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Welcome to Tulum! One of Mexico’s most expensive cities. But we’re here to tell you that your trip to Tulum can be budget-friendly! This is our full Tulum travel guide for budget travelers… or people who want to have enough money to explore the rest of the Yucatan peninsula!

In this blog, we’ll share our tips on how to be more budget-friendly in Tulum, what free activities to do in Tulum and even how to save some money when you travel to Tulum. Hopefully, this will help you have the best trip to this pueblo magico.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For more information, please see our disclaimer here. We take all the efforts necessary to ensure the information included in this post is accurate, correct and current, sometimes, things just change! Travel information like opening hours, business operations and prices may change. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers. Cheers!

What to know about visiting Tulum

Before we get into the 3-day Tulum itinerary, we wanted to clear some things up for you. Basically, we want to manage your expectations, so you know exactly what you’re getting into when you visit Tulum, whether you’re on a budget or not.

Where is Tulum?

Tulum is located on the Caribbean Sea, on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s about an hour away from Playa Del Carmen, and three from Bacalar.

Although Tulum is a very ancient city, it’s only recently gained popularity amongst Instagrammers, influencers and travelers to Mexico. In talking to Mexican locals, almost all of them talk about the Tulum of 10 years ago, when the small town was a little gem for hippies and laid-back folks.

One of Tulum’s highlights of course, is the site of the Mayan Ruins that are there. Back in Pre-Columbian times, Tulum was a walled city that served as a major port for Coba. Today, the Ruins are one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan sites and a popular attraction in Tulum. But more on those later.

Today, Tulum is home to tons of digital nomads, as well as some of Mexico’s premier luxury hotels. It also has a booming culinary scene, which makes this a great place to discover for foodies with some money to spend. But don’t worry, even if you’re on a budget, you’ll still find some great eats!

Is Tulum expensive?

We’re not going to beat around the bush with this one. Yes, Tulum can be very expensive. From luxury accommodations to five-star dining, high-priced scooter rentals and exclusive beach clubs, Tulum has turned into the must-see city in Mexico for anyone visiting the Yucatan peninsula. It’s where many come to get the very best in Instagram shots and to fulfill their curiosity about this famous Mexican city. It’s no surprise this city is one of the country’s many Pueblos Magicos.

After a long pandemic and a strong dip in tourism, local companies are now squeezing every penny that they can out of the tourists flocking to Tulum. We can understand why they would do this, as tourism is the main way to survive for many locals in Tulum. However, this makes it harder for long-term slow travelers like us.

Pricing in Tulum can be compared to some of the bigger, more touristic cities in the US. One comparable we were given was Miami, and we tend to agree. Most restaurants will charge upwards of $35-50 for a basic supper with a drink. In other towns, you can easily get away with spending $15-25 for the same meal.

Despite being inherently expensive, we’re here to tell you that you can still get amazing food, and enjoy some of the best things to do in Tulum on a budget.

Is Tulum worth visiting?

We’re going to be super honest (as we always are). Yes, it is. But it’s not worth spending more than three days here. There are some amazing things to see, but don’t come to Tulum for more than a few days. Anything more than 3 days, and you’ll have to repeat some of the things to do, and spend more than you’re willing to. Plus, the vibe in Tulum is not quite what it used to be.

In speaking to locals, or those who visited Tulum years ago, they all had the same thing to say. Tulum used to have all the boho and chill vibes in this part of the country. It was laid-back. The perfect place to hang out and turn into a hippie for a few days. It had something more authentic and real about it.

Today, Tulum feels like Coachella and Instagram had a baby together and gave it Red Bull… It feels contrived and likes it wants to be the next Bali. Even real locals are hard to come by. We spoke to a Mexican waiter who had been in Tulum for over a year. Even he had only met one local who was actually born here. This may also be a result of the increasing cost of living here, something a large expat community will do…

But, there’s a reason Tulum is a Pueblo Magico. And like other Magic towns in Mexico, it’s well worth the detour. Although we wouldn’t recommend spending more than a few days here, especially if you plan on being a budget traveler!

