The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Tulum

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Here’s my ultimate insider’s guide to the digital nomad life in Tulum, Mexico!

Tulum has become a top destination in Mexico, surpassing Cancun and Playa del Carmen as the place to live as a digital nomad along the Riviera Maya.

But since 2020, Tulum has become an even bigger travel hotspot—not just for tourism but also for digital nomads who make the temporary move to live out their remote work dreams in what seems like paradise.

As a former digital nomad in Tulum myself, I am guilty of the latter!

As long-time nomads, Paul and I travel and work in countries around the world and rely on WiFi to earn an income online. But we’re not your typical nomads, either.

We truly enjoy immersing ourselves in places for longer periods of time.

Slow travel allows us to better understand the culture and leave a lighter environmental footprint.

As such, we’ve been living in Mexico for going on 5 years! (Most of which was spent on the west coast in the Riviera Nayarit, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and then Baja Sur.)

So, during this round, when moving to Mexico for the third time, we decided to test out the digital nomad scene in Tulum.

Since then, we’ve lived as nomads in San Cristóbal, Chiapas, and Oaxaca City, Oaxaca!

Tulum’s digital nomad community is ever-growing.

And if there’s a chance for strong WiFi and good vibes, digital nomads aren’t far behind.

After all, who could resist wanting to be a digital nomad in Tulum when constant photos of street art, fish tacos, and pristine beaches fill up your Instagram feed?

I know what it’s like to move to a different country as a digital nomad seeking to integrate and support the community.

I created this guide for my fellow nomads out there who wish to do the same in Tulum.

With this guide, I hope to make your transition to digital nomad life in Tulum a bit easier while raising awareness of some of the ugly issues negatively impacting this beautiful town.

The Digital Nomad’s Guide to Tulum

Essential Takeaways for Digital Nomad Life in Tulum

If you’re preparing for digital nomad life in Tulum, there are a few essentials you’ll need to check off before touching down in this tropical paradise. 

First, be sure you’ve signed up for travel insurance.

While this is often an overlooked step in the process of moving abroad, it’s a crucial one! Having travel insurance means you’ll be covered in the case of illness, accidents, and more. 

Not only does it provide peace of mind, but you’ll also find it a huge relief if something unfortunate does happen. SafetyWing is my favorite travel insurance for nomads as their plans are flexible and inexpensive at around $56 a week (without U.S. coverage).

Downloading an eSIM is another tool to prepare for life in Tulum.

eSIMs provide in-country phone service so that you’ll have 5G … It’s also possible to download them ahead of time to arrive in Mexico with a working phone. 

Another benefit of an eSIM is being able to hotspot from it, which provides an added layer of security if you’re working from your computer! 

One of the best eSIMs for digital nomad life is Airalo. They offer service in over 200+ countries and a large array of packages from 1 GB to 10 GB.

Brushing up on your Spanish language skills is another good idea before arriving in Tulum! While many people speak some English, knowing a few local language phrases is always beneficial. Extra brownie points for learning a few phrases in Mayan too!

Cost of Living in Tulum as a Digital Nomad

For starters, let me just say that Tulum is an expensive place to live compared to other places in Mexico.

But it is possible to live here on a budget!

I also understand that “expensive” is relative. What I consider expensive might be someone else’s sense of cheap (lol).

Make sure to read my complete guide for how much it costs to live in Tulum!

For those coming from San Francisco or New York, where sky-high rent prices are the norm, Tulum might seem really inexpensive. 

Unfortunately, this way of thinking contributes to the problem! Tulum’s real estate market is booming, and realtors, alongside locals, are taking advantage of the surge in demand.

Not to sound doom and gloom, but the insane housing prices are a big problem that is rapidly transforming Tulum into other popular Mexican destinations like Cancun.

Once you know that Tulum has become extremely expensive for locals and in comparison to other cities in Mexico, it makes it even more shocking to see some of the prices here.

Mexicans, who usually pay $3,000-$5,000+ pesos for housing in other towns, like Muyil, which is just 20 minutes south of Tulum, cannot afford the cost of living here anymore. 

Compare that small price to what tourists willingly pay and it becomes clear why locals are getting pushed out of their own community while foreigners buy up properties and land.

