PRO TIPS:
Call your bank prior to leaving the country to notify them of your travel dates and that you will be using your ATM card abroad.
Once at the Cancun airport, you will have two chances to use the restroom before your journey to Tulum. One of these is the inside restroom at baggage claim before you exit the airport. We recommend this one. If you miss this chance, there is a restroom outside by taxi/shuttle pickup to your right behind the little restaurant.
We recommend using a shuttle to get from Cancun to Tulum and back. While renting a car is an option, we don’t recommend it because it’s very hard to find parking along the beach road. Cabs are the main source of transportation once you’re in Tulum. They are plentiful and run all night. Many hotels also offer bicycles for rent during your stay.
We recommend getting some pesos at an ATM at the airport to tip your shuttle driver upon drop-off in Tulum or stopping in Tulum to withdraw. 200-250 pesos is sufficient. We strongly recommend stopping at Chedraui (pronounced Shed-RAY-wee) it’s the main grocery store in Tulum, located on the road from town to the beach road) to get any further pesos for your stay. While there are ATMs on the beach road and in town, they can be few and far between and often run out of cash. Chedraui has four ATMs and has the best exchange rates. It’s good to pull out a few days worth of pesos at a time. We usually pull out 4,000-5,000 pesos at a time, every couple of days. That’s roughly the equivalent of $200-$250 USD. Usually your shuttle driver will not mind stopping you there before dropping you at your hotel. Most places are cash only. The current exchange rate is 1USD to 20.40 MXN as of December 2nd. It’s advisable to always check back right before your trip. The typical rate is 1 to 18.5. The beach road has ATMs scattered along the route. The town has very few and they often do not work (keep this in mind if you stay in town- - - you will definitely need to use the ones at Chedraui).
Once in Tulum, only use the white cabs with red lettering. These cabs are trusted and safe. Most cab fares will range from 80 pesos to 250 pesos.
We recommend buying ecologically safe bug spray once you are in Tulum at any convenience store. You will want bug spray anytime you are on the jungle side of the road because of mosquitoes and tabános (fierce meanies). Most stores sell ecologically safe bug repellant, sunscreen, and lotions because the ecosystem in the Riviera Maya is very fragile. If you get into a cenote for example, you will want to make sure your skin is clean to protect the wildlife.
For the ladies, we recommend flat shoes or sandals (even the day of the wedding) because of sand and the beach road.
The wedding attire is beach formal/evening formal. Please ask us if you have any questions. Temperatures in December range from as high as 85℉ during the day to as low as 65℉ at night.
There will be a full and open bar at our wedding. While not at all mandatory, we do encourage tipping the hard-working bartenders and service staff.
While Tulum is relatively safe, use caution when walking at night. Use your common sense and best judgment. Use a flashlight or cellphone light in non-visibility areas. The beach road can be pitch black at times. Stay out of the middle of the road because cars can’t see you. Never walk alone.
The service in Tulum is limited, but a lot of places do have wifi. Your hotel will usually give you a wifi password and many restaurants and bars have it as well (as long as you’re a buying patron).
This goes without saying, but don’t drink water out of the tap. Buy a few bottles for your hotel room and one to carry with you. That includes water for brushing your teeth with. Don’t be alarmed at random quickly-passing tropical thunderstorms or rolling blackouts. Tulum is run on generators and short-lived blackouts are common. Many places are prepared with candles and lanterns. Sit back and enjoy the stars when this happens. You’ll be fine.