How to Visit Tulum On a Budget (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

Planning to travel to Tulum on a budget?

You’re in the right place because I used to live there, and can offer some (ex) local’s tips for how to visit Tulum Mexico and not break the bank! Truth be told, this is completely doable, no matter what your budget is.

🤔 Not sure exactly what your budget is? Check out these tips on how to determine it!

IS TULUM EXPENSIVE?

Even though it’s not known as one of Mexico’s most economical travel destinations, Tulum, located in the Yucatan Peninsula in Quintana Roo state, can certainly be an affordable trip.

How? you might be wondering… Well there are 10 Tips and strategies in this article you can use.

Ready to find out what they are? Let’s get to it, but first, check out the formula below for how to plan out your realistic budget.

As no two travel budgets are the same, the only way to make sure you’re staying within your budget, is to know exactly what your budget is.

How to Travel to Tulum On a Budget: 10 Best Tips

1. Visit in the Tulum Slow Season (or Shoulder Season)

Tulum, and much of coastal Mexico is a big winter destination for those escaping the cold.

In fact, December is the busiest month for tourism in Mexico, and also when you can expect the highest price tags. As its also popular with the Spring Break crowd, Tulum prices stay high through May.

So what’s the best time to visit Tulum? The shoulder season.

The shoulder season — which runs from about May to October — refers to the months in between all the busy times, when you’ll snag all those amazing Tulum travel deals.

For those wanting to visit Tulum when it has the nicest weather and the best deals, January, February, and November are great options.

During these months, the weather is nice, there’s basically no humidity, the mosquitoes are at bay, the crowds are smaller, and prices are lower.

2. Set a Fare Alert to find Cheap Tulum Flights

Head here to determine your Tulum travel budget — and when armed with that accurate number, you’ll know exactly how much you can spend on a flight without breaking the bank.

Nowadays, sites like Skyscanner do the work for you with fare alerts.

The good news about Tulum is that you’ll fly into Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), which has regular, direct flights from most major cities in the U.S.

If you’re able to travel during the shoulder season, and have access to a major airport, you’ll likely not spend more than $200USD on a flight to Tulum.

HOW TO SET A FARE ALERT TO FIND CHEAP TULUM FLIGHTS

Step #1: Open Skyscanner: Input the city you’re coming from, and put Cancun International Airport (code: CUN) in the “to” airport, then put in your travel dates, and finally, click Search Flights.

Step #2: When the results open, click 🔔 Get Price Alerts, create an account if you don’t have one already, and you’ll then receive emails or when prices go up or down.

When you’re comfortable with a price, then buy your Tulum plane ticket.

3. Take the Shared Shuttle to Cancun

The closest airport to Tulum is Cancun International Airport (code: CUN), located about 75 miles north of Tulum. This drive takes about 1.5-hours by shared shuttle or rental car, and closer to 2.5-hours by bus.

Note: There’s no Uber in Tulum, so you can’t Uber from Cancun to Tulum.

However, the bus always ends up taking longer than that, because unless you catch it at the right time, it might be four hours until the next one comes.

For this reason, I recommend the shared Tulum shuttle over the bus for the fastest and cheapest way to get to Tulum from Cancun.

Cancun to Tulum Shared Shuttle Options

ADO Bus from Cancun to Tulum

Mexico’s largest bus company, ADO, has luxury-class buses that depart right from Cancun Airport and drop you off in Tulum Town (AKA Downtown). Prices for this route vary, but figure no more than $300-500 pesos ($15-25 USD) for a one-way ticket.

▶︎ Book your ADO Bus Tickets here

Check the Cancun to Tulum ADO schedule for when you arrive to see if there’s a bus leaving at a time that works for you. You can bus your tickets online or at the airport.

If you don’t find a bus departure time that works for you, you can always opt for a shared Cancun to Tulum airport shuttle.

🚌💨 A quick note on the ADO bus

While bus travel in the U.S. can be sketchy, in Mexico it’s safe, comfortable, efficient and inexpensive. The ADO luxury-class busses are large, with soft reclining seats, AC, a bathroom, and outlets for your gadgets; most even give out a beverage and snack.

Budget Car Rental in Tulum

For those who want to explore the surrounding areas of Tulum, like the pueblo magico (magic town) of Valladolid, and Coba pyramids and other Mexico Mayan Ruins, you’ll want a rental car. I recommend, and personally use Discover Cars

▶︎ BOOK Your Car with Discover Cars Now

While there are some Tulum rental car companies in town, you really save no money waiting till you get there to rent a car.

