The Beach Tulum Guide
Tulum is a beautiful and quiet town located on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, in Mexico. Tulum is blessed with a great climate all year round and is known for its stunning beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, mysterious cenotes, great culinary scene, and lively nightclubs. Over the last 10 years a large number of eco-friendly luxurious hotels have been developed in Tulum.
Tulum has a very laid-back and bohemian vibe and atmosphere and is very popular with those travelers that are looking for a more secluded vacation than Tulum’s famous and neighbor – Cancun.
The main question we get from most Tulum first time visitors is whether to stay on the Beach, Town center (Pueblo) or Aldea Zama (the newest residential zone in Tulum).
Jashita / Casa Malca / La Valise / La Zebra / Una Vida / Mezzanine
Cabañas La Luna ($$$$) / Sueños ($$$) / Coco Village ($$)
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In short The Beach zone offers more upscale hotels and dining. Tulum Pueblo has plenty of mid-range hotels, affordable hostels, casual dining and entertainment options Aldea Zama is a more secluded area with luxury homes and plenty of amenities.
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In this guide, we will be focusing solely on The Beach. To learn more about Tulum Town and Altea Zama have a look at our Where to Stay in Tulum Guide.
The Beach has a more upscale vibe than Tulum Town. The Beach Zone is defined by luxury hotels, fine dining, an upscale party scene, and boutique shopping.
The Beach Hotel Zone is essentially divided into three areas or zones:
Accommodations in Tulum Beach range from luxury eco-hotels and high-end beachfront villas to more affordable (yet still pretty expensive) guesthouses and a few hostels.
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Tulum Beach is very close to the Mayan ruins making it easy to explore and immerse in the rich culture and history of the area. The are is also very popular for relaxing under the sun, water sports, scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling.
Casa Malca / La Zebra / La Valise / Encantada Sueños / Be Tulum
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Overall, Tulum Beach is our favorite zone in Tulum and a great choice if you are not on a budget and are looking to be close to the beach and watersports activities.
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Papaya Playa Project / Punta Piedra Beach / Zamas / Azulik
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Expert Tip: many of the hotels at the Beach don’t have air conditioning (even luxury hotels)
Read Next: – Best Spas in Tulum
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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