Not sure you want to go to Tulum? Check out our full article about places to visit instead of Tulum. We asked our favorite bloggers to share the best alternatives to Tulum in Quinatana Roo, but also all over Mexico.

How to get to Tulum on a budget

Getting to Tulum is quite easy, especially if you’re on a budget. This is mainly because the shared transportation options in Mexico are pretty great! They’re often very safe, affordable and comfortable.

Chances are that you’ll either be landing in Cancun or Chetumal. Those are the two closest international airports to Tulum.

• From Cancun, you can simply take the ADO bus that goes to Tulum. From the airport, this bus will cost you about $340 pesos.
• From Chetumal, you may have to get into the town and take a bus from there. Tickets will cost anywhere between $300 to $430 pesos.

If you’re coming in from a different city in Mexico, ADO buses will easily connect you to Tulum:

• If you’re coming from Playa del Carmen, you can take a collective for $50 pesos per person. However, know that if you have large luggage with you, they might ask you to pay for a seat to have your luggage on it.
• You can also take a bus from Bacalar to get to Tulum. This will cost you between $300-350 pesos.
• Buses to Tulum also run from Merida, Valladolid, and many other cities. You even have overnight buses coming in.

10 cheap things to do in Tulum in 3 days

As we said, although Tulum is a little pricey, you can still find fun and cheap things to do during your 3 days here.

These are the best fun (and sometimes free) activities in Tulum. We’ll give you a few more tips below so you can stretch your dollars even a little further in this Pueblo Magico.

1. Rent a bike to get around Tulum on a budget

Full disclosure – we never once took a cab while we were in Tulum. The reason was simple – the traffic in the city was actually pretty bad, and the costs of taking a cab were high, no matter how we split it. So instead, we rented a bike and rode around.

This is the top budget-friendly thing you can do in Tulum – mainly because it will also help you save some money while you’re here. And that’s something we can all appreciate!

You can expect to pay anywhere between $100 to $200 pesos for 24 hours bike rentals. The cost will depend on your haggling skills, and when you rent the bike. It will also depend on where you rent it from. We managed to pay $150 pesos for about 30 hours, grabbing our bikes just after lunch, and returning them around 5 pm the next day.

Since most people rent their bikes in the morning for that day, you may have better luck getting a lower price once it’s later in the day. Also, because the next few activities on the list can be done by bike, you’ll be happy to do this before you start exploring.

Pro tip: When renting your bike in Tulum, here are a few things to look out for:
– Make sure the brakes work properly
– Check that the tires are well inflated. They often don’t take such good care of bikes here
– Rent a bike with front and rear fenders. There are a lot of puddles around Tulum, so you’ll be happy not to get splashed each time.
– The rental should include a bike lock and helmet. Make sure you get one!

2. Visit the Tulum Ruins, one of the cheapest things to do in Tulum

When you wonder if Tulum is worth visiting, the Ruins here are one of the main reasons we’ll always say yes! Located on the waterfront, these ruins are some of the most beautiful ones we’ve seen in Mexico. The water makes these ruins seem even more epic! And the views are just breathtaking!

The Ruins in Tulum open at 9 am, even though most sources say 8 am. Make sure you get here about 30 minutes before opening to be one of the first to experience the Ruins with minimal crowds. As the morning progresses, the crowds file in, tour bus after tour bus. Although it is fun to hear bits and pieces about the history of the Tulum Ruins, it’s not so fun to navigate the site with a ton of people around. By 10 am, the place is swarming with tourists and tour groups.

The entrance to the Tulum ruins will cost you $85 pesos per person. You will also have to pay $50 pesos to bring your professional camera in. Note that in certain places, a GoPro is considered a professional camera.

The ruins in Tulum were built in the 13th-century and were at the height of their existence between the 13th and 15th centuries. They even managed to survive 70 years after the Spanish occupation of Mexico. They’re actually one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan sites.

Before entering the temple, you have a ton of food stalls and souvenir shops selling all sorts of things. But unlike other ruins, the vendors are not on the actual grounds, which makes the experience a little more authentic than what you live when you go to Chichen Itza.

Pro tip: Avoid visiting the Tulum Ruins and any museums or historical sites on Sundays. The entrance is free for locals, and they take full advantage of this (can’t blame them). So if you want to visit the ruins without all the crowds, go on any day but Sunday.

