Tulum vs Cancun, Mexico: Which Is Better To Visit?
Planning A Trip To The Yucatan Area In Mexico And Trying To Decide Where To Visit Between Tulum vs Cancun?
I’ve visited the Yucatan and Riviera Maya areas of Mexico a few times, including the towns of Cancun and Tulum, and although neither would necessarily be one of my top recommendations for places to visit in Mexico, here are all the details on both of these coastal areas so you can decide if one vs the other, both, or neither is worth adding to your next Mexico trip.
🇲🇽 Tulum vs Cancun, Mexico
Although they’re both located in the Yucatan/Riviera Maya area of Mexico, Cancun and Tulum are pretty different, so you might find that one is better vs the other, depending on the kind of beach trip, types of activities, and kind of amenities you’d like to have.
Which Did I Like Better?
I’ve enjoyed parts of my visits to the Yucatan area (which have included both Cancun and Tulum), but overall I’ve had some of my most stressful and exhausting travel experiences in this part of Mexico so it’s not exactly my favorite place to visit.
With that being said, I would probably personally choose Tulum over Cancun for its more authentic Mexico feel, closer proximity to Chichen Itza, and more interesting sites of its own.
🏝️ Why Visit Tulum
Although my last visit to Tulum did not go very smoothly, I did still enjoy a number of activities (and restaurants) here so you might also find Tulum worth visiting because:
- ✅ Tulum feels more like the real Mexico since it’s a smaller more rural town compared to Cancun
- ✅ I personally preferred the beaches in Tulum over those in Cancun because they just felt calmer and quieter (at least when I visited)
- ✅ Tulum does have a few resort like hotels, but it’s more of a boutique hotel kind of destination, so if you prefer the less touristy feel compared to resorts, Tulum would be perfect (I do not however recommend Airbnbs here)
- ✅ Tulum is actually located closer to Chichen Itza so it’s a little easier to get to, plus many tours that originate in Cancun will also pickup in Tulum which means you wouldn’t have to get up as early or be on the road as long
- ✅ Tulum also has a few of its own interesting sites like the Tulum Ruins and nearby cenotes
➡️ Need help deciding what to take with you to Tulum? To be prepared for the weather, activities, and rugged terrain, here are some suggestions on what to pack for Tulum
The Downsides Of Tulum
Although Tulum might feel more like the real Mexico vs Cancun, here are a few reasons why you might consider not staying in Tulum:
- ❌ although both areas cater to American tourists so prices aren’t typical Mexico cheap, Tulum is definitely the more expensive place to visit and stay
- ❌ it’s not quite as easy to get around Tulum since Ubers don’t really exist here
- ❌ it’s also not quite as simple to get to Tulum from the Cancun airport since it’s over an hour and a half away
- ❌ both areas are hot and humid, but Tulum is even more jungle-like than Cancun so I feel like it’s hotter and more humid here (no matter what time of year you visit)
- ❌ because Tulum is more rural compared to Cancun, there were constantly blackouts, not many places with air conditioning, and a lot more bugs
🥳 Why Visit Cancun
Although I haven’t always had the best overall vacations in Cancun, Mexico, I have still enjoyed a number of my experiences here and you might find it to be a better option vs Tulum because:
- ✅ you don’t have to go very far from the airport to get to the hotel zone in Cancun
- ✅ Ubers aren’t always the safest in Cancun (because of some serious past issues with taxis), but they are widely available here whereas they’re not in Tulum
- ✅ although Tulum does have some tours, the majority of guided tours originate in Cancun so it’s easy to find a large variety of options here (especially to Chichen Itza)
- ✅ with so many guided tours, private transportation, and ride-share options available, having the extra expense of renting a car and driving yourself in Cancun is not really necessary
- ✅ Cancun is full of large beachfront resorts so if you’re looking for a more all-inclusive kind of vacation, Cancun is perfect
- ✅ neither area is very cheap, but in comparison Cancun prices are often much less than Tulum (depending on the time of year)
The Downsides Of Cancun
While Cancun is a more convenient place to get to and stay compared to Tulum, you might not find it worth visiting because:
- ❌ both areas get the party scene, but Cancun is definitely the epicenter
- ❌ compared to Tulum, Cancun is much more touristy and might not feel quite as Mexico-y
- ❌ neither area is particularly safe, but Cancun is a bigger city with more people so it might be considered a little more dangerous
- ❌ both areas are very hot and humid throughout most of the year, which I didn’t personally find super relaxing
✌️ Tulum vs Cancun, Mexico: Should You Visit Both?
Since they’re only located about an hour and a half from each other (although it usually takes longer on these roads), it’s entirely possible to visit both Cancun and Tulum if you don’t want to choose one vs the other.
If you do want to see both, I would recommend staying in Cancun for the convenience and cost, and then just taking one of the many guided tour options over to Tulum because I think it can easily be visited in just a day.
🔁 Sum Up: Tulum vs Cancun, Mexico
Although they’re both located in the Yucatan area, both Tulum and Cancun are pretty different kinds of places to vacation, so depending on your interests, budget, and kind of accommodations you’d like to have, you might find that one is better vs the other for your next trip to Mexico. You can however easily visit both, by staying in the somewhat cheaper and more convenient destination of Cancun, and then just taking one of the many guided tour options over to Tulum.
