What You Could Get in Tulum for $10

After recently covering Merida and Oaxaca City in Mexico recently, today we're going back there to talk about how to do a budget-friendly journey in one of the most popular beach towns in the country: Tulum!

Thanks to Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo, we're going to see what you could get in Tulum for $10 USD.

So, how far could you get with $10 in the beach town? Check this out! 😉

Table of Content

4 Things You Shouldn't Miss to Explore Tulum on a Budget

Tulum, Mexico, is located in the Yucatan Peninsula state of Quintana Roo. It is about two hours south of Cancun, and one hour south of Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya.

In the last 10 years or so, Tulum has become as popular as the other long-established Mexico travel destinations just mentioned. Thanks to beautiful photos on Instagram and videos on YouTube, the photogenic town of Tulum is at the top of many Mexico bucket lists.

Did you know?

The current name of the town, Tulum, means trench or fence in Mayan as it is one of the walled city that was built and flourished by the Mayans around 13th to 15th centuries ago. Previously, the city was called “Zama”, which meant the City of Dawn.

With so many wanting to visit, Tulum has earned a reputation for being one of the more pricey Mexico beach towns — though you can certainly travel to Tulum on a budget. With just $10 USD, which is about $185 pesos, let's see how far we can stretch this money!

Tulum is basically divided into Tulum Town and Tulum Beach, and this $10 itinerary includes a stop in both. Note: To keep your accommodations budget-friendly, stay in a hostel in Tulum Town.

Tulum Town & Tacos for Brunch

Start your day strolling Tulum Town (AKA Downtown Tulum). This is the area of town most locals live in, as it's pretty much just hotels on the beach. The main strip is lined with cute cafes and boutique shops, and there's a lot of street art to see.

Head to the famous Taquería Honorio in downtown, a no-frills taco shop beloved by both visitors and locals. Not only are they known to have the best tacos in Tulum, but also the best cheap eats in Tulum. Since they are only open until 1pm, it makes for a great brunch spot.

Taquería Honorio is known for their Yucatan food tacos, with meats like cochinita pibil (slow-roasted suckling pig), lechon (roasted pork) and poc chuc (grilled pork fillet). You can try all three tacos for $75 pesos, including tip.

Tulum Beach & Tulum Mayan Ruins

After eating, head to Tulum Beach, which is about 1.5 miles away. Spend some time exploring the beach, checking out all the Instagram-worthy spots and boutique shops, while making your way to Tulum Ruins.

These are some of the most beautiful Mayan ruins in Mexico, as they overlook the Caribbean Sea. Admission to the Ruins is just $70 pesos, so it's one of the most economical things to do in Tulum. From the ruins, you can take the staircase directly down to the beach below and jump in the sea to cool down.

staircase to get to the beach below the Tulum Ruins.

Eat More Tacos for Dinner!

As this is Mexico, you'll probably want more tacos for dinner! For this, you'll have to head back to Tulum Town, which is always going to be much cheaper than eating on Tulum Beach.

With the remaining $40 pesos, head to Antojitos La Chiapaneca for tacos al pastor (marinated pork cooked on a spit). These are the most beloved of all authentic Mexican tacos, and you still have enough money to try three tacos al pastor, and leave a tip.

What You Could Get in Tulum for $10 - The BeauTraveler

Contributor: Shelley from Travel Mexico Solo.

Shelley is a former Miami travel magazine editor who ditched the office for the world! After traveling solo to 14 states in Mexico, she now lives in Merida, Mexico, full time. Shelley now helps other women cross Solo Travel and Mexico Travel off their bucket list through her Travel Mexico Solo blog and Dream To Destination podcast.