I'd recommend Tulum Beach if it's your first time visiting Tulum and you want to lay out on the beach all day, hit a trendy restaurant for dinner, and dance the night away. I'd recommend Tulum Town if you're on a budget and want to explore cenotes, ruins and have a more active vacation!
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.
Be cautious at night if you're traveling alone – Tulum isn't the most dangerous place at night, but in some places, it's not as well lit as it should be. Don't walk around alone late at night if you can avoid it — especially between the center of town and the beachfront hotel zone.
Thick rafts of a seaweed-like algae species known as sargassum have caused resorts to close in the Caribbean before, and now they're piling up on Mexico's Riviera Maya in foul-smelling heaps.
Stay away from drugs and drug-related activities.But when violent crime does happen here, it's usually related to drugs. If you're traveling solo, avoid going to secluded places at night. Bicycling is pretty tempting when you're in Tulum, but avoid bicycling around at night. Take a taxi if you're alone.
? April – October are the hottest months on the Yucatán Peninsula. November – January are the coolest months. Tulum's high season coincides with the cooler period. ? The worst months for seaweed washing up in Tulum and the rest of the Caribbean Coast are considered to be June, July and August.
It is possible to walk to Tulum beach from Tulum town along Avenida Coba, following the bicycle path. To reach the edges of Tulum town takes about 45 minutes walking, perhaps longer depending upon your final destination.
While exposed eastern shores are most likely to get hit by surges of sargassum, some beaches in Mexico have no sargassum. This includes Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and Cozumel's western shore. They're generally seaweed-free. However, much depends on winds and ocean currents.
Is Tulum safer than Cancun? Not really. They're both generally safe. The key difference is that Cancun's mainstream holidaymakers tend to stick more to their hotels, especially the all-inclusives.
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.
Tulum is a more rustic and laid-back destination that is perfect for those looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a more authentic travel experience. Riviera Maya, on the other hand, offers a wider range of amenities and activities, and is perfect for those looking for a more modern and luxurious travel experience.