There are several options for you, depending on your budget, your desired arrival time and if you want to feel at the Caribbean immediately. 

Cheapest option is an ADO bus. As you arrive, you can check the schedules of these buses that run every 30 min or every hour or more, depending if you go to Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum. 

Right next to the ADO booth, you will find other shared taxi transportation services that you can book on site, which might be slower or faster depending on the stops at different Hotels the people have to do. 

You can also book your private transportation or shared transportation beforehand (ask us for more info on our airport private shuttle services)

Another option is to rent a car online or on site. This might be a great choice if you want to have freedom. Consider the car companies charge you for extra insurance in Mexico, which can be a pain in the …

Depending on the season you visit, and what you plan to do at nighttime, we recommend researching or asking us about weather conditions before your travels.

Basic:

Swimwear

Long sleeved T-Shirts for sun protection

Hats

Comfortable Sandals

Light clothing

Good hiking shoes if you want to go to the jungle

Raincoat (you can buy one here)

At the airport

Withdraw pesos at an ATM of a bank

At exchange places all over the Yucatan Peninsula (research online or contact us if you need help

As long as you don’t do things you wouldn’t do at home, it is definitely safe.

Where is the best breakfast place?

Depending on the view, your budget and the city or location you are visiting, you may find plenty of choices. 

Try local tacos at Honorios, el Sabor Mexicano, el Comal Frances, Burrito Amor, in Tulum town.

Honorios tacos, open from 7am -1pm

Tacos Kulkulcan, open in the afternoon/evening

Depends on the season, some close during certain times of the year and depends on sargassum and turtle season.  Contact us for updates and recommendations.

**Currently not required in Mexico.

Airport or any of the local chemical centers or COVID test booths. Check for requirements or ask us for information on each country before traveling into or back from the Riviera Maya.

The Mesoamerican Coral Barrier Reef extends along the coastline of the entire Caribbean Sea. Good spots are everywhere. Accessible by boat, swimming from the shore or by kayak.

For specific wildlife observation:

Whale Sharks northeast of Cancun, seasonally

Turtles, in Akumal bay

Corals, Puerto Morelos National Park, Contoy Island, Cozumel, Sian Ka’an at specific spots

A Cenote is a sinkhole. They are considered sacred by Mayan people and include entrances into the diverse cave systems and collapse of limestone rocks into the freshwater underground river system of the Yucatan Peninsula. Their shape varies as well as their origin and they may be found all over the world where there are limestone caves. There is not one specific cenote that is the best, as many of them are worth a visit, depending on your time frame and who you are traveling with, we can help you find the best options that suit you.

Examples of cenotes that don’t require diving (out of a list of more than 5000):

Sac Aktun Pet Cemetery

Dos Ojos

Cenote Calavera

Cenote Manatí

Gran Cenote

Cenote Azul

Cenote Chikin Ha

Cenote Tak Bi Ha

Cenote Suy Tun

Cenote Saamal

Cenote Esmeralda

Yes. For a list of doctors, google the specialty required or ask us for help. Some medical centers are covered by your insurance.

By bus, colectivo, renting a car, taxi, private shuttle, bicycle, scooter, electric bike, depends on distance and how you wish to travel.

You can rent a car at the airport, at the car rental companies throughout different cities in the Yucatan Peninsula and of course, online.

Campanella is on my toplist, but there are new ones opening lately. Panna e Cioccolato is good as well. They also sell amazing chocolate made in house.

Please don’t, this will pollute the water in which we find some very unique creatures and it will alter the composition of the micro ecosystem. Use long sleeved T-Shirts/ rash guards.

Don’t drink the water from the tab, drink bottled water instead.  All restaurants and hotels that serve drinks will serve you only bottled water and if it comes in a glass, you can be rest assured it is safe, as we all use giant 25 L  filtered bottles for drinking water and food preparation.

Mayan people are everywhere around the Yucatan Peninsula.  Some still live in small villages in Palapas or dry palm leaf huts in the jungle and grow their fruits and vegetables as well as raise animals, or even hunt and fish for food if available and legal. They work for hotels as cleaning staff, own cenotes and recreation parks, restaurants and small businesses and yes, they still speak  the Mayan language as well as some Spanish, English and even French or German, due to the decades of tourism in the area.

In 2020, the population was 46,721 people. Add to that to 1,400,000 visitors per year distributed throughout each month and the population oscillates. 

From Iguanas, to Coatis (our logo), plenty of bird species (pelicans, ospreys, grackles…), bats, insects, crabs, other reptiles, to corals, fish, molluscs and other more spectacular creatures like whale sharks, eagle rays… the list is quite long. Write to us for more info on local fauna.  After all, this is our expertise;)  AKA “Nature Nerds”

Visiting cenotes, the beach, tour to Muyil, the Spider Monkey Reserve, the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an, snorkel, eat at “Palma Central” food truck park or at Tacos Kukulcán. We can help you organize a family friendly trip, feel free to ask us. All budgets welcome.

There are several small corner stores but also a Chedraui grocery store, Bodega Aurrera and soon another Chedraui. Find the local fruit stores to see their variety of products. One store is Pool fruit and veggie store, it is in front of the Honorios Taco stand.

There are too many good tours. I would start with a tour to Muyil or to caves and cenotes.

There are several beaches that are amazing, including Xcacel, Xpu Ha, Tulum beach (not in Sargassum season), Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres, Sian Ka’an beaches… the list goes on. Contact us for more info.

