Yvette Brown Tulum is divided into two sections: the pueblo (town) and playa (beach), which are connected by the arid Avenida Cobá. Both areas are easily navigable; biking is common and there are numerous public transportation options. Once in Tulum, you can get around by bicycle, car, taxi, Colectivo, or hitchhiking. No matter which route you take, getting around Tulum is simple and reasonably priced. If you want to know how to get around Tulum, please read this article carefully.
Getting Around Tulum By Bike
Many hostels and hotels offer bikes as part of your stay, and there are bike shops on every corner where you can rent one for about $6 USD per day. Moped rentals are an option as well. The Pueblo and the Beach are Tulum’s two distinct sections.
Biking is a great way to get around because they are only about three miles apart and have a nice sidewalk. However, since there are no street lights along the beach road, purchasing a headlamp is a wise choice if you plan to ride at night.
Getting Around Tulum By Walking
Tulum Pueblo is a small town that is simple to walk around in. The main drag, Avenida Tulum, is primarily where the action takes place along (and close to) a 10-block section of it. In this area, souvenir shops, eateries, and tour companies line the wide, well-kept sidewalks.
As you stroll further into the neighborhoods, you’ll notice that the sidewalks are uneven and narrow, but there is also much less traffic; here, you’ll find bars, small hotels, tiny cement parks, and locals going about their daily lives.
While it is possible to walk the 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) between Tulum Pueblo and Tulum Playa, doing so is exhausting and frequently hot.
A paved path that runs alongside Avenida Cobá and connects to the beach road exists, but it is poorly shaded, heavily used by cyclists, and not the best option for walkers. You might start to second-guess yourself about your actions halfway through.
Even the beach road itself isn’t very friendly for walking. Since there are hardly any sidewalks, people must walk alongside the edges of the road as cars and cyclists pass by. The beach is a much safer and prettier place to walk (if you can get to it).
Getting Around Tulum By Colectivos
Colectivos (shared vans) are white retrofitted minivans with route names stenciled below the windshield. Favored by locals, they are frequently crowded but inexpensive (M$15) and plentiful, zipping around town from morning until night.
For travelers, popular Colectivo routes include “Cabañas” for the southern beaches and “Ruínas” for the northern beaches. To reach Tulum Ruins, take the Ruínas route to access the pleasant beachfront footpath or catch a Playa del Carmen-bound Colectivo.
Ask to be dropped off at the ruins and pay M$20 to do so from Tulum Pueblo. Near the highway, the stop is about two blocks from the visitor complex.
In town, the easiest place to catch a Colectivo is on Simply wait by the side of the road and call out to passing vehicles as if they were cabs on Avenida Tulum. If there is room, the driver will stop; otherwise, another will pass in ten or fifteen minutes.
Once you’ve boarded, tell the driver where you’d like to get off or just yell out “Bajan!” and it’ll stop. Make sure you have small bills or change the fare.
Getting Around Tulum By Car
While having a car adds a level of convenience, parking at the beach can be challenging. Consider checking out some really cool day trips from Tulum, like Coba and Akumal, if you decide to rent a car.
Getting Around Tulum By Taxi
Anywhere you need to go in Tulum, including nearby cenotes, ruins, etc., can be reached by taxi. Despite being the most accessible and practical mode of transportation in Tulum, taxis are frequently too expensive. The three miles from town to the beach in a taxi costs at least $100 pesos (about $6 USD), and often more at night!
Getting Around Tulum By Bus
However, there are also Mayab and Oriente buses. ADO Bus, pronounced Ah-Dio, is the primary service that travels throughout Yucatán.
ADO is considered the “first-class” bus and offers online booking and schedules. When the service is available for the other bus companies, you must inquire at the bus station.
You can directly reserve an ADO bus on their website, but I frequently run into issues with the ADO site accepting debit and credit cards from countries other than Mexico. The other choice, which is much simpler, is making a reservation through BusBud.com.
It’s wise to check at the neighborhood station because occasionally not even all Ado buses are listed online.
Getting Around Tulum By Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is extremely common in Tulum, especially on the road that runs from Pueblo to the beach, whereas it seems taboo and shady in most places. Since the majority of people are already moving in that direction, ride-sharing makes sense.
Final Words
Every type of traveler can find a way around Tulum. Decide where you fall on the convenience to budget spectrum, then move forward from there. Due to the lack of ride-sharing apps, getting around Tulum can be quite challenging. I hope this comprehensive guide will be useful to you on your next trip!
