Arriba Arriba! Pack your bags and head to Tulum, Mexico as fast as you can! If you have never heard of Tulum, it is a magical little beach town in Quintana Roo, a Mexican state in the Yucatan Peninsula. Tulum is a fashionistas bohemian dream with its unique atmosphere and off beat charm, offering a more authentic experience to it’s travelers in comparison to its well known neighbor, Cancun.  Tulum is truly what dreams are made of, making it no surprise this is now one of the most popular destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula.  Tulum beach is paradise offering a beautiful turquoise sea against white sand running along the main strip, ancient mayan history, charming boutiques and authentic farm to table cuisine. Did someone say…TACOS?!?

You might be wondering how you can join the fresh-faced fashionistas and forever young hippies and visit this magical little town – keep reading for a guide that should fit into anyones budget!

Travel

Tu-tu-tu-tulum, we go! My trip to Tulum was a very last minute get away, so my goal for this adventure was to be as budget savvy as possible while still affording myself some luxury. I purchased my flight about two weeks in advance and was looking for the cheapest options possible. I opted to fly Frontier, a budget airline, direct to Cancun Mexico (more details in the budget tips section). From Cancun it is a 2hr trip to Tulum; depending on flight arrival time and your budget you have several transportation options to get to Tulum:

• Bus – You will need to take two buses to get to Tulum, first take the ADO (ah-day-oh) bus from the airport to Playa del Carmen, then take the Mayab bus from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum. The Bus will cost approximately $7 USD. This is the most budget-friendly option, but it is not the most time efficient.
• Taxi – At the airport, after baggage claim, I got bombarded by several taxi drivers trying to hustle me for an overpriced ride to Tulum starting at $90-120 USD one way. My recommendation would be to do this as a last resort.
• Rental Car – Car rentals appear to be very cheap upfront however you will get slammed with additional costs so make sure you read the fine print so you don’t get scammed. From the airport, Tulum is a straight shot down the 307 and is a very easy drive during the day (would not recommend driving at night).
• Private transport – There are a variety of companies that offer round trip transportation, however I would recommend Happy Shuttle which seats up to 10 passengers and costs $170 USD round trip. If you are traveling in a small group this can be a very affordable, budget friendly option as you pay for the flat rate for the van (you do the math).

Stay

There are so many amazing places to stay in Tulum! Every place I wandered into I wanted to pack up into my backpack and bring home with me. The style in Tulum is very bohemian chic and virtually every place is eco friendly (ummm, yes please!).  While I wanted to relish in all the wanders Tulum had to offer, I also had to keep my budget in mind, so I opted to stay in Tulum town (pueblo) at an Airbnb. Airbnb has a lot of great options for every budget and is a great alternative to staying in pricy hotel on Beach Road. My motto is sleep cheap to really save on your budget; making Airbnb or hostels my go-to.

Tulum town is bike-able (or a quick taxi ride) to Beach Road, where you will find the more high-end eco friendly resorts, boutique shops, restaurants and bars. Tulum town has it’s own sparkle, and offers a slice of local life with it’s colorful streets, vendors and restaurants. I loved my time here and didn’t feel as though I was missing out. On the contrary, I felt those staying on Beach Road were missing out as many may skip Tulum Town entirely.

If you have a flexible budget, check out the places below!

Ahau Tulum – Ahau Tulum is located on Beach Road that has Palapa huts that lead out to the beach and bright yellow chairs parked in the sand for sun bathing. I visited Ahau for lunch, which was healthy and delicious.

Azulik – Azulik is situated on Beach Road with amazing views of the ocean. Azulik is wonderland for adults, with its dreamy decor and treehouse vibes. Azulik also has a restaurant and bar called Kin Toh that is a great place to catch a sunset.

