Tulum is one of the most beautiful and exotic places to visit when you are in Mexico. Tulum is situated in the Quintana Roo state in Mexico in Tulum municipality. The coastal town has been well considered by visitors, especially tourists all around the world, as a safe place. However, there have been several recent incidents that may have altered the image of Tulum in the minds of people who were looking to visit the place. Tulum is not entirely as unsafe as it has been portrayed, as there have been very recent visits to the town not just by the Mexican folks but also by some tourists who went there to experience the old paradise-like coastal town.
If you are looking to know more about Tulum, where it is, or how safe Tulum is in Mexico, then you have come to the right place. Make sure to read till the end of this article to learn everything you need to know about Tulum!
Where is Tulum?
Tulum is located in the southeastern side of Mexico in Tulum municipality. This city is very close to the Caribbean Sea and is only 90 minutes of car ride apart from Cancun city. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and bars to accommodate tourists in Tulum. Moreover, due to the tropical climate here, the weather is both rainy as well as sunny. While winter is quite chill and not as cold as it is in most other parts of the world, summer in Tulum is hot, with a chance of hurricanes in the area during the later months of the season.
Tulum is one such place in Mexico that has been considered one of the most tropical and the most preferable places to visit. Hence, every year, a good amount of tourists come here to pay a visit. Similarly, the town is also filled with enthusiastic natives.
How do I get to Tulum?
You can get to Tulum in an easier way than you may have thought. There are plenty of airlines that have been providing services to fly to this town, like American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, and TUI. If you are traveling make sure to note some of the most crucial timings for flights from New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, and London which are 4 hours, 4 hours 30 minutes, 2 hours 30 minutes, 4 hours 15 minutes, and 10 hours 30 minutes respectively.
Similarly, you can directly go to Tulum from Cancun airport, which is very close to the town. If you are going there straight from the Cancun airport, then you might as well book a cab from the airport and go to your hotel. Since Cancun is only 90 minutes of car ride from Tulum, you will not have to wait too long to reach your destination when you are here. Pre-booked hotels will be more convenient in this case, and you won’t have to struggle to make a reservation for yourself after a hectic flight. So, a private transfer is one of the best options for travelers when in Tulum.
Also, one might consider renting a car as expensive when in town, but it is not even as closely as expensive as how much you are likely to pay here and there if you don’t rent a car. Mind you, renting a car is very cheap in comparison to always having to get someone to drive you with different means of transportation. Renting a car gives you the freedom to travel on your own terms while also saving a good amount of bucks.
Transportation in Tulum
While it is quite suggested that travelers rent a car in Tulum, they can also rely on public transportation services to roam around the coastal town during their visit. There are plenty of options for anyone who is looking to travel from public vehicles as well. Bus or colectivo are some of the most common means of public transportation. You can easily find either of the transportation modes outside the Cancun Airport. One way trip from Cancun airport to Tulum and vice versa is likely to cost you around $15.
There is almost no worry about comfort and air conditioning as even the public means of transport have enough facilities for such factors. If, however, you are looking to go from the airport to Tulum from a colectivo(a minivan), then you might have to change the vehicle twice. The first time, you will dropped to Playa del Carmen from Cancun airport, and the second time, you will dropped to Tulum from Playa del Carmen. For a two-hour drive, you might need to pay around $4. This amount is fair and much less than how much a car is going to cost you.
But, it is not as convenient or quicker than a car to commute through public transportation. On top of this, the public modes of transport are almost always crowded. Despite these reasons, a person looking to ease up on his pocket during the travel might want to consider public transportation more than a car.
Where can you stay in Tulum?
Finding a place to stay in Tulum is not a challenge. There are enough places for accommodation in this town. And you can enjoy the beach area as well as a very comfortable hotel room when in Tulum.
If you are searching for the perfect place to make you feel like you are finally on vacation, then there is no better place than Tulum Playa Beach. There are plenty of beaches and beach clubs nearby. Plus, you won’t find it hard to find food, drinks, and even a comfortable spot to rest when here.
Likewise, for luxury seekers, there are just as many hotels that are very luxurious, though on a higher price range in Tulum. The hotel area is in the north to Tulum Playa. Your stay is not going to be bland, though. Even in the most luxurious hotel areas, you will find bars and restaurants to visit, plus a very close distance to the Tulum Playa itself.
Is Tulum safe in 2023?
