Getting round in Tulum – Lonely Planet

Tulum is a metropolis of two halves: pueblo (city) and playa (seaside), linked by a dusty paved highway referred to as Avenida Cobá. It’s not laborious to get round both space – biking is standard and public transportation is strong – however the two areas are totally 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 kind, to get from place to position. Tulum ruins are positioned simply to the north and may be accessed from both the seaside or the city.

Discover your manner in Tulum with this information to getting round.

Driving a motorcycle is without doubt one of the greatest methods to see extra of Tulum

Biking is probably the most well-liked manner for vacationers to get round Tulum. On the town, there’s a delegated bike lane that runs the size of the principle drag. Within the neighborhoods, the streets are slender 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 comply with 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 resorts mortgage company bikes without spending a dime and rental retailers are plentiful, charging round M$150 per day, even much less for those who lease by the week. Ola Bike Tulum has a wide selection of bikes, together with cruisers with a basket and lock.

You’ll be able to simply get round Tulum Pueblo on foot 

Tulum Pueblo is a compact place, making it straightforward 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 vast and well-maintained, and lined with knickknack retailers, eating places and tour operators. Strolling deeper into the neighborhoods, the sidewalks develop into slender and uneven, however there’s additionally far much less visitors; that is the place you’ll discover bars and small resorts, 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 infrequently sweltering expertise. There’s a paved path alongside Avenida Cobá resulting in the seaside highway, however it’s additionally used closely by cyclists and has little shade… not optimum for walkers. Midway there, you could surprise why you probably did this to your self.

The seaside highway itself isn’t too conducive to strolling both. There are nearly no sidewalks, so pedestrians find yourself strolling alongside the sides of the highway with automobiles and cyclists whooshing by. Strolling on the seaside (for those who can entry it) is a a lot safer and extra lovely choice.

Colectivos are low-cost and frequent, however may 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 ample, zipping round city from morning til evening.

For vacationers, standard 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’ advanced.

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 driving force will cease; if not, one other will cross in 10 or quarter-hour. When you’ve boarded, inform the driving 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 technique to navigate Tulum, and likewise 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 frequent 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 entering into the cab, verify the fare – taxi drivers in Mexico are infamous for inflating costs for unsuspecting passengers.

Cabs are straightforward 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. In case you’re leaving out of your lodge, 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 automobile

Driving round Tulum is a problem. There’s a ton of visitors, particularly throughout the excessive season, and parking is scarce. In case you should, there are a number of automobile rental companies on the town starting from large worldwide chains to mom-and-pop operations; most have retailer fronts on Avenida Tulum and Avenida Cobá. You may as well lease a automobile on the airport once you arrive.

Tip for parking on the seaside: Think about going to a seaside membership – most provide free parking to their company. In any other case strive your luck at discovering a spot alongside the highway or in a handful of public tons.

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 trip away from the seaside. Situated on the sting of the same-named village, Cobá may be reached from Tulum by way of a well-maintained highway, passing cenotes and Maya communities alongside the way in which. 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 automobile 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 timber. You’ll be able to discover them on foot, by bike (M$50) or pedicab (M$120-150).

There is not plenty of accessible transportation in Tulum

Usually, Tulum is a troublesome place to navigate for vacationers with disabilities. Sidewalks may be slender and uneven, particularly outdoors 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 mentioned, Mexicans typically have accommodating attitudes and particular preparations are gladly improvised. Obtain Lonely Planet’s free Accessible Travel guide.