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Renting a Scooter in Tulum to Get Around

Last Updated: November 3, 2021 · Mexico, Riviera Maya

Renting a scooter in Tulum is a fun and affordable way to zip between the luxurious beach/hotel zone and the bustling Tulum town (pueblo).

While living as a digital nomad in Tulum, we had the chance to rent a scooter (or moped) to explore beyond where our turquoise bikes could take us!

RELATED: Biking in Tulum, Mexico: The Ultimate Guide

With a scooter, you can easily get to and from the beach back to the town without having to sit in traffic (as you can carefully weave through it) and you can also explore the surrounding cenotes near Tulum or take a ride to go check out the Tulum Ruins – all without needing to pack up a car for just you and your partner (unless you’re traveling with family or friends, then maybe take a car or get two scooters).

No matter how many days you have to spare on your Tulum itinerary, renting a scooter is a fun and quick way to discover the best Tulum has to offer. It’s also fairly budget-friendly!

Here’s a quick guide for how to rent a scooter in Tulum, Mexico!

Table of Contents show
Renting a Scooter/Moped in Tulum, Mexico
Where to Rent Scooters in Tulum?
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Moped in Tulum?
Do You Need a License to Drive a Scooter in Mexico?
Do You Need Insurance?
Where Can You Go in Tulum with a Scooter?
Safety Tips for Driving a Scooter in Tulum

Renting a Scooter/Moped in Tulum, Mexico

Where to Rent Scooters in Tulum?

parked red scooter in tulum mexico

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

painted mural on scooter rental shop in tulum

There are not that many places where you can rent scooters in Tulum. Luckily for us, we were living right down the street from a moped and bike rental store that we always passed and became familiar with. Turns out, they’re one of the best places to rent scooters from.

I don’t know the shop name, but on Google, it displays as “Scooter rental Tulum”. You can find it on the corner of Calle Sol Ote. with Escorpion Sur. You can’t miss the shop, as there is a yellow scooter suspended on top of the store as its “sign.”

If you’re coming from Coba Ave. down Calle Sol Oriente, it will be on your left at a junction. There is a beautiful mural on the side of the shop depicting Mayan women cooking tortillas (it’s a part of the Tulum Street Art initiative).

Once you’re at Scooter rental Tulum, in the neighborhood we used to live in, you can pay in cash, pick up your scooter, speak with the owner, get information, ask questions, and add his contact to your phone in case of emergency. They will also provide you with a scooter lock and a helmet.

They also verified scratches with us so that we both had a mutual understanding and agreement about which damages were already visible on the scooter so that we would not be accused of mishandling/accidents while out exploring.

I found this to be professional and it’s important to keep this in mind so you don’t get scammed!

They also ask you to leave your passport as a deposit. That, or send a PayPal transfer which we didn’t want to do. They will keep your passport in a locked safety box until you return. You will fill out a bit of paperwork, hand over the cash, and that’s it!

Note: I would stay away from tulumscooterrental.com website since they only operate online and don’t have a physical store. And it seems that iBike Tulum also rents out scooters but for twice the price.

Also Read: 9 Best Eco Boutique Hotels in Tulum

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Moped in Tulum?

If you were to rent from the guys I mention above, then it will cost $450-500 MXN pesos (around $25 USD) to rent a scooter for 24 hours (and $200-250 pesos for just half a day – 12 hours).

Note down the time you left and plan your itinerary accordingly so you can make it back on time for drop-off.

You also need to bring the moped back with a full tank of gas. Gas in Tulum is fairly expensive. I think at the time the price per liter of petrol was about $22 MXN pesos (so about $3-4 USD per gallon). But you won’t spend that much with such a small 125cc scooter. Maybe $10-15 bucks.

couple riding a scooter in tulum mexico

Do You Need a License to Drive a Scooter in Mexico?

Yes, you need a license to drive a scooter in Mexico. When we rented our scooter, one of us had to show our license. Paul showed his French license which doubles as an international driving permit.

I could have used mine (from the USA) as well. It’s only necessary so they can fill out their paperwork.

Do You Need Insurance?

Renting a scooter in Tulum isn’t like renting a car in the States or elsewhere. In that, you aren’t forced to have insurance but you need to be able to confirm that you are indeed covered in case of an accident.

Both Paul and I are insured by the travel medical insurance for digital nomads called SafetyWing. You can get covered for as little as $40/4 weeks and you can get coverage the day you sign up for it.

You should also have liability insurance included in the rental, in case someone runs into you. (At least, I’m pretty sure we did but double-check just in case!).

Where Can You Go in Tulum with a Scooter?

woman riding scooter in tulum mexico

Since your moped isn’t a motorbike, it’s not going to go insanely fast and it’s not going to be able to handle off-roading very well.

Your coverage also only extends to a certain distance around Tulum. So it’s not like you could rent a scooter and drive to Valladolid or Chichen Itza with it.

But there are shorter day trips from Tulum that you can reach by scooter.

  • Coba Ruins and Coba Cenotes
  • Laguna Kaan Luum
  • Cenotes Cristal y Escondido
  • Muyil Ruins inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
  • and more!

We tried to go down to Punta Allen with our scooter, but the road is not ideal for it. We made it about 1/3 of the way, though, just far enough to tour the free tourist center in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (along the coast) and climb the watchtower there overlooking the lagoons and lush jungle.

Safety Tips for Driving a Scooter in Tulum

  • girl riding scooter in tulum
  • man turning on scooter in tulum mexico

Don’t drive around looking flashy: Police can stop you for any reason, but they’ll do it mainly if you’re being an obnoxious tourist. Driving fast, showing off, or generally looking like you have a lot of money should be avoided.

Pack a small day bag: Don’t bring too many valuables or stuff. The scooter only has a small storage compartment under the seat which pops up. It can barely fit two helmets. Anything else you have you should take with you at all times.

Speed bumps: Mexico is famous for its totopes which are annoying speed bumps. Don’t hit them going fast with your scooter – or else!

Tulum traffic: Avoid heading to the beach zone in the early evening, when everyone else is heading there. And if you try to double (pass) anyone, be careful and don’t speed.

Speeding: That said, don’t speed! You want to be low-key on your scooter so as to not attract attention to yourself.

Driving the right direction on streets in town: Make sure you are driving the right direction on all streets, especially around Tulum Town. Sometimes it’s not obvious. Slow down and make sure to do a full stop at intersections with stop signs.

All in all, renting a scooter in Tulum is super fun and budget-friendly way to get around!

If you compare it to renting a car in Tulum, Mexico, it might come out at around the same price but you don’t have to deal with traffic jams or parking (especially in the hotel zone which can be a nightmare for cars).

I hope this guide to renting a scooter/moped in Tulum helps you plan your stay and add a little bit of adventure to your trip! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out in the comments below.

Be sure to check out my other travel guides to Tulum, Mexico here:

  • Restaurants: Top 20 Delicious Places to Eat in Tulum
  • Cenote Calavera: Jumping in Cenote Calavera (Temple of Doom)
  • Scuba Diving: The Complete Guide to Scuba Diving in Tulum, Mexico
  • What to Do: 9 Awesome Things to Do in Tulum, Mexico
  • Best of Tulum: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Tulum, Mexico

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By: Bri · In: Mexico, Riviera Maya

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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