Tulum, Mexico is located in the state of Quintana Roo which is located in the eastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun International Airport is the airport you will need to fly into. Tulum is 85 miles south of Cancun (roughly 1h 45m or 2h drive from the airport) .

Most major cities in the U.S. have nonstop flights directly to Cancun or a one stop connecting option.

You will need a valid U.S. passport to enter into Mexico and to return home to the U.S.

On the airplane you will be given a Mexico Customs form to fill out with your passport information and hotel stay information. This form will then be given to the Mexico Customs officer at the airport. You will also have a customs slip that detaches from the previous form that needs to remain with you for the duration of your stay in Mexico. This final slip is given to the gate agent upon boarding your return flight back to the U.S.

Once you arrive in Cancun at the airport you will proceed downstairs through Mexico Customs and onto baggage claim/duty free. Pro tip: Use the restroom/baño here if you need to go. Once you reach that area, you will then proceed through security before exiting into the external terminal of the airport. This area is where you can choose a shuttle or book round trip transportation to Tulum and back for your departure day. After you make arrangements you will proceed down that hall and exit to your left. Outside you will find the appropriate shuttle/taxi/rental car service.

Pro tip: We like to use Super Shuttle. Cost efficient, safe, and dependable. They have never failed to pick us up for our return flight home.

STAYING THERE:

Tulum is divided into two major areas: There is the town and there is the beach road.

The town is livelier and has a more authentic Mexican feel, lots of restaurants, is a bit grittier and urban, and has quite the nightlife. The town has cheaper lodging options and is a cheap cab ride away from the beach road (where the wedding will take place). This is a good option if you are trying to save money.

The beach road is a long narrow winding strip that begins in the north at the Tulum Ruins Archaeological Site. It extends to the south by many miles of road, peppered with hotels, boutiques, bars, restaurants, and spas. Here the feeling is more relaxed, bohemian, and steeped in Mayan heritage. The northern part of the beach road (just after the town road split) is lively, more touristy, and a bit more crowded. It boasts lots of shops and eateries. The central part is quaint, more quiet, and has a lot of luxury style large hotels and boutique style shopping. The southern part of the road has more of a hippie vibe and is plentiful with hip bars and restaurants. It also tends to be more secluded, has more lush jungle, and is less touristy. Quite a bit of nightlife exists in this area, too. Nest Tulum is in the latter part.

We are happy to give recommendations on which hotels to stay that meet your needs. Booking.com is great and has a handy map view feature if location is important to you.

When booking your accommodations keep in mind that many hotels, especially along the beach road, run on generators. A lot of hotels only allow a/c usage between night and morning. Many hotels only have electricity to charge your phone. The ones that don’t have electricity for lights, will often give you candles. If lighting is important to you make sure to check if your hotel has that amenity before booking.

Please be sure to check out a nearby cenote or pay a visit to the Tulum Ruins. A little further inland you’ll find the Ruins at Cobá, which are well worth a visit. If you’re searching for a free and clean beach, Playa Paraiso is a great spot just north of the beach road split (near Tulum Ruins). We have wide array of recommendations for just about anything you seek to do.

STAYING IN TOUCH:

While there is no cellular service in Tulum, there is wiFi for texting. iPhone users can usually send texts via iMessage with no problem (as long as you can get on wiFi). For Android users, we recommend downloading WhatsApp. You can send text messages very easily this way. Facebook messenger is also an option if you aren’t able to use the prior suggestions.