I know this topic is not what you came here for, but I wanted to include it so we can ALL reflect on how our choices to live as digital nomads in other countries impact the local population. 🙂

So, just how expensive is it to be a digital nomad in Tulum?

Below are a few sample prices.

Apartments/Housing: $500-800 USD (around $9K-$16K MXN) | High-Season: $900-2,000+ USD

We found a Mexican-owned one-bedroom studio apartment in Tulum Pueblo, in a quieter, local neighborhood, for $10,000 MXN, or around €450 EUR or $500 USD per month (WiFi and water are included, but not electricity or gas).

I believe you can find cheap(er) housing, but this will most likely be restricted to the Tulum Pueblo neighborhood and only during the low season. We arrived and found our casita in early September, right in the middle of the rainy hurricane season.

You will pay more to live in the ex-pat communities of La Veleta or Aldea Zama.

Restaurants: $7-15+ USD per person (Town) | $15-40 USD per person (Hotel Zone)

There are dozens of delicious places to eat in Tulum, whether in the Hotel Zone or the center of Tulum Town.

Tulum Town has a pretty awesome food scene with local and international cuisine. Vegans rejoice—there are many scrumptious vegan cafes and even street tacos here. If you go to the Beach / Hotel Zone in Tulum, you’ll pay double or triple (or even more) for a meal.

Below are more pricing details for Tulum’s co-working spaces, cafes, transport, markets, and other living expenses!

When Should You (Ideally) Move to Tulum?

Tulum is located on the coast of the Mexican state Quintana Roo, which gets lots of sunshine year-round!

The summer months are hot and humid, with a high chance of rain (because of wet/hurricane season). The best time to visit Tulum is November through March. November has sunny, clear days that aren’t too hot, while evenings are pleasant and cool with a breeze.

The holidays are always busy, so it’s best to skip December and January to avoid the crowds.

The pros of being here in the hot summer months are that…

• 1. There will be fewer people and
• 2. Summer is whale shark season, so you can go snorkeling or diving with those gentle giants.

The cons are the hot, muggy days and the possibility of a hurricane. (We experienced multiple hurricanes in just two months!)

The Best Things to Do for Digital Nomads in Tulum

There are so many things to do in Tulum, and I’m always on the hunt to add more items to my bucket list.

My favorite activities in Tulum are, by far:

• Jumping in the best Tulum cenotes
• Scuba diving on the Tulum reef
• Scoping out the next best restaurant
• Going out for mezcal cocktails at Tu, The Good Pizza, or El Grifo
• Watching the sunset
• Lounging at the public beaches
• Floating down Mayan lagoons in Sian Ka’an
• Riding bikes around town and along the Hotel Zone
• Visiting the Tulum Ruins
• Going on fun day trips from Tulum

Check out these Tulum Tours through Viator for more ideas of what’s possible on a trip to Tulum!

Why Move to Tulum as a Digital Nomad

If you’re considering moving to Tulum, I’ve included a short list of the pros and cons of calling this tropical paradise home.

Pros:

• There is a huge network of ex-pats who live in Tulum, making up a thriving community that’s easy to slip into.
• Everything from medical care to grocery stores and scooter rentals are at your fingertips.
• Tulum has an amazing restaurant and food scene with fun bars to boot!
• There are plenty of co-working spaces in Tulum and the WiFi is generally strong.
• Tulum offers a mixture of beaches, jungle, and even a little slice of city life.
• There are tons of day-trip options, making it easy to explore the Yucatan Peninsula and its cenotes, beaches, and ruins.

Cons:

• Tulum isn’t as inexpensive as other digital nomad hotspots in Mexico.
• Crowds in high tourist season (generally December to April) can be a deterrent.
• Tulum might not feel as authentic as other areas of Mexico. Some ex-pats may also find it harder to uncover local culture and heritage.
• The nearest international airport is 1.5 hours away from Tulum (Cancun International Airport).

Transportation – Getting Around Tulum for Long Stays

Tulum is 2 hours south of Cancun. To get here, you can either rent a car (I use Discover Cars for deals) or hop on a bus or colectivo from the Cancun Airport.

If you rent a car in Cancun and drive to Tulum one-way, you’ll likely have to pay a 50 USD drop-off fee (which is normal and not a scam).

Once you’re in Tulum, getting around is relatively easy if you’re based in Tulum Pueblo. 

