Visiting Tulum ruins is one of those must-do things when in the Riviera Maya and if you plan to solo travel Tulum. There is a reason it’s on literally everyone’s ‘Top things to do in the Riviera Maya‘ list. So if you are planning to visit Tulum Ruins in Mexico then you are probably wondering a few things like the Tulum ruins entry fee, opening hours, and most importantly how to get to Tulum ruins! Well in this Tulum Ruins blog post, you’re going to learn exactly that.
Need to book transportation in Mexico?
I highly recommend booking all of your Mexico transportation with GuateGo. You can search for buses, shuttles, ferries, and Flights on their website. What I love most about them is their customer service. I know these guys personally from my time living in Guatemala and they really do look after their customers. So if anything happens and you get delayed and miss your bus, you can just call them and they are always there to help.
If you book through them you will pay a little more than if you book in person at the bus station. But it’s worth it for the ease and security in my opinion. Click here to search for transportation in Mexico.
Tulum Ruins entrance fee
The entrance as of December 2020 was $70 pesos for tourists. If you are a QR resident you will pay less as long as you can prove your local status. If you go to Tulum ruins on an organised tour then they will cover your entrance fee included in the tour cost.
Parking can be around $200 pesos if you want to park right outside the site.
The first time I visited the Mayan ruins of Tulum it was actually my 4th Mayan Ruin Site in 3 months and I was really surprised at how different it felt to all of the others. It felt like I was walking down Main Street in Disney World. I was a little taken aback and unsure where to go. I ended up accidentally buying a train ticket instead of a park ticket… Yes, that’s right they even have a train that takes you 500m to the entrance. You can also buy your entrance ticket from the booth next to where you buy the train tickets. I would advise doing this as the queue when you get down to the actual entrance was pretty long.
Top Tip: Don’t pay for the train, walk the 500 meters if you want to save money.
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that you need to be prepared for anything! Travel insurance has always been high my list of things to get before I travel but now more than ever its at the top of my list.
I’m pretty sure we have all had travel plans messed up because of COVID and not all insurers covered this. So when looking for travel insurance it’s important to check it covers travel disruption due to COVID-19, Hey Mondo, Passport Nomads, Safety Wing, and Travel Insurance Master all provide cover for this.
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single trip cover, annual multi trip cover, and long term travel cover. You even have the option to start the cover when you are already on your trip, although you won’t be covered for the first 72 hours. For me my favourite feature is their app which offers you a 24/7 Dr chat and the ability to file a claim direct in the app.
Passport Nomads provides the most comprehensive cover for Digital Nomads. The game changer with them is that you have a red card and if you find yourself in need of medical care you just contact them and they will pre load your card with the funds to cover your treatment, meaning you won’t need to pay out of pocket and then put in a claim later.
Safety Wing is great value with monthly cover starting at $39. It’s super easy to use and it just renews each month. They have an excess of $250 and it’s simple to make a claim through their website. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy and I like that it renews on a monthly basis, so I don’t have to pay out a big lump sum up front.
I also use Travel Insurance Master for some short vacation type trips.
If you are doing shorter trips or an extended backpacking trip then Hey Mondo or Travel Insurance Master are the best option. If you are a digital nomad or planning travel of at least 6 months then go for Passport Nomads or SafetyWing.
How to get to Tulum Ruins
If you are staying anywhere along the Riviera Maya coastline it’s really easy to get to Tulum Ruins as it is just set back off the main road connecting Tulum to Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
Getting to Tulum Ruins from Tulum Town:
The cheapest two options to get to the ruins from Tulum town are to take a Colectivo from the main street and then the driver “Ruines” (it is around 10-15 pesos), or rent a bike and cycle.
It’s only a 10-minute bike ride from Tulum Town to Tulum Ruins and most of it is on a bicycle path.
If neither of these options works for you, then you can take a taxi for 80 pesos or rent a car and drive yourself.
If you want to know how to get from Cancun airport to Tulum, then read this.
Looking for a reputable tour company in The Riviera Maya?
I’ve been working with Turismo Channel in Playa del Carmen for years and they are who I send all of my family and friends to when they visit the Riviera Maya. I really can recommend them enough for tours, private airport transfers, and rental cars. Vanessa and Oliver are personal friends of mine and I have 100% faith that you will have a wonderful time with them.
You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the above codes to receive the discount.
Getting to Tulum Ruins from the Tulum Beach
If you are staying on the north side of the beach (Playa Paraiso/ Playa Pescadores area) then it may not be too far for you to walk. Just remember it gets very hot and often there is little to no shade on the roads in Tulum. I personally always prefer to rent a bike for the day in Tulum. The cost of renting a bike in Tulum is around $100 pesos per day (less than$5 USD).
If you are staying further down the beach road away from the Ruins then you can take a colectivo into the town. Get out at the top of the road by the 7/11 before they turn to go into town. From the 7/11 you can take the colectivo heading towards Playa del Carmen and ask for the “Ruines”.
Alternatively, rent a bike or take a taxi. Taxis in Tulum can be pretty expensive. Expect to pay anything from $80 -$500 pesos…it really depends on how good your Spanish is!
If you are visiting the Yucatan Peninsular in Mexico it’s really worth hiring a car and exploring the area. You can get a car for just $30 a day and there are so many places to explore in the area like the Pink Lakes which you can read about on Our Escape Clause. Just looking at the photos made me regret not having more time to explore the area!
