Looking for good/affordable lodging/dining suggestions in Tulum, Riviera Maya

[David Paul Appell]

Hello, following a project further up the coast, I'd like to spend the weekend of Sept. 17-18 in Tulum, in or walkable to town. Looking for a nice place for a couple of nights, ideally under US$100/night double, as well as dining suggestions.  Muchas gracias!!

 

[Kay Walten]

Hi David

 

Let me know the dates you are travelling  and i am happy to send some suggestions your way. The time of year can make a world of difference in Tulum so send dates...

 

Great to hear you will be in the area!

Kay

[David Paul Appell]

Nights of Friday the 16th and Saturday the 17th.  Gracias!!

[Kay Walten]

I would spend a bit more and stay at rancho san Eric in the cabanas owned by Stefan and his wife. They also have one of the best restaurants in town, Hechizo...and it is glorious food. The second choice for food is Posada Margarita which is also located on the beach and they have always constistantly produced a great menu..the fish steamed in salt water , exceptional.

Tulum really requires a car as there are three very distinct sections, in the town of tulum the beach road of tulum and then of course the ruins. there is a minimum of 3 to 4 kms between these areas. let me know where you are coming from as it might be best to grab the car at the starting point and drive there. Just makes life a lot easier. Also with a car you can drive the beach road, check out a few hotels and get the best deal. 

 

the final suggestion but it may be too far out for you is to stay in the Sian kaan at Cesiak. you ave great activiites with them during the day and driving to hechizo for dinner is easy or even to any beach based restaurant.

 

have a great trip and enjoy your stay. it is a magical place!!!

Kay

[David Paul Appell]

Great ideas, Kate.  Because of the relatively short time I have, I'd been looking for something convenient to town; I've been to the ruins but would of course want to go to the beach.  Also, I will have 2 friends with me so we'd be looking to share a triple.  I'll check into Rancho San Eric, Hechizo, and Posada Margarita!

[Kay Walten]

In town there are very small hostels. There is Chilam ballam on the main strip, Hotel Rosa near the end of the town and you can try an american guy on The road to the beach in a hotel called Too Tum tulum....

 

In town you will have typical mexican hotels, sweet but not what you see in the tulum brochures for sure. if you want a beach experience then it is to the beach road, and that is also a great experience.

 

You will understand once you get there....there is a large distance between the town and the beach...not inconvenient, just not like Playa del Carmen or other larger cities where you are beachside and town side...

[Anil]

I would suggest Be Tulum. I just returned from the same area, and I found taking a collectivo (35 pesos one way) from Playa del Carmen a much better option. Dining option in Tulum are limited. A friend of mine stayed for a weekend at Villa Las Estellas and was generally satisfied. The mythical moderate (in terms of amenities and service, not price)  hotels do not exist in Tulum area.

 

An idea that I have not explored, it to walk the uninterrupted length of the beach from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum, and investigate the various cabanas, villas, hotels.

[Kay Walten]

Anil,

great info and Be tulum is new...they have a hotel in Playa del Carmen BE Playa and it is not inexpensive...the walk from playa to tulum is almost impossible but would be super fun as there are a ton of beaches and hotels...the areas where you get stuck are Xpu Ha, jsut before the tulum ruins at the caleta, Xel Ha and one other caleta that does not have a name....puerto adventuras is also a bit of a bust as this is rocky area that was made into a man made marina due to its lack of beaches but has some interesting places to see if you are on foot for the day.

 

The coast is a beautiful and glorious place and if you need any secret beaches or less travelled beaches i am happy to give you some recommendations. when i lived in Tulum, i have to say that my favorite place to go was the Sian Kaan, the biosphere located south of tulum which is lagoons and beaches...this ends at Punta Allen.there are more orchid varieties in the Sian Kaan then anywhere in the world!  though it is not a place where you can stroll and look for them, it is jungle and lagoon so pathways are non existent...through i a bunch of cenotes and it is a road hard to travel on foot.

This part of mexico has much more to offer than Cancun and Playa del Carmen and it is only those who are adventurous that get to see its true beauty...seems you are one of those people!!!

 

[Anil]

Thanks Kay.

 

Yes, I am aware of interruptions in the coast for walking. What I like about many caribbean islands, and mexico is the notion that the beach is for public good, hence public access. Not exactly Tulum, but a non touristic village at the end of 109 is Punta Allen (sp?) Not easy to get by on public transportation, but the beaches are pristine and unspoilt.

[Linda K Jenkins]

Tulum is such a small place.. I think you just walk into the town and get something.

[Linda K Jenkins]

This are our properties in the quintana roo area Quintana Roo Mexico Accommodations