Tulum vs. Cancun: which one to choose

If this is your first time travelling to Mexico, or you’re thinking of it, let me start by telling you that this will most likely be one of your most memorable trips in your life.

Mexico has so much to offer, with each region being so different from one another. The whole Quintana Roo is a world in itself and since most travellers hesitate between Tulum vs. Cancun, hopefully this article will help you make a decision. 

Tulum vs Cancun: how far is one another? 

First of all, it’s good to know some geography of the country you’re about to visit:

Tulum and Cancun are two cities located in the State of Quintana Roo.

This region is home of the city of Cancun, the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, the towns of Bacalar, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and some ancient Maya ruins (Chacchoben, Coba, Kohunlich, Muyil, Tulum, Xel-ha and Xcaret).

If you have decided to go visit the Quintana Roo region, you most likely will visit all of the cities and ruins aforementioned. Travelling from one place to another is relatively easy and cheap.

There’s about 131 kilometres (81 miles) between Tulum and Cancun and, on average, it should take you 1.5-2.5 hours to get from one to the other. Traffic in Tulum can be quite bad at times so make sure you give yourself plenty of time if you have buses to catch or have to be somewhere at a certain time.

The easiest and fastest (and local) way to get from Cancun to Tulum is to take the colectivo which’ll cost you roughly 130 MXN ($5-6). There are colectivos (small local buses) just about every hour from the main bus stop in Cancun, but in general you can stop them wherever.

There are other ways to get from one city to another (though Tulum really isn’t a city... keep on reading for a little heads up on the place):

• Bus (usually with the company ADO): 200-250 MXN, about 2.5hours
• Colectivo via Playa del Carmen: 80-90 MXN, about 3h (if you’re doing the trip from Cancun to Tulum it’s probably worth a stop to PDC to visit it anyways.. I was supposed to stay a few days there and that turned into 4 months)
• Taxi/Private car: at least 2000 MXN, about 1.5 hours, depending on your driver.
• Minivans (shared): 580-600 MXN, about 2.5 hours. This option is good if you’re with a group of friends and it’s a little more comfortable as the colectivos can get pretty packed at times, and they’re the same size as a minivan.

If you’re the type to want to book things ahead, I’d recommend going via ADO bus as you can book online, but if you’re more relaxed and adaptable, just hop on a colectivo but do take note that sometimes you have to wait for the next one as they can get packed pretty fast between locals, travellers, and party-goers!

Evidently, there’s also the option of renting a car, which will give you so much more freedom and flexibility.

I actually got a car for a couple of weeks when I was in Tulum (with Hertz) simply because Tulum is actually comprised of a small town which isn’t near the beach, and then the beach strip which has all the fancy restaurants, bars, hotels, and the beach.

A lot of people use bicycles to get from the town to the beach but it can get very hot at times and not too convenient if you want to bring all your beach gear.

Walking is doable, but far (3km) and taxis will most likely ask you for at least 100 MXN (when you know how many tacos you can buy for 100 MXN trust me you won’t want to pay for that taxi ride).

Tulum vs. Cancun: What Tulum has to offer

Tulum has much more to offer other than the parties, white sand and blue water that you often see on Instagram. It is quite expensive if you’re not prepared and planned ahead of time, but hopefully this article will avoid you making the same mistakes as I did.

Plan your trip with the Tulum travel guide.

Where to stay in Tulum

Tulum is one of those places that ha very, very expensive hotels on the beach front ($1000/night type of expensive), but also decently priced Airbnbs in more residential areas near the town, and evidently hostels and opportunities for doing a work-exchange with Worldpackers.

There are currently some opportunities you can chose from on Worldpackers, most of them being in a hostel - but what more could you ask for? Free accommodation and food in exchange of a few hours of volunteer work in a Mexican paradise? Sign me up any day!

1/ DayTripper Hostel needs volunteers for 25h per week of cleaning, reception, night shift and admin tasks. They are located fairly central to Tulum town centre and are often in high demand so make sure you apply ahead of time for them.

Daytrippers Hostel has multiple positions to apply for, such as for bartending and community manager.

