The Essential Tulum Travel Guide for Cultural Travelers

Tulum, Quintana Roo on the coast of Mexico is a magical land where the jungle meets the Caribbean sea. While it has become notoriously booming with tourism and is definitely growing faster than it can control, there are certainly reasons behind this influx of attention.

Firstly, Tulum is not just an instagram hotspot, it is an archaeological site with endless natural escapes to explore and get off the beaten path. Within just a short radius you can find hundreds of cenotes hidden behind lush off roads and dirt paths slightly outside of town. The jungles are full of wildlife, including jaguars and bird species visible in the afternoon skies during sunset.

I took the past three months to slowly discover the many facets of Tulum. From tourist hot-spots to jungle escapes, I rented long-term in each area immersing myself in the various lifestyles that exist here in this unique Tulum bubble.

Tulum Archaeological Zone

Tulum is one of the most important archaeological zones in the state of Quintana Roo, since it is the only site that faces the Caribbean Sea. The Tulum Ruins are a tourist attraction but definitely noteworthy as their history, energy and magic can be felt and should be appreciated. The ruins are not so much a site of an actual town or inhabitants but more of a religious and ceremonial center that had visitors for specific purposes. This also led to a natural gateway for connecting the Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico with the Mayan peoples of Honduras and modern-day Central America. If you plan to visit Tulum, be sure to make a stop at the historical sites and learn about the true origin story of the region.

Tulum Beach

The Tulum Beach is not for living, it is just a hotel zone full of restaurants, shops, cafes and beach clubs. This is where instagram happens and is one of the main points of scrutiny as Tulum Beach is practically entirely privatized. There is a small public beach area, but the rest of the coastline is dominated by private businesses charging an entrance fee. In order to enjoy a day at the beach you simply choose one of the many beach clubs, pay for their day pass and you gain access to all the amenities. While the day pass can be upwards of $50-$150 it is actually a minimum spend, so you are using that quota to pay for food and drinks and towels and vibes of course. Many have parties, pools and are worth the spend! Outside of the beach clubs there are incredible gastronomy options from contemporary Mexican, international fusions, and high-end dining options for everyone's taste. I have done my best to eat at all the top restaurants and I can certainly say that the gastronomy scene at Tulum Beach is something not to miss. Be wary that the most promoted, well-known places (Rosa Negra, Tantra, Taboo, etc) are all owned by the same group, so please be mindful of more ways to spread the wealth around to independent owners. Read my Tulum Restaurant Guide for the best more boutique fine-dining options at the beach.

Tulum Town

The Tulum Town is a hot, dusty, wild, noisy, eclectic town center. Many of the popular beach restaurants and cafes have a duplicated sister restaurant in town, so it is somewhat of a direct offset of the beach, but without the ocean views and high price tags. But more so, here you will also find rooftop hostels, boutique hotels, taquerias, mezcal bars, cafes, and shopping. Make note that there is endless construction, wild taxis, tourists on scooters, ATVs, military, police, bus stops, banks, pharmacies, DHL and everything in between. I typically use my scooter when I go into town as parking can be hectic and walking can be hot. Many tourists choose to ride their bike, which is also a great way to link between Tulum Town and the Tulum beach about 15 minutes distance depending. In town, I already have my go-to nail salon, waxing spa, dentist, diner, smoothie, taco, taller etc. For my favorite local eats in Tulum Town read my Tulum Restaurant Guide!

Aldea Zama

Prior to moving to Tulum, I did endless research on the neighborhoods, using instagram, airbnb, google and facebook groups. I ended up selecting the exclusive area of Aldea Zama to rent a condo, which is nowhere I would ever want to be at the present moment. Let me break it down for you because while it’s not for me, it might be up to your speed. In Aldea Zama, you are perfectly confined into a nice little paved area of boutique condos with 24/7 security as if you were in a community in Florida. Don’t get me wrong, you can scoot around on your moto, with easy parking, local access to fresh neighborhood markets, walk your dog peacefully, while being just a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Tulum with easy access to the beach. While this is just a little too cookie-cutter for my taste, it is quite safe, quiet and the condos are incredibly beautiful for their reasonable price tags. Aldea Zama is well-known as an upscale tourist living area, so many police like to put checkpoints at the entrance. This is to just try and get a quick bribe from a shaky tourist not used to the area. Stay tuned for my Tulum safety guide coming soon.

La Veleta

Once I was finally living in Tulum and experiencing all it has to offer, I decided to rent a condo in the up-and-coming neighborhood of La Veleta. They call it the Brooklyn of Tulum because it is much more barrio with unpaved roads, locals still owning property, independent small-businesses and tons of places to go out! The vibe is all young bi-lingual professionals, who are more long term expats or seasonal travelers coming to and from the region regularly. From massage therapists, to real estate investors, to digital nomads, to restaurateurs, everyone has a style and a purpose and mission in Tulum, far from the tourists and more on a lifestyle journey. Here Spanish flows more freely, creativity is alive and a better, more sustainable Tulum is desired. I include all the hidden gems and local spots of La Veleta in my Tulum Restaurant Guide.

Tulum Jungle

After about 6 weeks in La Veleta, the high-energy, noisy construction, and endless distractions were enough for my taste. It is still my favorite place to go out and meet friends, but is not my personal intention for living. I began scouring any digital platform and networking to gain access to a “jungle" home outside of Tulum. While there are some good options, I was hoping for something more independent and smaller than a large complex. And in that case you have to be careful with access to water and electricity and safety. Luckily, I found a 2 month sublet in a furnished boutique condo just outside of Tulum. I am in a pure sanctuary surrounded by nature, sleep with my windows open, barely use A/C and am just a short ride away from town. My neighbors are similar with established lives and businesses who just enjoy a little more remote living with less dust, heat and noise.

I’ll leave you the link to my Tulum Restaurant Guide with all the best culinary recommendations for Tulum and my Tulum Insider Blog for those slow traveling with an extended stay in Tulum. Feel free to get in touch on IG ✧ @alyssaya if you need other suggestions or help when planning a trip to Tulum.

Thanks for reading. And as always . . . Be thoughtful. Stay kind.

♡ Alyssa