If you’re planning to get a car, rent one in the Cancun Airport and drive to Tulum, as it’s usually about the same price to rent in Tulum vs Cancun.

As a general rule, driving anywhere in the Yucatan Peninsula is considered safe, including the drive from Cancun to Tulum. However, there’s the obvious caveat to that: You’ll be driving in another country.

This means you should take the time to familiarize yourself with Mexico driving laws, ask the agent at your car rental for advice, and check out the 12 Mexico Driving Tips below to help you with how to drive in Mexico.

4. Stay in Tulum Town (AKA Downtown Tulum)

You’ll lower your Tulum trip costs by doing everything from staying in Downtown Tulum (AKA Tulum Town or Tulum Pueblo), to eating, drinking and shopping in there, compared to those same things on Tulum Beach.

Tulum itself is a popular Mexico travel destination, but downtown is less touristy than the beach.

Now, those Instagram worthy Tulum photos you’ve seen on social media are all located on the beach. However, staying off-beach, doesn’t mean you can’t head to the beach to snap Tulum photos on your Mexico trip.

🌴🏠 Need suggestions on where to stay in Tulum?

Head to these articles to discover best hotels, VRBOs and Airbnbs in Tulum at $99 and under, and the best Tulum glamping stays!

5. Rent A Bike in Tulum Mexico

Tulum is a small town, at only about five-miles from one end to the other. However, it’s also usually 90°F during the day, so that means walking isn’t always an option.

If you’re not renting a car, you’ll need another way to get around town. For this, your options are to use taxis, or rent a bike or moped.

Of those three, a Tulum bike rental is the most budget-friendly. Not only are bikes eco-friendly and allow you to sneak in some exercise, with a small town like Tulum, they work well.

There are Tulum Town bike rentals all along the main road in downtown, so locating them is simple. While prices vary a little, most bike rentals in Tulum cost just $200 pesos ($10 USD) per day.

6. Visit Tulum Cenotes Over Tulum Beach Clubs

Thanks to Instagram, Tulum is just as famous for its cenotes as for its white sand beaches.

While they are both stunning, the Tulum cenotes cost quite a bit less to enjoy; as some beach clubs cost $1,000 pesos ($50 USD) for a day pass, cenotes average just $50-030 pesos ($3-15 USD) for admission.

Tulum Cenote Tours: There are some great budget-friendly cenote tours in Tulum, like the Bikes and Three Cenotes Tour, for those who prefer group tours.

For those who have taken the advice to stay in Tulum Town in one of these cheap Tulum hotels, there are several cenotes within 30 minutes by bike.

In fact, most of the best cenotes in Tulum are right near downtown.

If you’re not renting a bike, you can take a taxi or drive your rental car to them, but don’t attempt to walk to these Tulum cenotes.

Best Cenotes in Tulum

El Gran Cenote: Gran Cenote and Cenote Calavera are the two most instagrammable cenotes in Tulum.

Gran Cenote, meaning “big cenote,” is a larger site with several cenotes, connected to one another by nice wooden walkways. Cost: $25

Cenote Calavera: Cenote Calavera, pictured above, has three holes you can jump in to access the water below.

Located basically in someone’s backyard, this smaller cenote gets crowded, so arrive early. Cost: $10

Cenote Tankah/Cenote Car Wash: These two are right next to one another, and make a great combo trip.

Cenote Tankah is well known as the only Tulum cenote that has a zipline! Cost: $6

Cenote Car Wash has a much more chill, lagoon vibe. Cost: $3

Cenote Zacil-Ha: Zacil-Ha is an open, swimming pool-style cenote has plenty of nice onsite amenities like covered/shaded areas, bathrooms and snacks for sale. Cost: $15

7. Go to FREE Beach Clubs in Tulum

While most Tulum beach clubs charge $1,000-$1,500 pesos ($50-75USD) to enter, that money is usually applied to your food and drink tab.

This “minimum spend” essentially means you’re just pre-paying to eat and drink, while having access to luxury beach facilities, pools, beach beds, bathrooms, etc.

🏖 Tulum Travel Tips: The beaches in Mexico are public domain. This means you’re totally allowed to just head to the beach, lay your towel in the sand, and enjoy Tulum Beach and the beautiful Caribbean Sea for $0.