2/ Tres Palmas  is looking for night shift volunteers, where you will work from 10pm to 3am and you can find all the benefits of the exchange by clicking on the link to the position.

They are located a bit more central to the town and have really good reviews in addition of being in high demand as well.

They also offer another opportunity with the same number of hours (30 per week) but instead of night shift you will be on kitchen duty. 

3/ Hostal Doña Lucha

This centrally located hostel in Tulum asks for 25 hours per week of cleaning, housekeeping and reception duties in exchange of many different benefits and perks. 

4/ Nudist Tantra Camping Retreat

Yes, you read that right, and why not?! They have good reviews and this definitely sounds like a unique experience.

Tulum has a lot of retreats and workshops going on in various different areas of the spiritual world.

This camping isn’t the most centrally located so I think you’d be going purely for the experience and not to discover Tulum- but like I said, why not?

Now if you’re not into volunteering and purely want to spend your time exploring Tulum and the area, and you can afford an Airbnb with some friends, I’d definitely recommend getting a penthouse or apartment. They can be very affordable if you’re in a group and often come with lovely swimming pools and gardens.

Hotels are a bit of a different story, but if you have the budget, these are the must-go-to reputable hotels on the beach strip:

• Papaya Playa Project - $350-500 per night, really famous for their beach club and workshops.
• Azulik - $600-700 per night, that super Instagrammable hotel you always see on social media (photo below).
• Casa Malca - $600-700 per night, apparently one of Pablo Escobar’s mansions!
• The Beach - $900-1000 per night, but you get all the luxury that comes with that price

What to eat in Tulum

You can find a bit of everything in Tulum: from cheap Mexican street food, to luxury fine dining on the beach strip.

I personally loved eating the street food or in local restaurants, but if you’ve never had Mexican street food perhaps wait till your stomach is a little more accustomed.

Tacos are an obvious must, not only in Tulum but in the whole of Mexico. If you’re in the area, iId recommend fish and shrimp tacos because at least you know it’s all fresh.

The street food market is probably your best bet, to not only get tacos but also all the other delicious delicacies such as elote (corn), ceviche (though I’d recommend going to the restaurant El Camello Jr), sopa de lima (chicken soup that supposedly “heals”), cochinita pibil (pulled pork) and marquesitas for dessert!

If you need a break from all the local food, then there are also loads of vegan and healthy cafes where you can get a nice smoothie bowl, a soy matcha chai latte and all the organic coffee in the world.

Raw Love is quite known in the center of Tulum, but so is Juice Lover, and Matcha Mama Pueblo (the prices aren’t the same as street food though).

Finally, for a unique dining experience that does not involve budgeting, you must visit the Rosa Negra and all those types of restaurants. The prices don’t matter; bottles are often popping, loud music playing, and you’ll probably see some of the most fashionable people in these places.

Best things to do in Tulum

There are many things you can do for free or even quite cheap in Tulum and surroundings.

The beach is a must: the water is warm and often clear blue, and the beach has a nice soft white sand to it. You can just lay on the sand by the archeological site and Playa Ruinas or rent out a chair at one of the beach clubs (more on the Southern beach).

Most nature places to visit (such as cenotes or the Sian Ka’an Nature Reserve) has an entrance fee but they’re usually worth it.

If you have a car, the beach in Sian Ka’an is really beautiful, and you can spot wildlife in the whole Biosphere Reserve. Be sure you go early enough to not get locked in at night and only go if you have a Jeep or the whole package of car insurance as the roads are basically dirt paths with holes every meter!

There is a “free” cenote within Tulum (Clandestino bar- you do need to eat or drink something at least) but there are many better ones just a little outside of Tulum.

For those who don’t know, a cenote is a natural underground reservoir of water - the water is usually crystal clear and said to have healing properties because of all the minerals in them.

From personal experience, you do feel particularly tired then recharged after swimming in a cenote - it’s such an experience true to Mexico that I wish everyone to have.

Going to a cenote is a nice day or even half day trip and there are usually activities to do within one: jumping from ropes, scuba-diving, snorkelling, etc.

