Tulum vs Cancun: A Head-to-Head Comparison
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Trying to decide where to go on your trip, Tulum vs Cancun? We can help!
Quick Rundown On Tulum vs Cancun
Cancun is arguably the most popular destination in Mexico for American tourists. Its hotel zone offers miles of beautiful beachfront with tons of choices for resorts. A large percentage of those resorts are all-inclusive, an ever-popular travel option for tourists.
Tulum is about 90 minutes south of Cancun and has boomed in popularity over the last five years. It has become a hotspot for travelers looking for a party scene. With its beach clubs and bar scene, Tulum is the hottest spot in Mexico.
Tulum vs Cancun: The Comparison
The decision between Tulum and Cancun will largely depend on what type of vacation you want to have.
To properly compare the two, we’ll look at 9 different areas:
- Price
- Accessibility
- Nightlife
- Food
- Scenery
- Atmosphere
- Safety
- Family-Friendliness
- Nearby Sights
Let’s get into it.
Budget-Friendliness
Tulum Budget-Friendliness
It’s important to note off the top here that there are two very different parts of Tulum: the beach, and the town.
The town of Tulum is budget-friendly, cheap even. The beach, however, is quite expensive. The beach club experience will carry a big price tag.
There are some luxurious lodging options along the beach too, whereas, in town, the options are more affordable. Tulum can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.
The bottom line is everything will be cheaper in town, but the beauty and the experience and many of the things that likely made you want to visit Tulum are found along the beach.
Cancun Budget-Friendliness
When we talk about Cancun, we’ll stay focused on the tourist/hotel zones, because nobody is going to Cancun to stay in the suburbs (at least, that wouldn’t be my recommendation).
Cancun is largely associated with the all-inclusive resorts that dominate the tourist zones in that area. Because there are so many, the prices are very competitive. You’ll likely be able to find a good deal.
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Budget-Friendliness
If we’re comparing the all-inclusive resorts in Cancun to the all-inclusive resorts in Tulum, You’ll likely get a better price in Cancun, because of the competitiveness of the market.
However, if you’re willing to stay at a hostel in the town of Tulum, and ride a bike (or whatever suits you) down to the beach, you’ll be able to take that vacation for a much more budget-friendly price.
In fact, we have a post about enjoying Tulum on a budget that you’ll want to check out.
Accessibility
Tulum Accessibility
Once you arrive in Tulum, everything you’ll want to see is pretty accessible, especially if you decide to shell out and stay by the beach. If you stay in town, the beach is a quick 10-minute drive away.
Tourism is booming in Tulum (both the town and the beach), so all the sights you’ll want to see and the tours you’ll want to take are very easy to find. There are tour offices, pickup points, and public transportation stops that make Tulum and the surrounding area very accessible.
The downside? There is no international airport in Tulum. The recommended method to arrive in Tulum is flying into Cancun and arranging a ride to Tulum. It’ll take 1.5-2 hours.
Cancun Accessibility
Because the international airport is in Cancun itself, it makes the hotel zone very accessible. You can use the link above to book a taxi from the airport to your hotel in Cancun.
The other nice thing about accessibility in Cancun is the all-inclusive resorts. Whether its dining, relaxing by the pool or beach, bars, or dancing, these resorts have it all! They even offer tour booking services that will pick you up at your hotel.
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Accessibility
When it comes to accessibility, Cancun wins this round. The airport is a short ride away from the hotel zone. And once you arrive at your all-inclusive resort, there’s no reason to leave (unless you’re on a tour, but even then, the resort takes care of that!).
Nightlife
Tulum Nightlife
One of the reasons, if not the main reason that Tulum has blown up as a destination in recent years is its party scene. Along the beach is a string of bars and clubs that are nonstop parties from midday until late night.
Taboo, Tantra, Papaya Playa, there are a lot of options!
Like Cancun’s all-inclusive resort market, Tulum’s beach club market is competitive! Not in price as much as the experience. They’ve all tried to one-up each other with beautiful settings, live music, and Instagrammable photo ops.
One could easily spend the weekend partying in Tulum Beach and never go back to the same place twice.
Cancun Nightlife
In Cancun, there are some famous clubs that are known for being a great night out for tourists.