3. Check out some of the cheaper cenotes near Tulum

Tulum is home to a ton of cenotes. These sinkholes are absolutely amazing for cooling off after visiting ruins, or just being in Tulum. Oh yeah, it gets really hot and sticky there!

Some cenotes are now charging upwards of $300 or $500 pesos, but it’s still possible to find some more affordable cenotes. We loved spending time at Zacil-Ha, a cute cenote with barely anyone there.

If you want to discover more cenotes around Tulum, and around Quintana Roo, make sure you check our full article here.

Budget-friendly tip for Tulum: Although some cenotes have restaurants, portions are usually small and the food is quite costly (and often, not great). We recommend bringing your own food, snacks and water to avoid spending too much.

4. Explore the free beaches of Tulum

One of our favorite ways to cool down (other than cenotes), is to visit the free beaches of Tulum. In fact, all the beaches in Mexico are free, even if some hotels might make you feel like they are not.

The best beaches to visit in Tulum are Paraiso beach and Santa Fe beach. If you want to get a primo spot, make sure you arrive early, as they do tend to fill up quite a lot during the afternoon.

Although these beaches do have beach clubs, a budget-friendly way to enjoy them would be to bring your own towel and set up shop where you please. If you can, also bring food and water as restaurants and beach clubs tend to overcharge. However, you will find a ton of vendors selling goods throughout the day as well. Some even have vegan options.

We’re going to be super honest here – we were actually not a big fan of the beaches in Tulum. They tend to get very crowded and the sand was not as soft as that in Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Cozumel. We much preferred going to cenotes, but those tend to get expensive. So for a free activity in Tulum, Santa Fe beach is probably your best bet. It’s walking distance from the Ruins, so you can make a day out of it.

5. Check out the street art, one of the free things to do in Tulum

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you know that we’re big fans of street art. We visit it every chance we get, in Berlin, Penang, Chiang Mai and all over the world! Tulum was a special treat for that!

The street art initiative was launched in Tulum in 2014. It was part of an urban art project to beautify the town which had an abundance of grey spaces. The idea was started by Tinasah, a local art collective whose mission it was to turn Tulum into the street art capital of Mexico.

Tinasah uses its platform to promote conversations about social integration and environmental care. Walking around town, you’ll notice that many of their murals tell the story of Mayan culture, legends, day-to-day life in Tulum and so much more.

Walking around the Tulum Pueblo, you’ll find a ton of murals. Take your time, walk the streets and take in the beauty and messaging of these pieces.

6. Check out the Muyil ruins close to Tulum

If the Ruins in Tulum don’t keep you busy enough, you can always head to the nearby Muyil ruins, located close to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve off Hwy 307.

Muyil used to be called Chunyaxché until it was given its new modern name. Unlike the Tulum Ruins, there are fewer tourists here which makes it feel a little more magical. The settlement of Muyil extends across 38 hectares of lush jungle.

Although some of the buildings have been excavated, many others are still not available for public viewing and visits. The most renowned building at Muyil ruins is the Castillo, its pyramid, which is 57 feet high. This makes it the highest pyramid on the Riviera Maya Coast.

Visiting the Muyil ruins will set you back $65 pesos, plus another $50 pesos if you want to go through the forest path. Either way, it’s a fun and cheap activity to do in Tulum.

7. Visit some of the Instagram-famous spots in Tulum

We said it before, Tulum is a bit like the love child for Coachella and Instagram. It’s no surprise then that there are so many ‘instafamous’ spots where you can take pictures.

Although this type of thing might have excited us a few years ago, when we started our Instagram account, today, it’s just not our scene.

However, if you do love to go to those places, there are a ton of them in Tulum, especially in the Hotel Zone. Although the Hotel Zone is one of the most expensive places to stay, this is a budget-friendly activity in Tulum, as entrances and pictures are free.

For example, the Follow that dream sign is located on the street, right by the Lolita & Lolita shop. The ‘Come to the light’ structure is located in the Ahau hotel structure park, which costs $3 USD to enter.

