Top 5 Questions to Answer before Visiting Tulum
As a husband and wife property management team with over ten years of experience in Tulum, we’ve heard all the questions under the sun! Here is a round up of our most commonly fielded questions we hear from those who have just arrived to Tulum and need some help settling in. Read this post to answer everything you need to know before you visit Tulum, from where to work out, the best places to change money at a good rate, and how to get Alkaline water delivered to your house. Let’s go!
Are there food and/or grocery delivery serviceS available?
For those used to the convenience of services like Uber Eats and Door Dash, you’re in luck! The website and App Tomato.com delivers food to your door from hundreds of restaurants in Tulum, including late night donuts from Berli and incredible burritos from Burrito Amor. Get updates on your delivery status in real time. You’ll see the motorcycles with red and white delivery boxes on them zipping all around town…even during light rainfall. There is also a service called Rappi that is becoming more popular. The superstore Chedraui, a Walmart equivalent, delivers groceries as well.
Where can I change my dollars?
There are many banks in Tulum where you can exchange your dollars for pesos or take out pesos at the ATM. The banks with the best rates and lowest fees are usually Banco Azteca and CIBANCO. San Jorge Casa de Cambio is a reliable currency exchange chain. Always remember to bring your passport.
Is there a GOOD gym in Tulum?
There are several gyms in Tulum at different price points – Evolve, Jungle Gym, Smart Fit, G.O.A.T., CrossFit, and there’s a three story gym in Los Amigos/Central Park Complex. A new gym was added to the Chedruai grocery story complex. There are also several pilates studios and dance studios, and a plethora of yoga studios.
Is Tulum safe?
Tulum is a place where many expats live and there are international visitors from all over the world. It is a safe place to live in general, including for single female travellers. Most crime is petty theft, or crimes of opportunity, so like in any city in the world, you just want to lock your things up and be aware of your surroundings.
Located in the southern section of Quintana Roo on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, it used to be a sleepy beach town that attracted hippie types who preferred the tranquil beaches and its laid-back vibe over Cancun’s riotous nightlife. Those who remember the fishing-village vibe of those days may complain that Tulum is now an unrecognizable and dangerous place. It’s true the last decade or so, though, the crowds of spiritual seekers have been balanced by waves of electronic-music fans, digital nomads, yogis and young families looking for a more evolved community in which to raise their children. With growth comes more infrastructure, traffic lights with pan handlers and the features of any growing town.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Tulum every year and leave without a mishap. Stay sharp… and for comparison, The Overseas Security Advisory Council rates it as a Level 02, the same as France, Italy and Spain.
How do I get drinking water?
You can bring your empty five gallon jugs called “garrafones” (the 20 liter bottles that you will find in all the houses) to almost any grocery or convenience store and they will exchange your empty ones for full ones. Oxxo is a common convenience store where the Agua Cristal five gallon jugs is usually refilled for 40 pesos. There is also an Agua Cristal delivery service. Make sure you download the app Whatsapp that everyone uses in lieu of text messaging in Mexico (and many other places abroad). This is how the water delivery service will contact you, get your GPS location and tell you they’re arriving at your door. For Alkaline water there is a delivery service called Agua Viva who have their own five gallon jungs. Refills are 70 pesos, roughly three US dollars for 20 Litres. If you need to buy more bottles, you can buy new ones from any of the delivery services or grocery stores like Oxxo or Chedraui. Stay hydrated!
Where to stay in Tulum
Tulum’s accommodation options are split between exclusive resorts with private beach access, hotels and AirBnBs in the town itself. All three options are great. In terms of budget, the very expensive hotels tend to be located on the beach in the hotel-zone while you can get much better bang for your peso and a more authentic experience in Tulum town.
We recommend booking an AirBnB in either Aldea Zama or La Veleta neighbourhood for their vibrant cafe and shop culture and walkability.
As a husband and wife property management duo with over 10 years of experience living in Tulum, raising our family here, we have handpicked a selection of safe, gorgeous and convenient properties we think you’ll love. We arrange both short and long-term stays.