If not, note that Tulum is spread out, so you should rent a scooter or a bicycle for your daily commute.

Tulum Pueblo

Tulum Pueblo, also known as Tulum Town, is easy to explore on bike or foot. 

The neighborhoods in Tulum are also far apart. So you could live 5 minutes from the supermarket if you’re on the north side of town, or 45 minutes away if you’re on the south side.

Hotel Zone

Then you have the Tulum Beach / Hotel Zone, which is a 30-minute bike ride down Coba Rd (or a 10-minute drive away). The Hotel Zone surprises many Tulum first-timers because it’s in an inconvenient location with a one-way road in and out.

As such, traffic can be a nightmare. We usually get there on our bikes, which, again, isn’t super far but isn’t just a block away, either.

Taxis

Taxis and cabs are cheap if you use them solely to get around Tulum Pueblo. On the other hand, if you’re hailing them to get back and forth from the Hotel Zone, you’ll probably pay $200 MXN pesos or $10 USD one-way.

Bikes

We got lucky and had two bikes included with our apartment rental. If you’re a new digital nomad in Tulum, I highly recommend buying a new or used bike or renting one monthly. Biking in Tulum is super fun!

You can find used bikes on Tulum Facebook groups or Facebook Marketplace and new ones at the Super Aki market. Tulum is just too big to get around on foot, which is why biking is such a great method of transportation. Bike rentals cost around $200-$250 MXN pesos per day to rent.

Scooters

Renting a scooter in Tulum is super convenient for weaving through traffic and getting to and from the Hotel Zone to Tulum Pueblo much faster.

With a scooter, you can easily get outside of town and visit Tulum’s private and secluded cenotes. Scooter rentals cost around $30-35 USD for 24 hours.

Bus

If you want to take a day trip from Tulum and see new cities and towns, you have a few options for public transport. Colectivo buses (little vans) usually do small inter-city trips and to and from nearby towns (i.e. Muyil, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Playa del Carmen, etc).

If you want to travel a bit further away, to Valladolid, Chichen Itza, or Cancun, you can purchase an Ado bus ticket. The ticket office is in town and easy to get to.

Tulum’s Neighborhoods

To better understand Tulum, it’s helpful to learn about the city’s different neighborhoods. While there are a few micro-neighborhoods, the main ones to know as a digital nomad are:

• Tulum Pueblo/Centro
• La Veleta
• Aldea Zama
• Beach/Hotel Zone

Tulum Pueblo

Tulum Pueblo/Centro is the main town or downtown area of Tulum. Here, you’ll find everything from local street vendors to rooftop cocktail bars.

In between, there are scuba dive shops, open-air artisanal markets, organic beauty stores, international restaurants, art murals, mezcal bars, spas, back alley cafes, and more.

I rarely explore the west end of Tulum (the neighborhood above the Main Avenida running N-S) as it’s mostly residential. There’s also the Colonia Huracanes neighborhood – where we lived – which is more local and quiet, but with its own array of shops, restaurants, street art, and markets that we enjoy exploring.

La Veleta for Nomads

La Veleta is an up-and-coming neighborhood on the south end of Tulum Pueblo, where you’ll find exquisite villas and a growing ex-pat community.

It’s farther away from the big supermarkets like Chedraui and Super Aki but is closer to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Cenotes Cristal y Escondido, and Laguna Kaan Luum, which are all outside of Tulum.

La Veleta has a couple of good restaurants and yoga places popping up, Gypsea Market (organic store), and a few different co-working spaces, like the Digital Jungle.

Aldea Zama

Aldea Zama is an even newer neighborhood in Tulum that’s developing. It’s primarily where expats go to buy a condo or rent a high-end apartment.

Located in between Tulum Pueblo and the Beach/Hotel Zone, it’s a little bit more convenient than La Veleta if you’re a frequent beach-goer. People who stay in Aldea Zama love it for the peace and quiet and great location.

We’ve biked in and around Aldea Zama a few times and are always underwhelmed (or overwhelmed, rather) with all the construction and real estate. It starkly contrasts the livelihood of the locals just opposite, who live in tin-roofed homes on the other side of the fence.

Tulum Hotel Zone

Tulum’s Beach/Hotel Zone is the strip of land running parallel to the sea, which is, as you can guess, lined with hotels.

