How to Get To Tulum Hotel Area Zone From the City Center (Tulum Travel Guide)

Yes, you can and the fee starts at around ,500 MXN. You can usually rent them from shops that offer ATV tours.

• Tulum Pueblo: The town center which lies along Highway 307 wherein most restaurants are found alongside hotels and other shops.
• Zona Hotelera: This is the Tulum hotel area or hotel zone which has just one major road and it is east of Tulum Pueblo. You’ll find most of the expensive hotels and beach clubs here.
• Tulum Ruins: Found on the area originally referred to as “zama” (dawn), this is where its Mayan inhabitants built their temples for worship. The ruins are a must to visit during your stay but this area is basically just an attraction site.

Tulum City Center to Hotel Zone & Back
It is illegal to drive a scooter or moped without a helmet in Mexico, so do ensure that you wear it at all times. Bring your driver’s license or passport when driving as well because though it is rare, the police might do some random checks sometimes.
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Also, if you go further down the Tulum hotel area’s road, there are some stretches where there are a lot of potholes so beware.

There aren’t a lot of shops that rent out scooters but you can find a majority of them in the town center such as Tigre Tulum. Prices vary but they usually start at 0 MXN per day and 0 MXN for half a day. Take note that prices can go up especially during peak season (December to February).

A word of advice, it is up to the discretion of the driver if they want to pick you up or not especially when it’s rush hour. Of course, they won’t stop for you if the vehicle is already full.
To make the most of your time, driving a car rental is an amazing way to go around Tulum. Be wary though if you make your way to the Tulum hotel area because there can be slow traffic especially during lunchtime.
You can bike to the nearby cenotes but take note that you will be biking beside the highway given that there is no proper bike lane. A lot of tourists do this (I did it as well) but please be careful because cars and trucks tend to run quite wild.
To go back to the city center from the Tulum hotel area, you just need to flag down any colectivo that will pass down the beach road. They don’t operate on a fixed schedule so you just need to wait until you see one (rest assured, they pass by frequently).

» By Bicycle

To go back to the city center from the Tulum hotel area, you just need to flag down any colectivo that will pass down the beach road. They don’t operate on a fixed schedule so you just need to wait until you see one (rest assured, they pass by frequently).

» By Scooter or Moped

To go back to the city center from the Tulum hotel area, you just need to flag down any colectivo that will pass down the beach road. They don’t operate on a fixed schedule so you just need to wait until you see one (rest assured, they pass by frequently).

» By Taxi

To go back to the city center from the Tulum hotel area, you just need to flag down any colectivo that will pass down the beach road. They don’t operate on a fixed schedule so you just need to wait until you see one (rest assured, they pass by frequently).

» By Car Rental

To go back to the city center from the Tulum hotel area, you just need to flag down any colectivo that will pass down the beach road. They don’t operate on a fixed schedule so you just need to wait until you see one (rest assured, they pass by frequently).

» By Colectivo

Most scooters or moped bikes that they offer are either the 125cc or 150cc type. To rent, you would need to show your driver’s license (they’ll take a photo of it or just use it as a reference for filling out paperwork) and then leave your passport OR a deposit.
Uber is not available in Tulum but there is an abundance of taxis (they are white cars with red stripes). They are quite overpriced and the minimum fare per one-way journey can start at around 0 MXN.
It is important to note that this is a local colectivo that mainly aims to transport locals who are working at the hotel zone, but unlike what most people think, tourists CAN also ride these colectivos.
Tulum in Mexico has a spectacular coastline and vibe that a lot of travelers seek. As a destination, Tulum is considered to have 3 zones: (Tulum Hotel Area)

And of course, exercise caution when walking long distances alone at night. After all, Tulum occasionally suffers from violent crime; but, even if it’s not usually done against tourists, it’s still important to stay street smart at all times.

Photo by: Shutterstock
Personally, I don’t recommend walking because it will take up too much of your time especially if you’re staying for a short time.
A “colectivo” is basically a local shared shuttle van that serves as some sort of hop-on-hop-off public transportation in Mexico. As you can see in the photo above, the space inside can get a bit cramped but it is the cheapest way to go around.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)