: MXN 150 | ~$8
• Kisses in the Car: MXN 200 | ~ $10
  • Total: ~$27

Tips/Advice

• Most places are cash only, so come prepared with enough cash.
• There are no streetlights on the narrow street where the beach is located, so it gets really dark at night. Most restaurants have candles and lights hanging.
• Restaurants, cafes, and nightlife are mostly in the open-air jungle, so be sure to have bug repellent on you at all times.
• Rent a bike to get around the hotel zone, and to get between the hotel zone and the town center. It’s cheaper to rent a bike than take taxis everywhere. Also, it’s cheaper to rent a bike for a few days.