Unlike the high-rises in Cancun, Tulum’s Hotel Zone is littered instead with “eco-resorts” that aren’t very eco-friendly and run off diesel generators 24/7 (apart from a select few).

Since there are no huge hotels, the area keeps its jungly/tropical vibes, which are used to mark up prices in boutique stores and restaurants.

The Hotel Zone is very “Instagram-worthy” which is why droves of tourists come here. Tulum’s public beaches are actually on the opposite side of the Hotel Zone (toward the Tulum Ruins), while this area has mostly private beaches. For access to those, you’ll have to pay to enter the hotel’s beach club. 

If you’re coming as a digital nomad in Tulum, it’s not likely that you’ll be spending most of your time in the Hotel Zone.

Hotels I recommend for short stays in Tulum: Habitas, Papaya Playa Project, Prana Boutique Hotel, Ahau

There is also the Villas Tulum, at the entrance of the town (behind Super Aki), a quiet residential neighborhood, and the Colonia Huracanes neighborhood, which is full of street art and local shops and houses.

Finding Apartment Rentals in Tulum

So, you know you want to live the digital nomad life in Tulum, but where do you start your search for housing?

Facebook Groups & Airbnb

Join Facebook groups, like “Rentals in Tulum”, to connect with locals and realtors about available apartments

Tip: It helps to know exactly how long you wish to rent for. Otherwise, you might be ignored or brushed aside. We always start our search in Facebook groups and then simultaneously search for monthly rentals on Airbnb.

Airbnb prices are usually more expensive when you book monthly. To inquire about monthly rentals off the platform, take the extra step and contact the owner privately. 

Chances are you can negotiate for an actual “liveable” monthly rental. This is how we were able to live in an adorable studio with a huge jungle backyard and free bikes for $500 USD per month. The Airbnb price was $80 USD per night!

Gas + Electricity

Depending on where you rent, you might have to pay extra for services like WiFi, electricity, or gas. Electricity in Mexico is fairly expensive, especially when you have an air conditioner. Our bill comes every 2 months.

The last billing cycle cost us $100 USD. As for cooking gas, you simply have to call the gas company to come and refill your tank (or replace it) when you run out. Depending on how often you cook, that should be every 1-2.5 months. Refilling the tank completely will cost around $1,000 MXN.

Furnishing Your Apartment

When we rented our apartment, I searched everywhere for places to buy furniture in Tulum but had no luck. Other than the World By Hand store in Tulum (which is seriously house decor goals), there isn’t anywhere to buy just regular cheap furniture. As two digital nomads, we needed desks!

The only way we found our desks, which were handmade by a local, was on Facebook Marketplace. He even delivered them to our house on his bike. 🙂

A few weeks later, we saw another guy selling local furniture on the side of the road just above Main Avenue. 

If you want more options for decorating your new home in Tulum, you could also drive up Coba Road (toward Coba). There are a ton of furniture shops along this road. They’re just less convenient than at-home delivery!

Plants

If, like us, you enjoy buying plants, there’s this amazing little locally-owned garden on Calle Sol Oriente just beside Hostel Nicte-Ha, where you can buy all sorts of plants, from tiny cacti to large tropical floor plants.

Other Short-Term Accommodation Options in Tulum

Beyond Airbnb and apartments, Tulum offers a few other short-term living situations that might suit your digital nomad needs. 

Volunteering & Work Exchange

Ethical volunteer opportunities and work exchanges are both great ways to get free accommodation around the world.

You’ll typically only work a few hours a day, which leaves plenty of time for any online work you need to get done. World Packers and Workaway are two of the best resources for finding these opportunities abroad!

Cheap Hostels 

If you don’t mind the chance of little sleep and cramped quarters, holing up at a cheap hostel can be a great way to stay in Tulum inexpensively.

Inexpensive hostels in Tulum range anywhere from as little as $9 for a dorm bed to $26 for a private room. Many hostels have co-working spaces these days, too. 

Coliving Sites

Coliving spaces have exploded in the Riviera Maya and worldwide in recent years. Tulum has an Outsite space, which are perfect for digital nomads looking for a temporary living situation.

Like-minded people’ll surround you, all working online and looking for a community to connect with. Imagine a co-working space you stay at, with fun organized activities!