Now, for most Tulum budget travelers, $200 might be a whole day’s budget rather than a beach club entrance fee, but you still have options. Head to the beach clubs in Tulum that are just beach clubs, not resort beach clubs.

These places, Ziggy’s Beach Club, Revolución Pancho Villa, and Coco Tulum Beach Club, don’t have a minimum spend, and allow you to be there for as long as you’re ordering food and drinks.

Head to budget-friendly Revolucion Pancho Villa, which offers 2-4-1 drinks all day long, but skip the food.

Now, if you’re slamming $25 piña coladas (yes, they often cost that much on Tulum Beach), that adds up quickly.

However, if you’re ordering an agua fresca (fruit water Mexican drink) and ceviche for $25, you can realistically hang around for a few hours.

8. Stick to the Tulum Ruins vs Chichen Itza Ruins

The Yucatan Peninsula is amazing in so many ways, one of which is all the Mayan ruins and fascinating Mayan history associated with this part of Mexico.

There are a few popular Mayan ruin sites in the Yucatan, including the Tulum Ruins on Tulum Beach.

The Tulum Ruins are only about a 15-minute bike ride from Tulum Town, and cost $80 pesos (about $4.50 USD) to enter. This is by far the most budget friendly way to see Mayan ruins in Tulum.

Right after seeing this admittedly smaller Mayan site, take the staircase down to the beach cove beneath.

This is a popular place to go, but since we’re talking Tulum on a budget, you can head to the ruins for $4, then go lay on the beach and swim for $0, so this makes for an inexpensive day.

If you want to check out some other sites, opt for Coba and/or Ek-Balam over Chichen Itza.

As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is the most popular, and most expensive, site to visit at $250 pesos ($13USD), and about $400 pesos ($20USD) for round trip bus tickets.

By contrast, visiting the Coba and Ek-Balam Mayan ruins near Tulum would be about half that total amount.

9. Hit Up Tulum Happy Hours

There are some pretty great Happy Hour in Tulum options, which tend to run from about 4pm-6pm.

This is a short window, but you can pick one place to check out each day so you’ll be able to experience all the bars while sticking to your budget. Here are some of the best Happy Hour Tulum bars:

• Coco Tulum: Head to this boho chic paradise, one of the most instagrammable places in Tulum, for 2-for-1 cocktails from 5pm-7pm.
• Mulberry Project Tulum: Located at the La Zebra Hotel, this upscale spot only offers Happy Hour on Tuesdays, from 5pm-7pm, so make sure to check it out if you’re in Tulum on a Tuesday.
• Ziggy’s Beach Club: Head to this popular Tulum Happy Hour bar, and lay in a hammock beachside while you sip delicious frozen daiquiris from 5pm-6pm.
• Mateo’s Mexican Grill: One of the best places to see the sunset in Tulum! Head directly up to the rooftop platform for Happy Hour sunset cocktails and live music from 6pm-8pm each night.

10. Eat in Tulum Town

Besides booking your Airbnb in Downtown Tulum, and biking around instead of taking cabs, one of the last big ways to save money on your Tulum trip is to eat in Tulum Town.

Truth be told, the food here is better and more authentic than on the beach anyway, and all the best street tacos are in Tulum Town.

As mentioned, Tulum Beach is where you’ll get the Instagrammable Tulum photos, but Tulum Town is where the locals live and eat.

While the places might not be as photogenic, the food is so much better and so much cheaper.

Cheap eats on Tulum Beach

There are cheap places to eat on Tulum Beach as well, including Matcha Mama, home to the I Love Tulum So Matcha sign and cheap acai and smoothie bowls.

cheap eats in Downtown Tulum

• Taqueria Honorio: Where the locals go to eat the best tacos in Tulum. This is a no-frills restaurant, and it’s all about the food. Try the cochinita pibil and lechon, and wash it all down with an agua fresca (fruit water Mexican drink), just like the locals do. They close early, so head there for breakfast, brunch or lunch.
• El Camelo Jr.: Known for their fresh seafood plates and Mexican ceviches, El Camelo Jr. is a Tulum institution.
• Antojitos La Chiapaneca: While not an authentic Yucatan food, Mexico and tacos al pastor are synonymous. Try this Mexican staple dish at La Chiapaneca, a late night favorite among locals and visitors.
• Burrito Amor: Head here for the best burritos in Tulum, with meat, seafood and vegan options available.
• Ki’Bok Tulum: An adorable coffee shop, and arguably best cafe in Tulum. Enjoy local Mexican coffees, traditional breakfast and brunch items, like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros, pastries and lighter plates.