Coco Bongo is the undeniable king of these, at least in reputation. If you’re willing to deal with the heavy price tag and dense crowd at Coco Bongo, you’ll be treated to a night and a show you won’t forget.
If you don’t want to go out, and if you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, I wouldn’t blame you. After all, the drinks are free at the resort, right? The bars at the resort can get pretty fun! Loud music playing while everyone is drinking bottomless (though maybe a bit watery) drinks is a recipe for a good time.
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Nightlife
Because of the plethora of options and the quality of experience, Tulum’s nightlife comes out ahead. It’s hard (maybe impossible) to match the fun and beautiful scenery you’ll find at the beach clubs in Tulum.
There’s a reason it’s the hottest destination in Mexico. Tulum is fun!
Food
Tulum Food
Along the beach in Tulum, you’ll find some of the nicest, fanciest, most well-prepared food in all of Mexico. Because it’s a booming destination, Tulum Beach attracts top-notch chefs and restauranteurs.
In the town of Tulum, you’ll find great bang for your buck on local-style food. I had tacos at least once every day when I was in Tulum, and they were my favorite tacos (as a whole destination) of anywhere I’ve ever been.
In the streets of Tulum, you’ll be able to buy three tacos al pastor for 30 pesos (about $1.50). We’ve got a post where you can find out where along with some other local hidden gems in Tulum.
Cancun Food
Cancun has been an established destination for a long time. There are some high-quality dining experiences in Cancun. We mustn’t forget though, that you’ll be spending most (if not all) of your time at the resort.
For the all-inclusiveness of the resorts, a few things suffer. One of these things is food. When the primary restaurant location is the buffet, and all the other restaurants’ food is included, quality is bound to suffer. It’s the nature of business, unfortunately.
While the variety and quantity can be impressive, the quality will likely leave a mediocre taste in your mouth, so to speak. Don’t get me wrong, most of it is fine, but when you’re on vacation, you want more than fine.
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Food
When it comes to food, Tulum is the clear winner. It’s blossoming into one of the top destinations in Mexico and drawing high-quality food options from all over the world.
There is good food in Cancun too, but the quality at the all-inclusive resorts is mediocre, and the surrounding restaurants are more Americanized than in Tulum. If that’s a draw for you, great. When I travel though, I want something new and exotic.
Scenery
Tulum Scenery
Tulum is a nature-concious place. Local building ordinances prohibit structures above 12 meters (about 3 stories) high. This keeps Tulum and the surrounding areas from overpowering the nature around it as Cancun has.
Anywhere you go in town or along the beach, it feels like a small town, and never loses that jungle feel. It’s a vastly different aesthetic and different feel as you walk through the streets.
The beaches of Tulum provide miles of white sand and clear water (weather dependent of course). The hotels and clubs have built themselves in a clever way to blend very well with the natural jungle around them.
Even though it’s booming in popularity, it still feels like a small tropical destination.
Cancun Scenery
When you land in Cancun and make your way to the resort, it will feel like just another city with big buildings and hotels. The roads are wild and packed. The highways are dotted with the most violent speed bumps I’ve ever seen (big, metal, lumpy monstrosities).
When you arrive at the resort, you’ll be treated to a luxurious view of sprawling grounds, indoor palm trees, and huge swimming pools. Everything you see at the resorts is BIG (except the drink glasses).
That being said, Cancun offers some of the cleanest beaches and clearest water in Mexico. There’s a reason the hotel zone is built on and around that islet. It’s a prime spot for beach views.
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Scenery
This is a tough one. I prefer the overall scenery of Tulum because it blends so well with the nature around it. There’s no denying though that the beach views in Cancun are unbeatable.
The luxury and overall bigness of the resorts in Cancun are also tough to beat.
This one comes down to what you’re looking for. It’s a toss-up, though I’d give the slight edge to Cancun, due to the beauty and luxury of the resorts, along with the beach scenery.
Atmosphere
Tulum Atmosphere
The overall atmosphere in Tulum is a lot different than what you’ll find in Cancun. Though it’s growing rapidly, it’s still a small town. The beach area is growing fast too, but it’s still essentially one (surprisingly narrow and pothole-filled) street along the shore.
Despite the growth, Tulum doesn’t feel touristy. Down by the beach even, where things are more pricey, the surroundings still give you that small-town feel.
