Getting to Tulum can be unnecessarily expensive, or cheap, depending on if you know these hidden tips.
Whilst you can take a collectivo from Playa Del Carmen to the Tulum Super Aki stop, many will advise you that the only option to get to the beach is to take a taxi and pay a ridiculously expensive fee of over $30 (USD).
How to take a collectivo to the beach:
You’ll need to take two collectivo’s.
The first collectivo costs 50 pesos and will need to drop you off at the stop AFTER Super Aki.
Pay the driver then get off the collectivo and cross the road.
Continue to head north of the street you crossed (you’ll want to follow the horizontal streets, not the vertical main road you got down at).
At the end of one of these streets you’ll see a queue for the “local collectivo”. You can identify these by the red writing on the vans.
The local collectivio will drive you to the “hotel zone” where you’ll be able to access private beach clubs and The Ven a La Luz sculpture, which is right next to the Ahau Hotel and beach club.
The cost of a local collective is 30 pesos for tourists. Cash only.
The public beach at Tulum is not good at all, so I’d strongly advise you to avoid it and pay to stay at a beach club - it's worth it.
Remember, this is one of the modes of transport the locals use, so if you're in a group or can afford to travel by other means, please be considerate and don't take up space in a collectivo. These are small vans best suitable for solo travellers.
Happy travels!