TrustedHousesitters

Another great resource for finding short-term living opportunities is TrustedHousesitters.

This platform is mostly dedicated to pet sitters who offer their services, caring for pets and homes, while the owners are away in exchange for a place to stay.

For animal lovers, this is an excellent way to stay in destinations around the world (including Tulum!). While your accommodation costs are near zero, you do need to be sure that you can provide a high level of care which varies from sit to sit.

TrustedHousesitters also requires a little more preparation in advance of your trip, and it can be difficult to find stays in some locations, so keep that in mind!

Internet + SIM Card

If you’re coming to Tulum as a digital nomad, you’re probably wanting solid answers to questions like this:

• “How fast is the internet in Tulum?”
• “I’m looking for an apartment in Tulum with good WiFi”

The answer to this question always seems to be changing!

The thing is, Tulum’s internet speeds vary depending on which neighborhood you live in, the apartment complex you’re staying at, and which company your internet is registered with.

We got our internet through GigNet and had about 2.5 Mbps upload and download speed. 

Is that amazing? Not at all. Surprisingly, it’s enough for Paul and me to work full-time, every day, without major flaws. Watching YouTube or Netflix isn’t a problem either.

If you need more speed, you simply have to pay for it! Packages can cost up to $2,000 pesos ($100 USD) for something around 40 Mbps. The bigger issue of the internet in Tulum is power cut-outs and full-blown outages that can last for hours, or days (especially in the hurricane season).

SIM card: I recommend getting a Mexican SIM card, or an eSIM, as a backup, just in case. We use our phones a lot for data when we’re out exploring. Movistar was our SIM card of choice, but you can also get a Telmex card. Movistar will cost around $200 for the SIM. We recharge online every three weeks or so for $200 pesos. The $200 package gives us 3 GB of data and unlimited social on Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Netflix (on our phones).

Alternatively, you can also purchase an eSIM and download it to your phone if it’s compatible.

Airalo is one of the best options for international eSIMs, as you can top up your package from anywhere and have your eSIM downloaded and ready to go on your phone when you arrive in Mexico. You can choose from several options, including one week to 30 days and from 1 to 10 GB.

Tulum Co-Working Spaces

Working in an apartment all day can get a bit lonely or boring sometimes.

Luckily, there are a couple of co-working spaces in Tulum you can retreat to when you need to freshen up your mind and creativity or just want to hang out and connect with fellow digital nomads.

Digital Jungle

We discovered Digital Jungle in the La Veleta neighborhood and loved it!

The breezy space is brand new and invites you in with its open-air design, plant-covered walls, chic wooden tables, and cozy nooks. Fiber optic WiFi, free drip coffee, and a fruit bar are included in the Day Pass, which costs $400 MXN or $300 for a half-day.

Beyond that, they offer private Zoom booths for $150 MXN/hour, private meeting rooms for large groups or conferences ($500 MXN/hour), and an upstairs mezzanine for $300 MXN/hour where you can play Xbox (or take a nap as Paul did, lol). The Week Pass costs $1,500 MXN and includes 5 consecutive day passes. I can definitely see this place becoming a digital nomad hotspot in Tulum in the near future!

Once Tulum

A cafe, cocktail bar, and co-working space all wrapped into one, Once Tulum offers digital nomads a bunch of amenities that extend far beyond good WiFi and a quiet place to work. 

You’ll have both indoor and outdoor work areas, along with a quiet second floor that provides plenty of space to sprawl out. With plenty of plugs and A/C, this is one of the more comfortable and affordable options in Tulum. 

There are no extra fees to work here, other than simply ordering a drink, snack, or meal from their onsite cafe or cocktail bar.

Cafes (with Wifi)

Another way to get out of the house with your laptop is to head to a cafe with WiFi (that allows you to sit and work on your computer).

We found 2 or 3 that we enjoyed circulating through when we were craving a chai latte pick-me-up.

Botanica

Botanica is an open-air, garden cafe that serves awesome brunch-style food, baked goods, and delicious drinks.

It’s also a digital nomad-friendly co-working space where you can come and work without too much distraction. Follow their Instagram to get updates on community events or workshops, like language meetings or painting classes, that you can join each week.

Starbucks

Starbucks isn’t your local cafe with WiFi, BUT it’s saved our butts several times when the internet was out in our house, and we desperately needed to submit work.