Eat and Drink

Tulum is foodie heaven with all the amazing healthy farm to table restaurants and beach front bars. The bars and restaurants on Beach Road are a bit pricier then those located in Tulum town. To balance both my time and budget I dabbled in a variety of restaurants located in both Tulum town and on Beach Road. Below are a few of my favorite places to eat or grab a drink:

• Nomade – Sit Indian style while enjoying the gorgeous Moroccan inspired decor and delicious cuisine. After dinner head to the beach to lounge in one of the bean bag chairs with a margarita to catch the sunset.
• Food Vendors – There are a variety of food vendors located near Calle Geminis Sur in Tulum town, offering authentic street food at a small price.
• Batey Mojito & Guarapo Bar – The nightlife in Tulum town does not disappoint, come here for one of Batey’s is famous  mojitos – made with fresh sugar cane, pressed in a converted VW bug. Batey is bumpin’ and full of travelers of all ages. There is plenty of entertainment between the live music and the sugar cane being pressed by hand in the VW Bug all night to keep up with the non-stop mojito orders.
• Ki’ Bok – Head here for Delicious Pancakes and coffee. This was a convenient walk from my AirBnb in Tulum town and offered a very quick and affordable breakfast.
• Coco Tulum – Swings on the beach, delicious margaritas and fresh ceviche…need I say more?
• El Asadero – This adorable Argentinian steak house had some of the best service and empanadas in Tulum town!
• Gitano – Mezcal, Mezcal, Mezcal – head here for some unique cocktails and farm to table cuisine under the glisten of the disco ball hanging from the ceiling.
• Del Cielo – Grab breakfast here if you are in Tulum town looking for healthy options!

  Play

• Gran Cenote (150 MXN or 10 USD entrance fee) – There are several cenotes (sen-o-tays), however the Gran Cenote is a popular option located very close to town.  Fun for snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing.
• Tulum Ruins (60 MXN or 3 USD entrance fee) – A must see! Make sure you head here early in the morning (opens at 8am) to beat the crowds from the guided tours. The Tulum Ruins are impressive on their own, but with a white sand and turquoise sea back drop that are absolutely stunning.  Wear your bathing suit for a dip in the ocean at the beach to cool off.
• Yoga – You can’t beat a vinyasa with a beach view! There are a handful of yoga studios available on beach road and near Tulum town, however my favorite was Sanara.
• Tulum Jungle Gym – If you like to keep up with your fitness routine while on the road, the Jungle Gym offers bootcamp classes or day passes to do self-led workouts on the beach.
• Akumal – Head to Akumal to swim with sea turtles. These cuties will not disappoint! You can grab a taxi to Akumal from Tulum and will take about 20 minutes to get there; make sure you verify the taxi fare before hopping in to make sure you don’t get ripped off. Once you arrive in Akumal you will be approached on the street for snorkel trips, however I would suggest the Akumal Dive Shop.

Budget Travel Tips

• Budget Airlines – These are a great option if you have travel flexibility as many have limited days of the week and times they fly. My experience with Frontier Airlines was pleasant, however with a budget airline you will get charged for any add-on’s, such as checked baggage, seat selections and inflight refreshments, so keep this in mind. Frontier allows only one personal item (that needs to fit under the seat)  free of charge, any additional baggage going in an overhead compartment or checked baggage has a fee.
• Travel light –  Traveling light is a must for a variety of reasons! For starters, you wont have to pay any baggage fees when you travel and you won’t have to waste any time at baggage claim. I traveled with only my Osprey Porter 30 so I wouldn’t have to pay any baggage fees on Frontier. The Osprey Porter 30 fits comfortably under the seat on the airline at full capacity. Although I packed light, I didn’t end up wearing everything stuffed into my backpack…when in Mexico you will live in your bikini.
• Foreign Currency – Make sure to have some foreign currency on-hand when you travel. In Mexico both USD and pesos are accepted however, you get better prices with pesos.
• Use your legs!  –  Rent a bike or walk to cut costs on taxis…the taxi rides will add up, trust me!
• Cheap Eats – Opt for the food vender or small mom and pop for your meals to save some serious dinero…places like this end up serving the most authentic and delicious food anyhow. Win-win.
• Sleep Cheap – Staying off the beaten path is a good way to save a little money which is why I opted to stay in Tulum town rather then on Beach road. Hostels and Airbnb are great alternatives to pricey hotels.

Safe travels!

xoxo,

A