The closest ones to Tulum (taxi or colectivo ride away) are:

• Cenote Calavera (100MXN entrance fee)
• Gran Cenote (500MXN)
• Cenote Naharon or Cristal (150MXN)
• Escondido Cenote (200MXN)

Aside from the beautiful beaches and nature to see in and around Tulum, you can also enjoy a bit of shopping in the center and beach strip and, of course, enjoy the nightlife.

Tulum has been on the big upcoming trend of the best parties with the biggest DJs and the wildest afterparties. From personal experience, your best bet is to go for a few drinks in the center (or the beach strip if you can afford it) then you're most likely to hear about a jungle party and end up waking up 3 days later.

Now that you have a bit more of an idea about Tulum, let's explore Cancun, another very famous go-to destination.

Don't miss out: The guide to travel Mexico on a budget.

Cancun vs. Tulum: What Cancun has to offer

Cancun, with close to 900,000 habitants, is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Mexico.

Despite it having a lot to offer in terms of paradisiac beaches, fun nightlife, and nature surroundings, it still remains a big city with that city "vibe".

Where to stay in Cancun

Cancun, similar to Tulum, has a wide variety of places to stay. From volunteering opportunities, to hostels, boutique hotels, and all inclusive 5-star resorts, you literally are spoiled for choice.

Worldpackers has many opportunities in Cancun, ranging from hostels to home stays. Let’s explore some of them..

Home stay:

1/ Casita Rainbow is a high demand host, with excellent reviews, looking for volunteers who can help for 20h per week of gardening, painting/decorating and handyman work. The minimum stay is 1 week and maximum 3 weeks.

In exchange, you get 2 days off per week, a bed in a shared dorm, breakfast, lunch, discounts on tours, accommodation (in other hostels), use of the kitchen and a certificate of completion.

Casita Rainbow has a second position on Worldpackers which is more oriented to household chores

Hostels

This is where you really get spoiled for choice. 

2/ Venado Hostel: The first experience is 30 hours per week of handywork and gardening. It's pretty well located right in the middle of Cancun and they offer 7 positions in total, like bartending, community manager and more.

3/ Cancun Hostel Natura is another 5 star in demand host looking for travellers to help around with basic cleaning, housekeeping, reception work and party promoting.

They also have a second position as an “animator” which is more oriented towards music (performing to guests), tour guiding and party promoting. The benefits and requirements are the same.

4/ The third hostel, Ka’beh Cancun, requires a minimum of 4 week stay for solo volunteers that speak English and intermediate Spanish, between 18 and 34 years old.

The work is 27 hours per week of performing, tour guiding and party promoting.
For something a bit more geared towards customer service, they also have another position more entered on cleaning, reception and bartending.

5/ Then there's something for the more sporty travellers: Mayan Monkey Hostel is looking for a yoga teacher 6 days a week.

They have excellent reviews and a second position as “fitness coach” whereby the work is 18 hours per week. 

Cancun also has a lot of various different types of hotels to chose from. There are a few all inclusive adults only resorts such as Le Blanc Spa Resort ( $800USD/night), less expensive hotels in the Hotel Zone such as the Marriott ($300/night) and everything you could find under that budge.

The Yellow Capsule is a fun experience a little outside of the city for about $40/night - worth it as a couple!

Staying in the Hotel Zone or downtown all depends on what kind of a traveller you are, and your budget. I personally would stay in the downtown as it has a more local feel, but to each their own preference.

What to eat in Cancun

Most of the food you can find in Tulum, you can find in Cancun. So in addition of all the aforementioned delicious foods, you also must try:

• Chilaquiles: a typical Mexican breakfast. Think of... nachos (corn tortillas cut into quarters and fried) drowned in spicy sauce with avocado, egg, onions and maybe some meat. There is "the best chilaquiles" place in Cancun at Chila y Quil, centrally located.

• Tacos al pastor: honestly, your best bet is probably to ask the locals as I've only had the best street food by getting local recommendations. The best tacos I ever had were in a little carpark food truck in Playa del Carmen! But, by memory and word of mouth, you could find some pretty good tacos at Los Tarascos, Taqueria Coapeñitos, and El Polilla.
• Tamales: one of the most traditional and emblematic dish of Mexican gastronomy. It’s made from corn dough and stuffed with cooked meats, vegetables and sauces then wrapped in natural banana leaves.

