Tulum is a metropolis of two halves: pueblo (city) and playa (seaside), related by a dusty paved highway referred to as Avenida Cobá. It’s not arduous to get round both space – biking is well-liked and public transportation is strong – however the two areas are completely different.
Tulum Pueblo is a small gritty city that’s bustling with exercise, making it most simply navigated by foot or bicycle. The seaside, in the meantime, is lengthy and languid, stretching 6 miles (10km) alongside a single leafy highway; brief walks are do-able however you’ll really want a set of wheels, of any type, to get from place to position. Tulum ruins are positioned simply to the north and might be accessed from both the seaside or the city.
Discover your means in Tulum with this information to getting round.
Using a motorbike is among the greatest methods to see extra of Tulum
Biking is maybe the most well-liked means for vacationers to get round Tulum. On the town, there’s a chosen bike lane that runs the size of the principle drag. Within the neighborhoods, the streets are slim and there are not any bike paths, however drivers are used to sharing the highway.
Biking between city and the seaside is a breeze too – simply observe the paved path alongside Avenida Cobá. On the seaside highway itself, you’ll be grateful to be on two wheels as you pedal previous stop-and-go visitors, particularly on weekends.
Many motels mortgage company bikes at no cost and rental outlets are plentiful, charging round M$150 per day, even much less if you happen to lease by the week. Ola Bike Tulum has a wide variety of bikes, together with cruisers with a basket and lock.
You may simply get round Tulum Pueblo on foot
Tulum Pueblo is a compact place, making it simple to discover on foot. Many of the motion occurs alongside (and close to) a 10-block stretch of the principle drag, Avenida Tulum. Right here, the sidewalks are broad and well-maintained, and lined with knickknack outlets, eating places and tour operators. Strolling deeper into the neighborhoods, the sidewalks develop into slim and uneven, however there’s additionally far much less visitors; that is the place you’ll discover bars and small motels, tiny cement parks and locals simply residing their lives.
Whereas it’s attainable to stroll the 1.8 miles (3km) from Tulum Pueblo to Tulum Playa, it’s a protracted and sometimes sweltering expertise. There’s a paved path alongside Avenida Cobá resulting in the seaside highway, nevertheless it’s additionally used closely by cyclists and has little shade… not optimum for walkers. Midway there, it’s possible you’ll marvel why you probably did this to your self.
The seaside highway itself isn’t too conducive to strolling both. There are just about no sidewalks, so pedestrians find yourself strolling alongside the perimeters of the highway with vehicles and cyclists whooshing by. Strolling on the seaside (if you happen to can entry it) is a a lot safer and extra lovely choice.
Colectivos are low cost and frequent, however might be very busy
Colectivos (shared vans) are white retrofitted minivans with route names stenciled under the windshield. Favored by locals, they’re usually packed however they’re low cost (M$15) and considerable, zipping round city from morning til night time.
For vacationers, well-liked colectivo routes embrace “Cabañas” for the southern seashores and “Ruínas” for the northern seashores. To succeed in Tulum ruins, take the Ruínas path to entry the nice beachfront footpath or catch a Playa del Carmen-bound colectivo (M$20) from Tulum Pueblo and ask to be dropped off on the ruins. The cease is alongside the freeway, about two blocks from the guests’ complicated.
On the town, the best place to catch a colectivo is on Avenida Tulum. Merely stand by the aspect of the highway and as one approaches, hail it like a cab. If there’s area, the motive force will cease; if not, one other will go in 10 or quarter-hour. When you’ve boarded, inform the motive force the place you’d prefer to get off or simply yell out “bajan!” (BA-hahn, that means “getting off”) and it’ll cease. Remember to have change or small payments for the fare.
Taxis are available
Taxis are a dependable method to navigate Tulum, and in addition present a pleasant break from having to navigate the visitors by yourself. They ply the roads 24/7 and, regardless of having meters, cost fastened fares to widespread locations: M$60 round Tulum Pueblo, M$100 to the ruins, and M$150 to M$250 between city and the seaside, relying on the space. Earlier than moving into the cab, verify the fare – taxi drivers in Mexico are infamous for inflating costs for unsuspecting passengers.
Cabs are simple to hail in Tulum Pueblo. There’s additionally a taxi stand on the bus terminal and one other on the central plaza; on the seaside highway, empty taxis congregate round Punta Piedra, Playa las Palmas and on the northern finish of the seaside highway, the place the footpath to the ruins begins. For those who’re leaving out of your resort, the receptionist is more likely to have a listing of dependable drivers they’ll name. There are not any rideshares – akin to Uber or Lyft – in Tulum.
You may remorse hiring a automotive
Driving round Tulum is a trouble. There’s a ton of visitors, particularly through the excessive season, and parking is scarce. For those who should, there are a number of automotive rental companies on the town starting from huge worldwide chains to mom-and-pop operations; most have retailer fronts on Avenida Tulum and Avenida Cobá. You too can lease a automotive on the airport once you arrive.
Tip for parking on the seaside: Contemplate going to a seaside membership – most supply free parking to their company. In any other case attempt your luck at discovering a spot alongside the highway or in a handful of public heaps.
It takes round 45 minutes by taxi to get to Cobá on a day journey
Simply 30 miles (50km) from Tulum Pueblo, Cobá ruins are worthy of a day journey away from the seaside. Positioned on the sting of the same-named village, Cobá might be reached from Tulum by way of a well-maintained highway, passing cenotes and Maya communities alongside the best way. Colectivos (M$70, hourly 8am–6pm, 1.5 hours), first- and second-class buses (M$52–95, 8 departures, 1 hour) and taxis (M$500–600, 45 min) make the journey. Driving a rental automotive is a plus if you wish to discover the city’s lesser-visited cenotes and the close by nature reserve of Punta Laguna too.
Cobá ruins themselves are huge and tucked beneath a dense cover of bushes. You may discover them on foot, by bike (M$50) or pedicab (M$120-150).
There is not plenty of accessible transportation in Tulum
Typically, Tulum is a troublesome place to navigate for vacationers with disabilities. Sidewalks might be slim and uneven, particularly exterior the principle vacationer hall, and curb ramps are uncommon. Equally, colectivos and buses aren’t retrofitted for folks with disabilities. Taxis are more likely to be the best choice. That stated, Mexicans usually have accommodating attitudes and particular preparations are gladly improvised. Obtain Lonely Planet’s free Accessible Travel guide.