Getting to Tulum Ruins from Playa Del Carmen or Cancun
Again you have a few options: Drive yourself (there is a huge carpark), take a taxi (this won’t be cheap), or take any Colectivo to Tulum and ask them to drop you off at the ruins. There is no direct colectivo from Cancun to Tulum, instead, you will need to take a colectivo first to Playa del Carmen and then change and take a colectivo from Playa to Tulum). It’s actually very easy so don’t be put off by the change!
Although what most people do is do a Mayan Ruins Tour. This way you visit Coba Ruins and Tulum Ruins in a day on the same tour. This is probably the easiest and cheapest way if you want to see both sites and don’t have your own transport.
Want to see Tulum and Coba in one day?
If you are thinking of traveling to Tulum and Coba in one day to see both ruins then I highly recommend doing a tour with my friend Vanessa from Turismo Channel. You can either send her a message on WhatsApp here or complete the form below with the date you are thinking of going and she will be in contact with you within 24 hours.
Entering the Mayan Archeological Site
When you enter the site there are two entrances once you are past the barriers. Go in through the second one. The views are much better as this is the first thing you see. I was pretty stunned and spent the longest time just staring at this view than I did anywhere else.
I’m much more of a beach person anyway, so this for me was perfection.

The whole time all I kept on thinking was how incredible it was and what it must have been like to actually live there.
Unlike the other sites I’ve been to (Copan, Tikal, Chichen Itza, and Coba) you are kept well away from the ruins. Mostly behind barriers in fact. It’s the world away from Coba where I was able to climb up one of the Mayan pyramids.
Tulum Ruins Beach
Yes, that’s right, Tulum ruins beach, there is a beach just down the cliff from the ruins and it’s the perfect place to cool off and take a swim in the Caribbean sea halfway round. Where else can you do that! Although if you are in the area you need to go to some of these cenotes near Tulum, they really are out of this world!
Why visit Tulum Ruins
Just take a look at the pictures. With the backdrop of the Caribbean sea, it’s hard to think of reasons why not to visit Tulum Ruins. Not only do you get stunning views, but you can also swim in the sea to cool off halfway round. It’s really easy to get to (unlike close by Coba) and if you have children in a pushchair or have mobility issues it’s also wheelchair friendly. That’s a bit of a rarity and not something I have seen anywhere else.
There are so many more incredible ruins you should really try to visit if you have the time though. Take a read of this great post from Mexico Bites and Sights “12 ruins in Mexico you shouldn’t miss” for more information.
Also, if you are wondering what type of clothes to wear in Mexico depending on where you are going, take a look at my Mexico packing list.
Need somewhere to stay in Tulum?
I wrote a whole post to help you decide the best area in Tulum to stay with my recommendations depending on your budget. I also wrote a guide to the top boutique hotels in Tulum, Where to stay in Tulum, and The Best Hostels in Tulum Mexico.
Traveling in the Riviera Maya? Click to read my guides to accommodation in Playa del Carmen, and Cancun

Looking for things to do in the Riviera Maya?
Check out these articles:
Akumal Glamping | Glamping in the Riviera Maya
Visiting Cenote Azul and Cenote Cristalino
How to spend a weekend in Merida
Food Tour in Playa Del Carmen Review
Doing a cooking class in Tulum
Choosing a Scuba Diving Company in Playa Del Carmen
Scuba Diving in Puerto Morelos
This post was proofread by Grammarly
John and Susan Pazera
Saturday 11th of May 2019
Great post and thank you for the information Clair! We are headed there next week. And will follow your advice!
Gracias! John and Susan
Hazel Tolentino
Saturday 15th of July 2017
Oh my! You have no idea on how my friends and I were once obsessed with ancient civilizations and Mayan is on the top of the list! I will surely work hard to get a visa and visit it! And this article is really informative for me. Thanks for sharing!
Claire Summers
Tuesday 18th of July 2017
My pleasure! I hope you get to visit soon!
Kasia
Friday 14th of July 2017
Perfect timing :) I'm going to Mexico in a couple of weeks, and you gave an idea of what to do there except staying at the poolside or beach. I will be staying in Riviera Maya in a beautiful resort, but I prefer to go outside and to see a real life while traveling. I have never been to Tulum before but visited Mexico a few times already. I have to admit that this after Japan and Canada is my favorite country to visit. I love their food and also a lot of beautiful historic places. Do you plan to come back to Mexico any time soon?
Best, Kasia
Claire Summers
Friday 14th of July 2017
Yes! I'm actually doing my Yoga Teacher training close to Guadalajara next month! I do want to go back and do a road trip at some point though. Enjoy your trip you will have a great time I'm sure!
Trisha Velarmino
Friday 14th of July 2017
I have yet to make it to this part of America I was in South America for around a year and I love it. You write so well! I love your style, dear! And Mayan civilization is really worth to take a look at.
Claire Summers
Friday 14th of July 2017
That's where I'm heading next! I'm so excited
Sandy N Vyjay
Wednesday 12th of July 2017
Mayan civilization, culture has always been a source of fascination to me. Hence I am always interested to read about the different sites with the Mayan ruins in Mexico. Tulum seems to be a great place to explore the intrigue of the Mayan ruins, hope to get there some day.
Claire Summers
Wednesday 12th of July 2017
It's not the biggest but the backdrop is simply stunning!