Biking in Tulum, Mexico: The Ultimate Guide

Biking in Tulum is one of the best ways to get around the pueblo (main downtown) and to leisurely cruise down the boho-chic hotel zone.

But contrary to popular belief, bike rentals aren’t the most convenient way to get from one destination to another in Tulum (even though they’re perfect for exploring the town).

That’s because biking in between the two (town – hotel zone/beach) is not ideal since the distance is quite far – depending on where you want to go.

For example, it takes around 25 minutes of biking to get from the town to just the start of the hotel zone.

If you want to bike all the way to popular Instagram spots like the Ven A La Luz art statue or the Matcha Mama hut along the beach strip (further down the hotel strip), then that will take at least 45 minutes by bike!

(This little detail doesn’t often get mentioned by influencers and bloggers.)

That said, if you enjoy biking and don’t mind a little workout, then you can easily reach some of the closest cenotes near Tulum, the public beaches, and the Tulum Ruins by bike.

Just know that you won’t get there as fast as you would if you were to rent a scooter in Tulum for the day instead.

While living in Tulum as a digital nomad for a while, both Paul and I had the fortunate luck to have two bike rentals that were included with our Airbnb rental property.

We used our bikes every day to get around Tulum (we lived in the pueblo). We love biking anywhere we live because it is an easy and eco-friendly mode of transport.

I decided to put together this helpful biking guide to Tulum so that you don’t end up spending your relaxing beach day pedaling on a bike for an hour just to stick your toes in the sand.

Here is everything you need to know about bike rentals and biking in Tulum!

Ultimate Guide: Biking in Tulum, Mexico

Book A Tulum Bike Tour

Where to Rent Bikes in Tulum?

Ola Bike Tulum

Ola Bike is one of the most popular bike rentals in Tulum. You see these iconic turquoise bikes with rose-pink baskets everywhere! On the street and on Instagram. So how much does it cost to rent a bike in Tulum? To rent an Ola Bike in Tulum for 24 hours costs $150 MXN pesos for adults (or approximately $8 USD). You can book them online or go pick one up in person. They are located on Coba Ave. in between the town and the Aldea Zama neighborhood. Their hours are 9 AM – 7 PM.

iBike Tulum

iBike Tulum is another super popular bike rental in Tulum. You can find them on Ave. Cobá Sur on the corner with Calle Venus in between the hours of 8 AM – 5 PM (closed Sundays). They are a little bit more expensive and have a lower star rating than Ola Bikes, but they still are well-known for having good bike rentals. The cruisers (similar to that of the Ola Bikes) cost around $10 USD, or around $200 MXN pesos for 24 hours. Their website is a little confusing, so it would be better for you to go and check them out in person.

Ryde Electric

Ryde is a new bike rental in Tulum that offers electric scooters (proper scooters – not mopeds) as well as electric bicycle rentals. Daily rental prices start out at $400 MXN pesos per day (approx. $20 USD). You will get a lock and a helmet for safety! They provide hotel pickups and dropoffs too. Their hours are 9:30 AM – 7 PM and they are located at Av. Tulum 2-E, Tulum Centro (a block away from Burrito Amor – one of the best restaurants in Tulum).

Pro Tip: When planning your Tulum itinerary, make sure to consider that some bike rentals will be completely booked/sold out. Once you know which day(s) you want to bike in Tulum, then I would recommend going ahead and reserving your bicycle in advance. Visit the shops in person for availability. Since most of the shops are along the road to the beach from the town, you’re likely to pass them at some point during the day anyway.

Also Read: 9 Best Eco Boutique Hotels in Tulum

Where Can You Go in Tulum with a Bike?

As I briefly mentioned above, you can cruise between Tulum Town and the hotel zone by bike as well as reach the Tulum Mayan Ruins and Tulum cenotes by bike.

Tulum’s Public Beaches 

Getting to the public beaches by bike is quite easy, but it just takes time.

You will follow the bike path down Coba Avenue down to where it forks off to the left (toward the ruins) and right (toward the hotel zone). Getting to that point takes about 15-20 minutes alone.

Then, from there, reaching the public beaches at Playa Paraiso will take an extra 10-12 minutes by bike. There are several bike racks along the side of the road where you can lock your bike before hitting the beach.

Hotel Zone

People underestimated how long it takes to bike to the hotel zone in Tulum. It can take forever depending on how far you want to go down.

To reach Ahau Eco Hotel where the Ven A La Luz goddess statue is, as well as shops, Matcha Mama, etc, then it will take around 45 minutes and 5 miles (8 km) of biking.

Once you’re along that strip you will pass through several pockets of shops, hotels, etc, before biking just the jungle road where there aren’t many businesses. When traffic is heavy, biking is your best bet to navigate the hotel zone, find parking, etc. It still remains a little too hectic for us.

Tulum Town

Biking in the pueblo is by far the best way to experience the local life in the town, explore side streets, and get from one side to the other in a jiffy.

Follow the bike path down the Main Ave to stop between boho shops, ice cream stands, and yummy restaurants, or cruise the backstreets to find all of the painted murals of Tulum’s street art scene.

Tulum Ruins

To get to the Tulum ruins by bike will take approximately 30 minutes when leaving Tulum Centro (downtown) and taking the Coba Avenue route. Another option that takes only about 15-20 minutes is if you follow the bike path on the right side of Highway 307 and then take a right toward the Tulum Archaeological Ruins.

This is actually the official “entrance” to get to the ruins for cars, as you will see by the number of hotels, shops, and outdoor market stalls.

Then, if you are already spending the day at the public beaches in Tulum, just south of the ruins, then it should only take 10 minutes or less to get there biking. If you’re leaving from the hotel zone it will take 30 minutes or more.

Tulum Cenotes

The best cenotes to reach by bike in Tulum are Cenote Calavera, Cenotes Cristal y Escondido, Gran Cenote, and Cenote Carwash.

To get to other cenotes in and around Tulum, you should consider renting a scooter or car.

Note that to get to these cenotes you will need to ride alongside the side of the highway, so be cautious and wear appropriate clothing.

Safety Tips for Biking in Tulum

Biking in and around Tulum is fairly straightforward and easy.

Just make sure you plan out your route before you head out so you can expect to bike for X amount of time and travel X many miles/km. This is helpful for planning out the rest of your day!

Here are a few other safety tips to keep in mind when biking in Tulum:

• Always lock your bike
• Consider wearing a helmet
• Keep the bike rental’s WhatsApp # in your phone
• Pack a day bag with a reusable water bottle
• Take care when crossing car lanes that intersect with the bike path
• Watch out for potholes!
• Don’t bike at night
• Share the bike paths with runners (use a bell)
• Pass on the left whenever possible and warn when doing so
• Avoid biking in the rainy season when the paths can become flooded

I hope this guide to biking in Tulum helps plan your trip!

If you are a digital nomad in Tulum you can purchase second-hand bikes by searching the local Facebook groups or by going to the Super Adi store.

Shiny new cruiser bikes there cost around $3500-4000 MXN pesos ($175-200 USD).

Before you go, check out these other guides to Tulum!

• The Complete Guide to Scuba Diving in Tulum, Mexico
• 9 Awesome Things to Do in Tulum, Mexico
• 12 Epic Day Trips From Tulum You Can’t Miss
• 10 Essential Tulum Tips: What to Know Before Visiting Tulum

If you have any questions about bike rentals in Tulum, where to bike, etc, feel free to reach out or drop a comment/question below!

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