To me, there is a difference between travelers and tourists. Tulum, even when the crowds are dense like at the ruins or at the clubs, or in the line to see Ven a la Luz (the sculpture you’ve seen in all the Tulum Instagram posts), still doesn’t feel touristy.
Cancun Atmosphere
Cancun, on the other hand, feels very touristy. The majority of people staying at the resort are American or Canadian. Almost everyone that works at the resorts speaks English.
There are very few feelings of being in a foreign destination. Besides the stunning beach views, you could very well be at a hotel around the corner from your house.
Everything is catered toward American tourists. The food menus are even very Americanized. This might be what you’re looking for.
If you want to get away to beautiful beach views with that all-inclusive style vacation, and not feel like you’re in a foreign country, you’ll be very pleased with Cancun.
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Atmosphere
Again, this will depend on what you’re looking for from your vacation. Tulum will provide more of an authentic Mexican atmosphere, especially in the town, than Cancun.
If you don’t want to bother learning any Spanish and want a tropical vacation with very few inconveniences, Cancun will be preferable.
Safety
Tulum Safety
Safety abroad is heavily researched and heavily written about. I could throw out statistics about crime rates but the fact of the matter is safety in Tulum is much like safety at home.
If you stay around the beach area, and the main part of town (where there are more people), you’ll be safe. Tulum does tend to have some violent crime, but so do most cities.
Don’t let that stop you from going. Just don’t wander down dark alleys or get too far away from the main roads.
Cancun Safety
Cancun, like Tulum, has some violence and crime sometimes. However, this largely occurs away from the tourist zones. If you stay in the hotel zone and spend a lot of time at the resort, and take tours organized by the resort, you’ll be safe.
Things do happen. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. Crime happens in every city. Chicago, L.A., and New York City, they’re some of the largest tourist destinations in the U.S., and the world even. And all of them have unsafe areas.
Stick to the resort and surrounding areas and you’ll maximize your safety.
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Safety
While both are safe if you go about everything the right way, I’ll give the edge to Cancun due to the safety of the resorts and the family-friendly atmosphere. You can take an entire vacation to Cancun and never leave the safety of the resort.
It’s always a good idea to check travel advisories before your trip, to make sure the Department of State agrees with me. There, you’ll find updated recommendations from the government about each state in Mexico.
If safety is the main concern, consider traveling to Merida, the safest city in Mexico.
Family-Friendliness
Tulum Family-Friendliness
While Tulum is an incredibly fun place, it’s more of a Mexican adult playground. A lot of the draw is the nightlife, the bars, and the party atmosphere.
There aren’t that many family-friendly activities in Tulum. There are some nice pools at the resorts and some beautiful places to relax as a family, but as for activities, Tulum is more geared toward adults.
Cancun Family-Friendliness
The resorts found in Cancun are geared towards families wanting to vacation together. There are often many activities and amenities geared toward children and families.
At some resorts, there are pool games, waterslides, and playgrounds. At a few of them, you can even swim with dolphins!
Winner Of Cancun vs Tulum Family-Friendliness
When it comes to family-friendliness, Cancun is the far and away winner. The activities and amenities at the all-inclusive resorts are far more family-friendly than you’ll find in Tulum.
Nearby Sights
Tulum Nearby Sights
When thinking about Tulum vs Cancun, it’s important to consider which sights you want to see when you arrive.
If you decide to stay in Tulum, you’ll be closer to the following sights and destinations:
- Tulum Ruins (of course!)
- Chichen Itza (It’s actually faster from Tulum)
- Valladolid
- Coba Ruins
- Bacalar (Lake of Seven Colors)
Cancun Nearby Sights
Cancun might visually look closer to Chichen Itza and Valladolid, but the road between Cancun and Valladolid is brutally stop-and-go at times, so it takes longer to get there from Cancun.
If you stay in Cancun though, you’ll be closer to sights and destinations like:
- Isla Mujeres
- Holbox
- Puerto Morelos
About halfway between Cancun and Tulum sits Playa del Carmen. From there you can access Cozumel and Xcaret Eco-Park.
Winner of Cancun vs Tulum Nearby Sights
As far as nearby sites, Tulum wins. Not only is it closer to most of the destinations on the Yucatan Peninsula, but it’s also easier to get to Playa del Carmen and Xcaret due to the less trafficked route from Tulum.