Quite a few digital nomads come here to get their dose of sugar and fast internet.

Other cafes you might want to check out (that I haven’t worked in):

• Ki’bok Coffee: Always super busy, but you might be able to snag a table in the morning to hash out an hour or two of work.
• Babel Cafe: Seems like a nice spot but not very cozy or inspiring to work at. Not sure how the internet situation is or if digital nomads get glared out for taking out their laptops here. 
• Vintage Cafe Tulum: Located in Aldea Zama, this is a digital nomad-friendly cafe.

Grocery Shopping + Markets

There are two big supermarkets in Tulum where you can stock up on almost anything you can think of. If you want to save money while supporting local, I’d recommend shopping at your local corner market in your neighborhood!

Supermarkets

Chedraui is your Wal-Mart equivalent with aisles in food/grocery, clothing, kids, entertainment, sports, pharmacy, beauty, etc.

We go here for international goods, some organic items, all our canned goods, and coffee/tea, sugar, oil, etc. We usually go here once a week and spend around $2,000 MXN or around $120 USD for groceries for two people.

Super Aki is, to me, the low-cost and smaller version of Chedraui. You have about the same options for fresh veggies/fruits (which aren’t always great at either place) and all your canned goods and toiletry needs.

They also have a dedicated wine/spirits selection, similar to Chedraui, but it looks a bit fancier. You can buy new bikes here for around $2500 MXN, which I found to be random but good to know nonetheless!

Local Markets

Mexican Mercados: If you want to save money as a digital nomad in Tulum, I highly recommend getting all your fruits and veggies at the local markets. Plus, it’s a great way to support small vendors.

For this, we often head down to Calle Alfa Sur, where all the businesses are, and get some goodies from the colorfully painted Fruteria Pool Centre (on the back corner of Parque Dos Aguas).

Mercado Vegano: There is an awesome vegan market next to El Bajon vegan tacos. Here, you can find natural and eco-friendly beauty products (period pads, deodorant, soap, etc.), vegan meats and cheeses, and recycled clothing and accessories.

Gypsea Market: Located in La Veleta, the Gypsea Market is a healthy, organic, and very upscale shop. You can find lots of awesome fresh veggies, fruits, seeds, nuts, spices, etc., but it’s much more expensive than what you can find in town. A bag of organic tortilla chips here costs $10 USD, lol.

We don’t come here that often because it’s too expensive, but if you have the budget, you’ll find it to be really nice. We buy our artisanal soaps, copal sticks, and fresh baguettes here!

La Madre Tierra: For all your organic beauty needs, head to La Madre Tierra located right in the heart of downtown. It has organic and natural soaps, shampoos, deodorants, lotions, oils, loose teas, and even sunscreen or makeup, all made with eco/natural ingredients.

We bought a natural sea loofah, de-o for the b-o, and some bath soaps. The prices are fair for what they are, and I haven’t had to go back since all the products have lasted me for a while!

Tulum Restaurants

There are SO many good restaurants in Tulum. We ate our way through dozens of different restaurants and cafes while living there.

Expect to pay around $7-15 USD per person or more to eat out for brunch or dinner in Tulum Pueblo. That price can double or even triple if you eat out in the Hotel Zone.

Reach out to me on my Instagram for more Tulum tips and recommendations!

Healthcare in Tulum

If you’re moving to Tulum, getting acquainted with the medical and healthcare services offered here is a good idea. Luckily, we didn’t have any reason to go to the doctor or hospital here, but I’m going to list a few resources for you to just have in case of an emergency.

Pharmacies: For any over-the-counter medication you need, just head to one of the pharmacies in Tulum. You’ll find prices to be fairly affordable here (especially if you’re coming from the U.S.)

Costamed: Costamed is a private hospital located in the Villas Tulum neighborhood that is often recommended by ex-pats and digital nomads in Tulum.

Centro de Salud: The Public Health Center in Tulum is available if you need it. Find it located on Calle Sol Oriente Pte or call +52 984 802 5554.

Tulum Community Hospital: Located on Calle Acuario Pte. 