If you need a break from the rich Mexican food, you can evidently find all types of Western food and, as opposed to Tulum, here there are the big fast-food chains such as Starbucks, Mcdonalds, KFC... and, just like Tulum, there is a fine dining scene which is primarily based at the HotelZone.

Best things to do in Cancun

In Cancun per se, you can do pretty much anything you can do in a city: shopping centers, restaurants, movies, bowling, etc.. in addition of having white sand blue water beaches and all the incredible attractions of the Quintana Roo region.

In the Cancun area there are also cenotes:

• Cenote Azul (140MXN)
• Cenotes Kin Ha (400MXN) and Elvira (a bit further out, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen)

However, Cancun is the perfect location from which to go visit the magnificent islands of Holbox (North- 2h from Cancun then 20 min by ferry), Isla Mujeres (right across Cancun- 20 min ferry) and Cozumel (closer to PDC and Tulum- 40 min by ferry).

I used to be the type of person to want to book everything online and have all the information beforehand, but after spending 7 months in Mexico I learnt that you will probably get the best (and cheapest) experiences by asking on the spot.

Not only do you get to negotiate with the “tour operator”, but you’re quite likely to meet people and have a group to go with, plus you never know who you might meet that has a private yacht.. After all, this is Mexico!

Cancun is also very well known for its nightlife, which can differ quite a bit from Tulum.

Coco Bongo is probably the most famous show and guaranteed a fun night out, whilst you also have a variety of bars and nightclubs for all musical genres. Cancun is also sort of “divided” into two parts, like Tulum:

There’s the Hotel Zone, and then the main downtown area. Realistically, where you go will be budget dependent, but either ways you are almost guaranteed to have a fun night! In Mexico, you definitely cannot go wrong with the local beers some shots of tequila and the almighty mezcal.

Finally, within the Quintana Roo area, you will most likely visit ruins and temples, the most famous one being Chichen Itza, which is closest to Tulum. This is probably a whole day trip so rest assure you take one day to be able to see all that needs to be done.

Near Cancun, El Rey Archaeological Zone is interesting to visit, and so is the San Miguelito Archeological Site. Since you’ll be so close to the colonial town of Valladolid, that too can be worth a few hours detour or half a day trip.

Another fun day trip is going to Xcaret, nature and theme park. There are many different parks oriented to different preferences (water park, nature park, attractions, adventure) with activities for all ages.

There are also resorts for a more inclusive family getaway but these outings are not for the budget backpacker (100USD entrance to the park).

Safety in Mexico

A lot of people have preconceived notions about Mexico and how safe it truly is over there. I too had my views on the cartels, the crime, and everything that goes with that but honestly, if you are a minimum street/travel smart you will be fine.

Yes, the cartels are a real thing there and you most likely will see “them” if you go to clubs, but just avoid getting in trouble with the police and you will be fine.

As a solo female traveller, I rarely ran into problems (though I did get bribed by the police in Mexico City but that’s for another article), but speaking the language does help, and also hanging out with locals.

If you are driving a car alone, avoid doing so at night and just be aware of your surroundings at all times.

At the time I was in the Quintana Roo area there was a cartel war going on, and despite hearing horror stories that were happening in the same places I went to, I never experienced (thankfully) anything major. It might be luck or just common sense. Remember: you can always leave a place if you don’t feel safe.

For more information check out the article "Is Mexico safe to visit?"

Final thoughts: Tulum vs. Cancun

Overall, Mexico has so much to offer and I think each individual traveller will have their own experience and preferences of one area to another.

Some might enjoy the “tuluminati” vibe (yes it’s a real thing), others might like the Coco Bongo vibe in Cancun, some will dive into yoga retreats in Tulum, and others just pass through and head to a different region.

Whatever you read online might help you get an idea of what you’re in for, but no one will ever experience it the way you will through your eyes.

So what are you waiting for?  Subscribe to the Worldpackers Community for free and start saving your favourite volunteer positions until you are ready to get verified.
We’re waiting to hear about your experience in Tulum and Cancun!