A brown algae from different species that increase in size with warmer water temperatures, wind and nutrient availability. It is an important sea ecosystem that accumulates in ocean gyres and floats on the surface thanks to specific structures that accumulate air. These algae are transported by the Caribbean currents into the Caribbean sea and then through the current of the Gulf of Mexico to Southern U.S.A.

Yes. There is an increasing number of options including local or international options.

There are specific areas where it is safe but when driving between the streets of Tulum we advise you to be very careful and alert at all times. Needless to say,we always used bicycles while living there.  You have to ride defensively as there is more traffic in Tulum than before and big 18-wheeler trucks etc.  Stay alert and where helmets and bright colors, as well as flashing lights at night.

It is safe, but we do recommend staying away from drugs and side streets.

No. Taxis, colectivo transportation or private shuttles are available.

You stop at side streets or at specific Taxi locations. We have some numbers if you want to save them on your phone to access them as needed.  It is better to know how much you will need to pay beforehand and not to ask them directly.  Ask us about estimated prices and we will help you so you don’t get taken advantage of.

You stop at side streets or at specific Taxi locations. We have some numbers if you want to save them to access them as needed.It is better to know how much you will need to pay beforehand and not to ask them directly.  Ask us about estimated prices and we will help you so you don’t get taken advantage of.

I will list the more popular ones. But personally I prefer hidden gems (contact us for more info)

Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Calakmul

(Add Ek Balam to this list)

It depends on what you are looking for. Nice weather September to February.

Whale Sharks July to August.

Bird watching from November until March

Contact us for more info on specific times. 

Swimwear, hats, long sleeved clothing for sun protection, sun protection, sunglasses, sandals, light clothing, refillable bottles, small backpack for outings, raincoat (depends on season), mosquito repellant (biodegradable/citronella based), comfortable shoes if visiting other areas, good camera(if you don’t have a waterproof camera, bring a protective cover so not to damage it) always some pesos, dollars or euros or combination of all, good photo device, insurance (we provide it on our tours or have it available for your trip if required). Emergency contact info.

It depends on what you would like to see when you plan your trip, give us a call and we can give you exact details on what fauna, events, weather, seaweed, prices, if it is high or low season, etc.

Snorkeling, tour to Muyil ( we can give you more info), Cenotes (ask us for our list of the kid-friendly ones)

Palma Central Food truck park, open all day until 11pm at night, also serves German Breakfast at one of the food trucks from 930, 10am until at least 1pm.

Palma Central Food truck park, open all day until 11pm at night, also serves German Breakfast at one of the food trucks from 930, 10am until at least 1pm.

I would say Cinco Tulum Beach Club and glamping, it has a playground on the sand and a nice beach access, good food and drinks.

Also, just north of Tulum is Bahia Principe Beach club, open to the public, that is very good for the whole family and smaller kids, with a shallow bay, free umbrellas and beach chairs and good food.  Also XPuHa Beach club is very cool and great for snorkeling.  Beaches are amazing and you can rent paddle boards, kayaks and learn to kite surf.  

Depends on the season.  Ask us for our seaweed forecast.

I would say it is a better idea if possible to rent your car online, ahead of time from the airport locations.  There are better prices and if you are to rent a car, it is better to drive to and from the airport.  There are at least 10 car rental places along the main avenue that takes you to the beach, as well as on the corner at the first stoplight in Tulum, near Super Aki.  Call us for more info and advice on how and where and prices may vary depending on high and low seasons.

General Emergencies: 911

Tulum

Red Cross             984 802 5521

Fire Department 984 871 3732

Civil Protection 984 871 2688

Red Cross Playa del Carmen : (984) 873 1233

Costamed Tulum:24/7 Hospital: (984) 124 0830

Red Cross Tulum: (984) 802 5521

Akumal Ambulance: (984) 879 2250 and (984) 120 1678

Dr Bernardo, Playa Doctor house calls: (984) 745 0294

Tulum General Hospital: (984) 871 2271

Touristic Police: (984) 849 7133

General Emergency in all Quintana Roo State: 911

+52 .  From your foreign cell phone you would text:+52 1 and the number, and to call from a foreign phone you would dial 011 52 1 and the number.

How do I make a call from Mexico to the U.S.?

001 and the number

****Note:  Almost everyone in Mexico communicates using Whatsapp.  It is free with data or wifi connection.  We use Whatsapp as well and highly recommend downloading the app before traveling to Mexico.

Almost everywhere.  Electronic festivals and concerts can be found online, Palma Central Food Truck Park, Tacos Kulkulcan and Batey Mojito Bar have music on a regular basis so check their Facebook pages for times and days.  

Almost anywhere on the 5th Avenue.  Check facebook for recommendations.

By car, van, or boat.  Contact us for more info and instructions on how to do so.  We would be happy to organize it for you, with or without us.

May through September.  Exact dates vary each year.  Contact us for exact dates on when tours are available..

We strongly recommend against dolphiariums or dolphin aquariums, as well as shows for these incredibly intelligent sea mammals, as you can take a tour in the reserve of Sian Ka’an, from a small fisherman’s village, where you take a boat ride to observe dolphins, sea turtles and other amazing animals such as manatees and crocodiles from a boat with a specialized captain and guide.  Contact us to book one of these tours and we can advise you on the best options for your group.

Yes!  We have some very dear friends in the Mayan Community and can organize trips where you can interact and get an inside view of the way the culture intertwines with nature and lives sustainably and humbly off the land in the jungle.

The climate of Tulum is tropical, hot all year round, with a muggy, rainy season from May to October and a cooler, relatively dry season from November to April. However, also in the latter season, rainfall may occur, in addition to wind and cloudiness, especially in December and January.

Muyil, located in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere.  Contact us to book a tour for your family.