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Renting a Scooter in Tulum to Get Around

Last Updated: March 14, 2023 · 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.

And 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 on 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 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
Scootering around in Tulum

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).

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
  • Before You Go: Essential Tulum Travel Tips

🛵 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.

Pin this scooter rental guide to Tulum with your friends!

photos of scooter rentals in tulum with text overlay
photo of girl riding scooter in tulum mexico with text overlay
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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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Guess where?! 😁 (hint in the 4th clip!) But al Guess where?! 😁 (hint in the 4th clip!) 
But also this shouldn’t come as a surprise! As a nomad, I’ve slow lived and based myself out of Mexico 5-6 times since 2018. 
Each time, going back feels like going home! 💛
And even though I was just there for a short period to show my mom around and celebrate Day of the Dead, I’m happy to be returning for a few months so I can fill back up my cup. 

The majority of 2023 has been a non-stop whirlwind which wasn’t my initial vision for this year, so this next move is about slowing down (even more), writing, and recharging ☀️ 🔋 

If you could move anywhere, where would you go? 

#digitalnomad #mexicotravel #oaxacamexico #slomad #slowtravel #slowliving
La Velada is such a special part of Día de Muerto La Velada is such a special part of Día de Muertos traditions to witness 🧡✨ 

On October 31st, we went to two local cemeteries (Panteón Xoxocotlán and Panteón Atzompa) where families labor away with love by decorating the graves with marigolds, candles, and their dead beloved’s favorite food, drinks, objects... you name it! 💛🪦

You’ll see families laughing, playing music, and drinking while some are embracing or visiting alone, quiet in their remembrance. Meanwhile, you can find typical street food outside the cemetery gates and bands/concerts and mariachis playing loudly in the background 🎺 

It’s festive, sentimental, and magical (and more), all in one 🥹❤️

If you have the wonderful opportunity to visit Oaxaca or any of the other places in Mexico where they celebrate next year, please make sure to be respectful! 🫶🏼

In Atzompa, the grave mounds are harder to see and you should take extra care with your steps and how you take photos (if you decide to). We were invited over by a family for mezcal and my friend also got to light candles for her father and share it with their family’s gravesite. 🕯️ It was a very special experience for all of us! Many many thanks and much love to everyone who made it so beautiful 🙏🌼🕯️💜

#diademuertos #dayofthedead #oaxaca #lavelada #atzompa #xoxocotlán #oaxacatravel #mexicotravel #oaxacadejuarez #cempasuchil #diademuertos2023
Día de Muertos 2023 has come to a close, but thes Día de Muertos 2023 has come to a close, but these special memories—like the spirits of the departed—will live on 💛 

🕯️ La Velada
💀 October 31st
📍 Panteón Xoxocotlán & Panteón Atzompa, Oaxaca

📸 Please be mindful when taking photos of this beautiful tradition! Try to use a telephoto lens if you choose to take a camera (I was at my max 105mm f4 with the @sonyalpha and using the silent shooting feature), and ask permission/feel the situation out before approaching. We found many families were happy to share their culture and family traditions and even beer and mezcal with us. Above all, just be kind! ✨ 

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#diademuertos2023 #lavelada #atzompa #xoxocotlán #panteón #dayofthedead #oaxacamexico #oaxacatravel #sonyalpha #localtravel #mindfultravel #travelculture #diadelosmuertos #cemetery
This experience… 🤯😱⬇️ “Comparsas” This experience… 🤯😱⬇️

“Comparsas” or parades during Día de Muertos celebrations are WIIIILLDD!! 💀 

Not only are costumes insanely creative and meticulously put together, but so is the whole parade! The crowd and band make their way through the town — playing explosive music, dancing, and drinking the entire way — and go to private homes to play and drink and eat before moving on and doing it all over again in someone else’s yard! 

Total organized chaos but the absolute BEST party 🪅👹 — save this crazy experience to your Day of the Dead bucket list!!

📍 Reyes Etla and Soledad Etla (outside of Oaxaca City) 

#comparsa #dayofthedead #diademuertos #etla #parade #oaxacalotienetodo #oaxacacultural #oaxacamexico #costumes
💀⚠️ CUTE BUT DEADLY 💀⚠️ Yesterday w 💀⚠️ CUTE BUT DEADLY 💀⚠️

Yesterday was a bucket list experience come TRUE!! From the makeup to the “comparsas” (parades) and everything in between! 🪅 

Right now in Oaxaca City, the historic center is crawling with excitement for Día de Muertos celebrations 😍🕷️🧡 — everyone is getting their face painted in the street, explosive parades are echoing from every neighborhood, and the scent of candles, copal and food is filling the air — together, it’s one big fiesta of love, color, joy, and beauty. 

Impromptu photoshoot with mom 📸😍
“Hold it like this, see the frame I just shot? Ok now press the button. No, that one. You know what, just hold that button down.” 👏🏼😂 It was fun and I love how they turned out!! Mom got down and dirty to help me capture these, thanks momma 🥰 

#dayofthedead #oaxacamexico #oaxaca #oaxaca_bonito #diademuertos #díademuertos #dayofthedeadmakeup #oaxacacity #catrinamakeup
The ending 🕯️🧡🌼 What I love about Dí The ending 🕯️🧡🌼 

What I love about Día de Muertos is the dance between life and death; the joyous celebration of music, food, laughter; the storytelling between families and friends (and strangers—a kind family shared their mezcal and were so happy they could share their culture with us too!); and the precious reminder that we can comfort our departed in death as much as their spirits comfort us in life 🧡

Feliz Día de Muertos à todos 💀

#diademuertos #dayofthedead #oaxacacity #xoxocotlán #aztompa #mexicomagico #diadelosmuertos #visitoaxaca
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