8. Explore the Kaan Luum Laguna

If you’re on a strict budget, you may want to skip the Laguna because they have recently upped their entrance fee from $100 pesos to $300. However, considering you can spend a good part of your day here, it’s not a bad investment to make.

The Kaan Luum Lagoon is accessible by colectivo and is a beautiful place you can hang out. With a large dock that extends out to the lagoon, hammocks and a mirador, there are a few things to keep you busy here.

As always, bring your own food and beverages to reduce costs while you’re at the Lagoon. And while you’re there, treat yourself to a free mud bath treatment. The mud on the shores of the lagoon are said to have health and beauty benefits.

9. Visit Akumal and the turtles on the beach

If the beaches of Tulum aren’t your scene, you can head to the quieter beach of Akumal. Accessible by colectivo, the beach in Akumal is known for turtle releasing. It’s about 30 minutes from Tulum.

If you have your own snorkeling gear, you’ll be able to cut down on the cost of snorkeling with the sea turtles. This is the best thing to do in Akumal, apart from hanging out on the beach.

10. Eat delicious vegan food in Tulum on a budget

If you’re a foodie like us, you’re in luck, because Tulum is teaming with amazing food and restaurants that are not super expensive. Of course, you can still dine and drink for a pretty penny here, but you also have some amazing and affordable options too.

Here are some of the best vegan restaurants we found that were budget-friendly in Tulum:

• El Bajon Vegan Tacos: Perfect little restaurant and shop that sells vegan tacos and other vegan goods. We loved trying a variety of tacos here. At a range of $15-20 pesos, they’re a steal (and yes, they were delicious)!
• La Cordobesita Tulum: The only vegan food truck we found on Ave Gemini. Their affordable and delicious tacos, tortas and pizzas were a treat!
• La vegan taqueria: Another great vegan taco restaurant in Tulum. The women who worked here were super sweet and recommended some very different and tasty tacos for us to try. At $15-20 pesos a pop, this is a restaurant you want to add to your list, even if you’re not vegan!
• Aguacate Limon: Although a little more expensive than the previous restaurants, this one is worth the little extra you’ll pay. It’s still quite an affordable restaurant with amazing food. Some nights, you may even be treated to open mic night comedy or music.

6 tips to help you save money in Tulum

On top of all these affordable things to do in Tulum, here are some extra tips to help you save some money. Hopefully, these tips will help you make the most of your trip without spending a fortune.

1. Visit Tulum in the shoulder season. This is when the prices are at their lowest and there aren’t too many crowds around. The high season in Tulum is from December to May. This is when most people travel from their cold countries to escape their winters. It’s also when you have spring break and some Mexican holidays as well. Prices tend to decrease between May and November. However, this is also when you can expect sargassum and the rainy season.
2. Stay in Tulum town. There are 3 main sections where you can stay in Tulum: the Pueblo, Aldea Zama, and the Hotel Zone. The latter is the most expensive place to stay – this is where you’ll find all the trendy boho hotels. Aldea Zama (and La Veleta, for that matter) are mainly populated by foreigners and have been developed to serve their needs, which is why they are more expensive. The Pueblo of Tulum is actually where ‘locals’ live. It’s also where you’ll find a ton of restaurants, bars, hotels, airbnbs and more. It’s where we recommend you stay for a more budget-friendly experience in Tulum.
3. Rent a bike to get around. We mentioned it before, but make sure you rent a bike to get around Tulum. If you sharpen your negotiating skills, you can get them for about $150 pesos for 24 hours (or a little more if you go in the afternoon). this is the cheapest and most convenient way to get around. Taxis in Tulum are expensive, and rush hour gets pretty bad.
4. Don’t be afraid to negotiate pricing. Everyone is trying to make a buck here – the pandemic was hard on everyone, especially in very touristic places. So prices have almost doubled in the last 2 years. That’s how you know that you have a little wiggle room in the negotiations. If the vendors won’t budge on price, try to get better terms (like more hours with your bike or scooter). But know when to stop because with the influx of tourists, the vendors know that if you don’t take their goods, someone else will.
5. Rent your bike or scooter in the afternoon. This is a little trick that goes hand in hand with the previous money-saving tip. If you rent your scooter or bike in the afternoon, you have a better chance of getting a better deal on it. We ended up paying the 24-hour rate for having these, but we kept them for 30+ hours. Most vendors know that if they haven’t moved their goods in the afternoon, they likely won’t so they don’t mind throwing in a few hours extra.
6. Shop at little stalls vs big brand stores. In Tulum, you’ll find big brand grocery stores like Chedraui and Super Aki. If you’re looking for very specific things you may find back home, then you’ll likely find them here. However, for everyday goods, especially produce, we recommend shopping at the little stalls that are all around the Pueblo. Here, prices are lower, you’ll be helping a real person out (vs a corporation) and you’ll get better produce. Most fruits and veggies at the big stores are never ripe or good…
7. Take the colectivos and shared transportation options. Getting to Tulum and around it is quite easy. Even if you choose not to rent a bike or scooter. The ADO bus will get you from one city to the next (it’s cheap, comfortable and very safe). And for shorter distances, colectivos do the trick. They only cost around $10-30 pesos, depending on where you’re going.