The roads in Cancun are packed and slow-moving. If you want to get around and see more parts of Mexico, Tulum would be the better choice for a home base.
Tulum vs Cancun: Overall Winner
We’ve analyzed 9 of the most important variables to consider when choosing which destination to travel to.
If you’re keeping score, Tulum won 5/9 categories: price, nightlife, food, atmosphere and nearby sights. While Cancun won 4/9 categories: accessibility, scenery (though only slightly), safety, and family-friendliness.
In the battle of Tulum vs Cancun, we declare Tulum as the overall winner.
Of course, it will still depend on what sort of trip you want to take. My preferences are subjective, but the facts are that Tulum is closer to most of the other sights around the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s also more nature friendly and offers a more authentic experience.
If you want the luxurious, all-inclusive, family-style vacation though, Cancun will be for you. There’s no denying it’s more convenient, accessible, and catered toward Americans and English speakers.
It all depends on what you want. Mileage may vary!
Tulum FAQs
Now that Tulum has been declared the winner, you might have some questions about it so you can be ready for your trip. Here are some questions I’ve been asked about Tulum.
How Much Does Tulum Cost?
Staying in Tulum, especially if you want to spend time at the beach and enjoy the clubs and bars there, will cost more than most of the places I would typically go. This is due to its growing tourism popularity.
The biggest costs though are hotels, beach clubs and restaurants, and transportation.
Mayan Monkey ran me around $13 a night, a fraction of what you’d pay for a normal hotel, especially by the beach. Taxi rides between the pueblo and the beach are pricey, running between $10 and $20, or more if it’s a peak hour.
If you stay at Mayan Monkey or find another suitable hostel, minimize your spending at the beachfront tourist traps, and minimize your taxi usage by renting a bicycle or walking, you can get away with a much smaller expense sheet.
It will likely cost more than going to Bacalar or Merida because some of that spending is hard to avoid. But, it’s absolutely worth the experience. It’s beautiful and fun, and the food is great!
There are more exclusive and luxurious options in Tulum in the form of private tours if that’s your jam.
How Much Cash Do I Need For Tulum?
The nice thing about traveling now is how much of it is taken care of online. Flights and lodging will both be taken care of online. In our Tulum packing list, we recommend not bringing a large amount of cash with you.
When you get there though, you’ll want some cash. Tours, taxis, and everything that happens on the fly will be better purchased with cash. Even more accurately, better purchased with pesos.
Exchanging dollars for pesos comes with some unnecessary costs. So does using the ATM to get cash, if you don’t have the right kind of account.
Here’s your pro tip: open a checking account that does not charge foreign transaction fees and reimburses all ATM fees, as the one Charles Schwab offers. There are no monthly fees and no account minimums.
This account is a great way to keep track of travel expenses. I treat mine as my travel account, putting some in whenever I can and using only that money when I travel.
Without the looming threat of ATM fees, it’s easier to take out 1,000 or 2,000 pesos ($50-$100) every once in a while. This is much more ideal than taking a chunk of dollars and exchanging them along the way. The exchange fees add up, and you shouldn’t have tons of cash on you (or back in your room).
Is There Uber in Tulum?
As of the time of this writing, there is no Uber in Tulum. Taxis still own the streets. They can get pricey too.
Here’s some advice on taxis in Tulum:
- Don’t get into a cab without agreeing on a price.
- Don’t accept the first price you hear. They do not expect you to pay that price, but they’ll take it if you agree. Haggle!
- Talk to the driver. If they’re nice, you can exchange numbers and they may give you a better price on future rides. They also have hookups for tours and other activities.
One of my drivers ended up squeezing me on a tour with some other people the next day and I got some extra activities that I didn’t pay for due to how it all worked out. I just wanted to go to Coba but I ended up riding ATVs in the jungle and seeing some cenotes too.
I paid way less than the other people in my group
Summing Up Tulum vs Cancun
Tulum and Cancun are two very different destinations, though they’re geographically close together. Hopefully, deciding which one to go to is easier now after all this insight.
If deciding which city you want to go to is too hard, think about what you want out of your vacation instead. The info in this post will lead you to the right destination for you.
Our winner is Tulum, but get out there and visit for yourself and let me know how it goes. Hell, visit them both if you have the time and the means.
Have fun out there!
For more Mexico info, check these out: