“Life takes you down many paths, but the best ones lead to the beach”.
Tulum has become an extraordinary Jem on the Mexican Riviera Maya due to its Mayan ruins directly on the coast.
All Information and prices are updated to 2023.
How to get to Tulum from Playa del Carmen?
Take the ADO bus, taxi or rent a car.
The cheapest way to get here is to use a Colectivo (Mexivan public transportation minivan) or ADO Bus. The Colectivo will cost around 50pesos/ 3usd per person one way. Just let the driver know where you want to get out. In Tulum you get out infront of the ADO station. This is also where you catch the bus back to playa del carmen.
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If you decide to use the ADO bus, you can book your bus ticket online on the ADO website or buy it at the bus terminal. Go to the terminal Playa del carmen turistica and take the bus heading to Tulum zona Arqueologica. It will cost between 55 and 114pesos.
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You can also take a taxi. The official taxis are white cars with a light blue stripe and writing on the sides. This will cost around 700 to 900pesos one way. Make sure to agree on a price before you enter the taxi.
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Or rent a car with Discovercars.com.
Rent a car with Discovercars.com
Best things to see and do in Tulum
Visit theMaya Ruins
The archaeological site of the Tulum Ruins with its breathtaking views are amazing. A truly wonderful place to visit.
There is a plaza with shops before you enter the ruins, so if you haven’t brought anything to drink with you, this will be the last place to get something. You can walk to the ruins from here in about 10 minutes, or take one of the cars that are offered for around 2usd.
At the entrance, you can buy your tickets and use the bathroom.
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Drones are not allowed unless you have a special permit.
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There is little shade, so don’t forget your hat and sunscreen. You can go for a swim if the beach area is open, but there is no place to change into your bathing suite.
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The ruins are open from 8a.m till 5p.m
The best time to visit with the least amount of crowds is at 8a.m. so I recommend staying nearby.
Where to Eat?
Visit a Cenote
There are many breathtaking cenote choices in the Tulum area where you can swim, scuba dive, snorkel or even just walk through.
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We visited the Cenote Dos Ojos which means "two eyes Cenote". It is one of the largest underwater cave systems in the Yucatán Peninsula. It is open every day from 8a.m till 5p.m and costs 200 pesos to enter. I recommend taking one of the transfers offered at the entrance area because it is a long and tiring walk to get there.
Bring some snacks with you and something to drink. Find a Hammock to lie in and chill after a refreshing swim in the cool, crystal clear waters.
There are bathrooms nearby.
Enjoy the beaches
There are so many beautiful beaches in Tulum, so just bring your swimsuit and find a nice spot to chill. Or, if you are feeling active, take a kite surfing lesson. Most of the Hotels in the Zona Hotelera are at the beach, but if your hotel is in town, don't worry, it's just a 15minute walk.
Where to Eat?
Best Hotels in Tulum
A small beach community between Playa del Carmen and Tulum in the Riviera Maya. It is one of the best places to see and swim with sea turtles and explore shipwrecks.
Akumal comes from the Mayan word for "place of the turtles".
Respect nature and do not touch the marine animals and corals.
How to get to Akumal from Playa del Carmen?
You can use your rental car to get to Akumal. It is a scenic 20-minute drive.
Take a taxi from anywhere in Playa del Carmen. Be sure to agree on a price with the taxi driver before you get into the taxi! It should cost around 250 to 300 pesos one way.
Or take public transportation, the Colectivo. These are minivans found on Calle 2 with 15 Avenue, and it takes about 30 minutes to reach Akumal. These only cost around 25 to 30 Pesos per person, one way.
Rent a car with Discovercars.com
Best things to see and do in Akumal
Snorkeling with sea turtles: One of the best activities in Akumal is to swim with the sea turtles in the clear blue water. Please respect nature and do not touch or disturb the turtles!
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Visit the Cenote Yal-Ku, north of Akumal.
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Visit the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary: It is a rescue center for monkeys but also for birds and other animals. The animals get the attention and care that they need to make a full recovery.
Best places to stay in Akumal
A tropical, all-inclusive leisure resort in Akumal. It is a huge resort. After staying here for two nights, we decided to check out and find a more quiet place to spend the rest of our vacation. We are generally not fans of the big all-inclusive resorts, that is why we decided to leave, but the resort itself is good, clean, and they offer a lot.
A 5star luxurious adults only hotel great for couples or a group of friends.
* We paid for this Mexico vacation out of our own pocket. All tips given are our own. Some links are advertising links. This means that, if you book something through these links, we receive a small commission. Every month we donate 20% of our earnings to an animal shelter, animal sanctuary or animal welfare organization around the world.
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