Is it better to stay in Tulum or Playa del Carmen?

The beaches on Tulum are much more picturesque when compared to Playa del Carmen. However, Tulum isn't very walkable. If you're staying in Downtown Tulum, you'll have to rent a car, get a cab ride, or bike to the beaches. The same goes for if you're staying at a beach resort and want to visit downtown.



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Playa del Carmen is ideal for all budgets, from backpackers to bougies. At the same time, Tulum remains one of the most expensive cities in all of Mexico. Still, if you're looking for a back-to-nature escape with verdant jungle views, Tulum is your best bet.

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Cost. In choosing Playa del Carmen or Tulum for your vacation, cost will be a big factor. While both destinations offer a range of cost options, Tulum's price point is roughly 20-30% higher than Playa del Carmen when you factor in accommodation, restaurants, and travel.

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Though not as crowded as Cancun, Playa del Carmen still isn't as quiet and laid-back as Tulum. It's perfect for an urban vacation, but if you're looking for a more relaxed one, Tulum is a far better choice.

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Whether you're there for a single night or an entire month, any trip to Tulum is memorable. As a baseline, we think that 5-7 days is a perfect amount of time to enjoy everything the city offers. You'll have time for the beach, to visit Mayan ruins, and even have enough extra days for a trip to a nearby destination.

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Tulum offers access to a number of prominent Mayan ruin sites in the Yucatan peninsula. First, the northern edge of the Tulum beach is adorned by Mayan ruins that overlook the beach from a spectacular perch on a cliff! Second, the much larger ruins at Coba are a mere hour or so north of Tulum.

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Playa del Carmen started out as a Fisherman's village, as many as 110 years ago. The white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and laid-back feel have made it a popular destination for tourists.

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It is said that the waters of Playa del Carmen are among the world's most beautiful.

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In fact, after staying five nights, I realized this lovely Mexican city is brimmed with beauty and excitement. Playa Del Carmen offers endless activities to make your holiday memorable, from lounging on its sandy beaches to exploring ancient Mayan ruins. And don't forget those cenotes!

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Location: Akumal is located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, the drive from Cancun to this spot takes around 1 hour (give or take a few depending on traffic). This beach town is primarily composed of five major bays that offer the best snorkeling on the coast right offshore.

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Good weather, great prices – The shoulder months of May, July and August are some of the best times of the year to explore Tulum if saving a few dollars and having more space for your beach towel are dealbreakers. Local hotel rates and airfare to the Riviera Maya tend to be lowest during these less-crowded months.

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Taxis to Tulum from Playa del Carmen usually cost around 600 pesos (around 30 USD), but if you're traveling with a few other people the split cost isn't too terrible.

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The ideal number of days in Playa del Carmen depends on your preferences and interests. Generally, a 3 to 7-day trip should provide enough time to see the main attractions, enjoy the beach, and take day trips to nearby sights.

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Waves will not get to big, this is a not a surfers paradise so swimming can be done every day! Playa del Carmen and the bays are protected by natural reef systems or in the case of Playa, the island of Cozumel so high waves just don't happen very often.

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It is more expensive than most other Mexican cities. Many things are imported to Playa and this adds to the cost as well. Once you travel out of the area you start to notice how things are cheaper but after a while you get used to what things cost and how to stretch your budget if you live in Playa Del Carmen.

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Be extra careful at night in Playa del Carmen As with many places in the world, most crimes in Playa del Carmen occur at night. Besides being extra careful at the bars in Playa del Carmen, you'll also want to be extra careful when walking alone at night.

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To get to Playa del Carmen, most travelers fly into Cancún International Airport (CUN), which is about 35 miles north of Playa del Carmen. To reach Playa, you can rent a car, take a bus or hop in a taxi.

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Cancun is great if you want to experience the nightlife and party scene, while Playa del Carmen offers a more relaxed atmosphere with plenty of beachfront restaurants and bars.

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Tulum is one of the most renowned Mexican beach destinations, popular for its endless beach, the unique Mayan archeological site, but most of all for becoming the preferred destination for trendsetters, artists, entrepreneurs of all sorts, and digital nomads found in Tulum their perfect high-end beach getaway from the ...

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Tulum's Beaches Will Stun You Tulum is first and foremost a beach destination — and for good reason! The beaches of Tulum are some of the best in the world. And though Tulum has seen its fair share of development over the past decade, Tulum's beaches have so far managed to escape the worst side effects of mass tourism.

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While Tulum is trendy, note that most of the best hotels offer eco-chic luxury (if you're looking for a large resort experience, look elsewhere) and are located along the 6-mile-long stretch of beachfront from the Tulum Ruins to the soft sand beach in the south end.

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