21 Things I Learned in Tulum 2022

I took my first trip to Tulum, Mexico in September 2022 and learned a lot between research and first hand experience. Here are 21 things I learned that either I found interesting or may help others in planning their trip.

1. Drivers ignore road lines

Driving around Cancun and Tulum was my first time driving in another country, and I was surprised how a 3 lane road quickly became 4 lanes because drivers ignore the lane markings. This is just how it’s done!

2. Speed limits constantly change

The speed limits change constantly making it tough to keep track of what the limit is. And if you do follow the signs, you will be the slowest car on the road with the exception of other tourists.

3. Paying off cops is a real thing in Tulum

You’ve probably heard stories about cops targeting tourists to pull over and then demanding money. Unfortunately I can confirm this is true and we experienced it before even arriving in Tulum. My partner was driving and hit a speed bump a little too fast leading to us getting pulled over. The cop essentially pretended to speak no English and spoke very fast Spanish, a clear intimidation tactic, until we gave him cash.

4. Tulum has an old plumbing system

In Tulum, toilet paper should generally be thrown away in the trash rather than flushed down the toilet due to the old plumbing system. Coming from the US, this is uncommon.

5. Sustainability is big in Tulum

There is a general emphasis toward sustainability and environmental conversation in Tulum. Whether it’s banning sunscreen in cenotes or widespread composting, the goal is to preserve the environment.

What I found interesting is that Tulum is an example of a relatively undeveloped region that has a chance to grow and build sustainably. However, because Tulum has exploded in popularity in such a short amount of time there is a tough balance between keeping up with demand and keeping sustainability a priority.

6. Tulum is very expensive

There are two sides of Tulum, the town and the beach. The beach side is crazy expensive, think $20 USD per cocktail. The town, while much cheaper than the beach, is still relatively expensive for Mexico and prices are going up fast. Even in Tulum town we spent about $80 USD for a meal for two people that wasn’t over the top extravagant.

7. There are different types of cenotes

There are different types of cenotes: open, cavern, semi-open. I had a lot of fun exploring these different types of cenotes whether it was swimming in a natural, open air pool or descending into a cave.

8. Make sure to have pesos in Tulum

Do not go to Tulum without pesos! While some businesses accept credit card, most are cash only. Additionally you will need cash for visiting cenotes, ruins, tips, and taking taxis, just to name a few. I was able to use US dollars in some cases, however it’s best to have pesos.

9. There are few functioning ATMs in Tulum

Make sure that you have a decent amount of pesos before going to Tulum. I came across ATMs that didn’t work, ran out if cash, and some that only dispensed US dollars. On top of all that, the lines for ATMs could get really long.

10. A lot of people will speak Spanish with you

I speak conversational Spanish after years of schooling and was thrilled that locals generally replied to me in Spanish. This was very different from Puerto Vallarta where locals defaulted to English even if I started the conversation in Spanish.

11. The Ven a la Luz/ Women Sculpture has moved and is no longer free to visit

If you are active on social media it’s tough not to be familiar with the image of the Women Sculpture aka Ven a la Luz aka the Raw Love Exhibition; this is the large sculpture with a women opening her chest cavity. This sculpture became so popular to visit that it has moved to Ahau Hotel and now has an entrance fee.

12. Speed bumps are huge in Tulum

I’ve never seen speed bumps bigger than those in Tulum, they are huge! Be sure to slow down a lot if you are driving.

13. There is tons of construction in Tulum

As you drive along the road that links the town to the beach, there is a ton of construction going on. I talked to people who had been to Tulum just one year prior and said it looks completely different now with all the new construction.

14. You are no longer able to climb the Nohoch Mul Pyramid in Coba

A few years ago you were allowed to climb to the top of the 137 ft Nohoch Mul Pyramid among the Coba ruins, however that changed in 2020. Covid restrictions instigated the change, however ultimately I can assume the real reason is to preserve the ruins. While this is a bummer, I still found the Coba ruins really neat and impressive.

15. Clubs search your belongings very closely

My friends and I went to Papaya Playa Project one night and I was startled by how closely security searched everyone’s bags, wallets, and pockets. I mean literally taking credit cards out of wallets looking for drugs. We had nothing to hide so this was a nonissue, but they wouldn’t let my partner bring in his legitimate medical pills.

16. Everyone expects a tip

Seemingly everyone is looking for a tip no matter what the service. I was thrown off when the rental car employee who marked up the sheet with the many, many scratches and dents expected a tip for being thorough.

17. September is a relatively quiet month in Tulum

Peak season for visiting Tulum is December through April due to drier weather and people seeking warmer temperatures. I visited Tulum in September and while there were plenty of tourists, it was relatively quiet. I went in ready for long lines and never once had to wait for anything.

18. The tap water is not safe to drink in Tulum

Like most of Mexico, tap water is not safe to drink in Tulum. Be sure to buy filtered water for drinking and brushing your teeth.

19. Drugs are not discrete in Tulum

In just about every restaurant or club on the beach side of Tulum, there is someone pretty openly selling drugs. I stayed completely out of this and advise you do too, but don’t be surprised when it’s everywhere.

20. You can’t win when renting a car in Cancun

I spent more time than I’d like to admit researching car rentals leading up to my trip to Mexico. I wanted to find a good deal and be clear on what insurance was needed. Frankly, by the time I got to Cancun I still wasn’t sure how it all worked and ended up paying for additional (probably unnecessary) insurance. I rented through Dollar (Hertz is the parent company).

To make it worse, I felt the Dollar/ Hertz staff purposely try to confuse you. They tried to tell my partner and I that only one of us could go to the rental counter and I had to argue with them to let us both go.

21. The National Guard are present in Tulum

The Mexican National Guard can be seen patrolling the streets and driving around Tulum with their military gear and assault rifles.