Tulum is a town located south of Cancun, while Riviera Maya stretches along the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Tulum is closer to the Caribbean Sea and offers easy access to some of the most beautiful beaches in the region.
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The distance from Cancun to Tulum is about 131 kilometers (81 miles). The journey by road takes between 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic and climatic conditions.
Cancun and Riviera Maya offer unique and exciting vacation experiences on Mexico's Caribbean coast. While Cancun is known for its lively nightlife, shopping, and entertainment, Riviera Maya offers a more laid-back and tranquil experience focusing on nature, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage.
Oftentimes, people use Cancun and the Riviera Maya interchangeably; however, they are two different locations. Cancun is a city with a lot of residents while the Riviera Maya is a region south of Cancun with many smaller resort towns such as Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Puerto Morelos all located along the water.
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.
A well-planned Tulum 3-day itinerary will allow you to experience the best of Tulum and make a day trip or two. But, there's so much to do and see, I highly recommend spending more time. 5 to 7 days would be an ideal start.
All that's left to do is map out what you will do and see during your time in Tulum. In just 3-5 days, you could easily check off all of Tulum's highlights, splash in a handful of cenotes, and include a fun day trip to nearby Coba and other incredible Riviera Maya destinations.
Three days in Tulum is enough to explore the main attractions, such as the Tulum archeological site, the beaches, and some cenotes. However, if you want to truly immerse yourself in the local culture, relax on the beach, and explore the surrounding areas, consider a longer stay.
Your day trip to Tulum from Cancun could not be any easier. And by the way, if you're coming from Playa del Carmen, the same directions apply, only the drive is much shorter, at about 64 kilometers. If driving is not an option for you, you can opt to ride a bus, minivan, or car.
Its pristine, white beaches, beautiful cenotes, archaeological sites, divers cuisine, restaurants, hotels, condos and resorts. Here are 10 reasons to visit the Riviera Maya, in the south of Cancun, from Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen, Sian Ka'an in the south of Tulum.
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.
November and early December are great times to visit Tulum since the weather is pleasant (temperatures range from the low 70s to low 80s) and the crowds are thinner than they are in late winter and early spring.
November and early December are great times to visit Tulum since the weather is pleasant (temperatures range from the low 70s to low 80s) and the crowds are thinner than they are in late winter and early spring.
Tulum is largely safe for travel but has recently seen an increase in high profile safety incidents and unrest. Much of the safety issues are connected to cartels, corruption, and the clash of rapid development with local residents.
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.
Its pristine, white beaches, beautiful cenotes, archaeological sites, divers cuisine, restaurants, hotels, condos and resorts. Here are 10 reasons to visit the Riviera Maya, in the south of Cancun, from Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen, Sian Ka'an in the south of Tulum.
There are also some really safe areas in the Riviera Maya mainland too. Some of the main towns include Akumal, Bacalar and Puerto Aventuras, where tourists can easily walk around during both the day and night with little issues.