If you’re not sold on visiting Tulum, make sure you check out our article with the 15 alternatives to Tulum. These are the best towns all over Mexico that have something amazing and very similar to Tulum to offer.

The best time to visit Tulum

We already mentioned how the shoulder season in Tulum is the best time to visit for budget travelers. The shoulder season is between May and November. But that’s not necessarily the best time in terms of temperature and beach conditions. However, as budget travelers, sometimes, you need to make little sacrifices.

The high season in Tulum, and pretty much all of Mexico, is from December to May. This is when most people come to escape their winter in their North American or European country. It’s also when you have spring break and some Mexican holidays as well. This is also when you have the best weather in Mexico. Days are hot, but tolerable. The beaches are seaweed-free (although in recent years, sargassum has been building up starting in March).

November through March are when you can expect the most pleasant weather, and the least amount of rain. So if you’re looking to explore Tulum on a budget with all the good sides of it except for the crowds, then November is your safest bet.

The hottest months to visit Tulum are between May and August. Air conditioning is a must, and spending days at the beach, by a pool or in a cenote are the only ways to stay cool.

Hurricane season in the Caribbean is from early June to early November. Days are total lucks of the draw. They can have only a few hours of intense rain, they can be all sun, all fun or they can be really bad (like hurricane winds and rains).

Your 3-day Tulum itinerary

If you’re looking to spend 3 days in Tulum, which, honestly, is a perfect amount of time here. This is how we would recommend spending your time:

• Day 1: Visit the Tulum Ruins in the morning. Head to the beach in the afternoon.
• Day 2: Jump into the cenotes in the morning and afternoon. You can come back to town for lunch and a street walk tour.
• Day 3: Check out the Muyil ruins in the morning. Cool down at Kaan Luum Lagoon in the afternoon.

If you have extra days, you can head to Akumal for one of them. You can also spend a day in Coba visiting the ruins and the nearby cenotes. Or, you can venture off to the Hotel Zone where you can chill on the beach, or go around to all the Instafamous signs and structures.

With all our itineraries, we keep the days loose as you should too. This will allow you to spend more time doing the things you love and less on the things that don’t excite you. Either way, this is a laid-back town so don’t forget to relax and take in the energy of the place.

Top 10 free or cheap activities in Tulum

As a recap, here are the 10 best free or very cheap things to do in Tulum. This will give you enough to spend a nice three days in this Pueblo Magico, without breaking the bank. Although Tulum is an expensive town, there are still ways to explore in a budget-friendly way!

1. Rent a bike to get around
2. Visit the Tulum Mayan Ruins
3. Check out some of the cheaper cenotes
4. Go to the free beaches
5. Check out the street art
6. Visit the Instagram-famous spots (or don’t)
7. Check out the Muyil Ruins
8. Explore Kaan Luum Laguna
9. Visit Akumal and the turtles on the beach
10. Eat delicious and cheap vegan food

Let us know in the comments what you think of this list and the tips we shared. Are you excited to visit Tulum? You should be, despite its high price tag and lack of authenticity, it’s still a great place to discover, if only for the cenotes, the ruins and the amazing food!

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