Tulum is really one of the safest places in Mexico. However, the safe image has somewhat been tormented by the fact that a few negative aspects of the country have taken over even the tourism sector. Tulum is one of the most beautiful places in the whole of Mexico, which in turn has made it possible for tourists to pay a visit here for several decades. Tourism has always been big in Tulum; even today, people worldwide are looking to pay a visit. But how safe is Tulum, Mexico?
Though not the deadliest crime, Tulum has very often been labeled a place with chances of coming through petty robbers and thieves. Increased corruption in Mexico, as well as some criminal cartel activities, are other main reasons as to why a lot of visitors would like to keep a distance from the town. However, this is not always the case. There have been several tourists from different parts of the world who have visited Tulum and made it back safely. The probability of getting in danger is not always likely when you’re here. But the chances are not quite thin either.
The situation that you get yourself in is not always independent of you, though. The chances of crime increase with relation to where you are taking yourself. If you visit the unsafest place in the town with the flashiest jewelry and an indication that you are a clueless tourist, you are presumably to get yourself in danger. Otherwise, you are safe here. It is very often not up to you as to how safe or unsafe you are in Tulum, and chances are, you might get yourself in danger despite taking enough precautions, but getting in trouble during a vacation is common not just in Mexico but in every part of the world.
There are several visitors coverage that will help you keep yourself out of risk or at least decrease the risk to an extent. Mexico travel insurance is just as good enough to cover the extent of damage that you might get into when you’re in Tulum.
Things to do in Tulum
There are just so many things that you can do when you’re in Tulum. Tulum is full of amazing boho places and beaches and consists of great historical and archaeological sites. You just can’t miss out on this location if you are a beach bum or an archaeology geek! The list below are some of the things that you can do when you’re in Tulum.
Tulum ruins exploration
Tulum has a rich archaeological element that keeps tourists coming here for discovery and exploration at all times. Tulum’s Archeological Zone is full of Mayan ruins, which will keep you occupied and interested during your visit.
Snorkeling
Gran Cenote, Xel-Ha, and Akumal in Tulum are some of the best locations to go snorkeling. Cenotes here are not only famous throughout the world but are also in abundance, which is best for anyone looking forward to snorkeling.
Tulum Spa visits
There are plenty of locations in Tulum that will help you explore the beauty of this place. The spas in Tulum are very common, and you can feel the ambiance and tranquility of the town through the services you get in one of these exotic accommodations.
National park visits
Aktun Chen, Coba Archeological Site, and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve are some places where you can visit for an observation of the natural ecological aspects of the town.
Beach club visits
Another interesting aspect of visiting Tulum is its beach clubs. If you want to be a part of the Tulum lifestyle in the most exotic vacation way possible, you cannot miss out on beach clubs with their tropical drinks, sands, and parties. Coco Tulum is one of the most popular beach clubs in Tulum.
Souvenir shopping
Going to Tulum is incomplete if you are not shopping for souvenirs to take home as a memoir for yourself and a gift for your loved ones. There are plenty of things to shop in plenty of places here.
Does Tulum have an airport?
There was no flight to Tulum only a while back. But now, Aeroméxico will be introducing the very first three new routes linking cities in the U.S. and Canada to the brand-new Tulum International Airport by the winter of 2023. The airport will be opening on December 1, 2023. The airport will be at a distance of 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) from Tulum. The journey from this airport will be quite convenient, smooth, and even seamless to the Riviera Maya beach destination. The flights taken from Toronto are likely to be non-stop without any obstacle, and the first flights to offer direct entry to Tulum will take off from two U.S. metropolises: San Francisco and Chicago.
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Is Tulum expensive?
Like any other location for vacations, Tulum also has different cost packages for different types of visitors. It can be cheap as well as quite expensive depending on what types of services you are buying, what food you are eating, and so on and so forth.
If you are looking to travel on a budget in Tulum, you should at least spare $600-$700 for a single week there. Though not the cheapest, this is the least you can spare on your visit here if you really want to be comfortable, if not have the most luxurious experience. Likewise, there are tourists who spend thousands of dollars for a single week in the beachy coastal town of Tulum. Hence, how expensive your Tulum trip is going to be will depend on how long you are staying and how many facilities you are seeking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get from Cancun to Tulum?
Cancun to Tulum can be traveled through a 9-hour long car drive or public transport commute from the Cancun airport.
Does Tulum have an airport?
Tulum will have its very first airport opened on December 1, 2023.
Do you need a passport for Tulum?
You don’t need a passport for Tulum.
How far is Tulum from Playa del Carmen?
Tulum is 65 kilometers (40 miles) far from Playa del Carmen.
What airport is closest to Tulum, Mexico?
Cancun International Airport is closest to Tulum, Mexico.
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