How to Determine Your Tulum Budget

Let’s get real: The bottom line for most travelers is money — and there are many things you can do to save money for travel.

However, when making your travel budget, the most important thing you can do is to budget honestly and within your own personal means; not anyone else’s.

When determining your budget, take up that position that your budget is the judge and jury.

When your budget says no to something, take it as a no as in No further questions, Your Honor — and don’t let anyone or anything peer pressure you into changing it.

With this mindset, you’ll create an honest travel budget for yourself, because let’s face it, you can’t be on-budget or within-budget, if you don’t know what your real budget is.

Once you’ve run the numbers, you can get creative with how to divide them up.

Your “Must Do” Tulum Things to Do

There’s no one size fits all when it comes to dividing up your travel budget; it will differ from person to person.

What’s a “must do” on one person’s Tulum itinerary, is a “no way” on another’s itinerary.

For some travelers, their top priority is a cushy place to stay, whereas some think of their accommodation as simply a place to sleep and shower.

Conversely, some other travelers place eating at all the top foodie spots and best restaurants in Tulum as more important than seeing the Mayan Ruins.

Make a tulum vacation goal

First, know that whatever’s important to you is all that matters here.

If your trip goal is rest, relaxation and beach time, that’s totally valid. Whatever your goal is, having a trip goal will make budgeting so much easier.

As an example, for those who do have a trip goal of rest, relaxation and beach time, budgeting is simple.

For you, most of your money will mostly go towards a nice place on the beach, where you can walk from your room straight into the Caribbean Sea each morning.

Prioritize Your wants vs. needs

Next, take a moment to determine your travel priorities from categories including accommodations, tours, food, shopping, and any others not listed that apply to you.

While, yes, you want it all — do pinpoint what you want or need the most, as this is your #1 travel priority, followed by your #2 and #3.

Once you have an idea of where your priorities lie, use the guide below to insert your needs and wants accordingly.

Use This Tulum Travel Budget Formula

After you’ve determined what your needs/wants/must-do’s are for this trip to Tulum, you’ll know how best how to allocate your budget amounts.

This plug-and-play formula will help you see how to divvy up your budget, so you have enough to do everything you want to do on your Tulum vacation.

• 40% of your budget goes to whatever thing or category is most important to you (ie. accommodations, tours/sightseeing, food/shopping, etc.)
• 25% goes to your second most important thing or category
• 15% goes to your third most important thing or category
• 10% towards non-fun, but necessary, things (like transportation to/from the Cancun Airport, taxi rides in Tulum, etc.)
• 10% goes towards purchasing Travel Insurance, or a dedicated Emergency Fund

While no two budgets and no two travelers are alike — there is one thing that all travel has in common: Something will go wrong, and something else will not go as planned!

This is part of the fun, adventure and excitement of traveling, btw; and not meant to scare you.

Now, if you budget for these “unplanned adventures” with a dedicated Emergency Fund or by purchasing Mexico Travel Insurance, these incidentals won’t ruin your Tulum vacation.

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Final Thoughts: Tulum On A Budget

After having spent some time in Tulum, I am convinced Tulum budget travel and even cheap Tulum travel is 100% possible. If you also follow even just some of the tips in this article, you’ll definitely enjoy your Tulum trip on a budget.

Is Tulum worth visiting?

Tulum is a fun place that everyone should check out at least once, if only to form your own opinion of it. While I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite Mexico beach town, I think it’s worth checking out so you know for yourself.

Instagram vs. Reality

Like all places on Earth, the key to enjoying Tulum is managing your expectations of it — Think Instagram vs. Reality! When we see a place constantly splashed across our social media, we have a tendency to build it up in our mind, only to be letdown.

If you understand what you’re signing up for — high prices tags by Mexico standards, rustic boho vibes, lots of other tourists — and you don’t mind all that, you’ll enjoy your Tulum trip.

If you’re looking to relax, enjoy the scenery, lay on a beautiful Caribbean beach, swim in the cenotes and go snorkeling at the reefs, Tulum is your place.