Emergency numbers, in case you need them:

• Tulum Red Cross: +52 1 (984) 802 5521
• Ambulance Akumal: + 52 1 (984) 879 2250 and +52 1 (984) 120 1678
• Municipal Police: +52 1 (984) 871 2055
• Civil Protection: +52 1 (984) 871 2688
• Taxi: +52 1 (984) 871 2029
• General Hospital of Tulum: +52 1 (984) 871 2271
• Tourist Police: + 52 1 (984) 849 7133

Travel Medical Insurance for Tulum

If you don’t have insurance yet and are a digital nomad, check out SafetyWing – the travel medical insurance for nomads by nomads. I never really took travel insurance seriously because it was always so complicated to find a company that offered packages that suited my nomad lifestyle.

I’ve been with SafetyWing for a little over a year now and I’m so happy with it! You can get covered for as little as $56 for 4 weeks and it really takes less than 5 minutes to sign up. This is so much cheaper than the airline insurance I used to always buy out of panic, lol!

Language

Spanish is the official language spoken in Tulum (and in Mexico in general), but there are many indigenous languages spoken as well.

If you spend ample time as a digital nomad in Tulum, you’ll no doubt hear or encounter people speaking the Mayan language.

I find this especially intriguing, and I always hear it outside of Tulum in the smaller towns, like Muyil (on a visit to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve). I think it’s wise and respectful to learn a bit of Spanish if you want to live here.

You certainly can get by easily in English, especially in the Hotel Zone and in most parts of downtown. If you need to go into a local market for shopping, a papeleria to print things, or a bike shop for repairs, Spanish will come in handy.

Other Tulum Digital Nomad Living Expenses

Laundry: We do our laundry about every 10 days. A big bag of clothes usually costs us around $100-200 MXN, and that’s with 2-day service. Most laundromats charge a premium for same-day returns, which will cost around $300 MXN or more.

We’ve learned that no matter how many times we give repeat business to our neighborhood laundromat, they always try to sneakily upcharge us as if we didn’t already know their tricks, lol.

Towels cost more and they’ll sometimes surcharge you for bleach when you didn’t ask for it. So just be careful. (It helps to speak a bit of Spanish to clarify things!)

Water: Your drinking and cooking water comes in big water jugs that you can get at any OXXO or local abarrotes store. Refills for e-Pura bottles cost us $36 MXN and last us about 5-6 days.

Also, don’t be surprised if they are strict about which bottle/brand you have. They’ll check for any tiny holes in the bottle you’re swapping out before letting you go grab a new one.

ATMs: The best ATMs in Tulum are in the center. You’ll often see people at HSBC, Scotiabank, and Santander. They all vary in fees, but I think HSBC has the lowest. We usually get charged between $60-100 MXN for the ATM fee.

Building Community in Tulum

Thousands of expats call Tulum home, and even more live here for short periods of time.

That means that there’s always something going on in terms of networking, meet-ups, and seasonal festivals! Here are a few tips for making friends and building community in Tulum. 

• Join Facebook Groups
  • Facebook groups are a great place to find friendships, ask questions, and even find apartments to rent. 
• Attend Local Events & Meetups
  • Everything from Women’s Social Meetups to pub crawls, dinner groups, and mixers are always on in Tulum. A simple Google search will pull up any upcoming events, although Facebook groups are another great place to find Tulum meetups. There are also several clubs that you can join, including the Tulum Entrepreneur Club.
• Join Weekly Activities
  • Aside from meetups and events, Tulum also has lots of weekly activities, like yoga sessions, that are great for finding like-minded travelers. Signing up for weekly Spanish classes is another awesome way to meet ex-pats!

Final Thoughts on Being a Digital Nomad in Tulum

If you’re still reading this, congrats!! You survived my digital nomad guide to Tulum! I am super thrilled to share all this information that I compiled after living here.

I truly hope that your stay in Tulum, whether temporary or long-term, is beneficial, safe, and soul-satisfying!

I know there are many more things I could talk about as a digital nomad in Tulum, but I’ll leave you with all this to digest for now.

As always, if you have any questions about moving or living in Tulum, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram, by email, or drop a comment below. I’ll be so happy to hear from you!

Finally, if you are seriously thinking about becoming a digital nomad in Tulum, you must watch this documentary, appropriately titled The Dark Side of Tulum. It gives you a glimpse of what’s happening to the fragile ecosystem here. Please watch and share with friends!

Pin this Digital Nomad Guide to Tulum, Mexico!

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