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Tulum Packing Lists

Tips on what to pack for a trip to Tulum, posted by real travelers and Tulum locals.
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Staying Overnight in a Cabana
  • Tip Rating:
  • Kaspian
  • Updated By Kaspian on September 1, 2005
  • Tulum Page by Kaspian
  • Cabana - Disorganization (2002) - Tulum
    Cabana - Disorganization
    (2002)
    by Kaspian
    - Bag with a lock on it
    - Smaller insulated bag for carrying drinks
    - Something with lots of zipper compartments

    - Your bathing suit!
    (I can't believe the number of people that end up in Tulum without this. Parts of the beach are nudist, so you may be alright without it.)
    - Towel(s)
    - Hat
    - Sunglasses
    - Shoes with toe covering
    - Very light blanket

    - Sunscreen and lip balm
    - Aloe vera aftersun (maybe Solarcaine)
    - Band-aids and polysporin
    (For your feet--they will get dinged from the underwater coral and from the rocky pathways)
    - Immodium/Pepto
    (Just in case, but I've never had any stomach trouble there.)
    - The usual: toohbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, washcloth

    I'm not a photo expert, but notice how most of the photos on VT of Tulum look too dark? It's because Tulum is actually extremely bright, lots of whites and light greys and standard camera exposure/contrast gets screwed up . If you know how to compensate for that with film/filters, bring them.

    - Big bottle of water (maybe a few)
    - Several small bags of chips (or something else with lots of salt in it to replenish salt loss caused by sweating)
    - Bug/mosquito repellant
    - Flashlight
    - Candles/T-Lights and matches/lighter
    - Battery powered travel clock (or wristwatch)
    - Snorkeling stuff
    - A big book to read

    Do not bother to bring electrical equipment. Most places don't have regular electricity. And if they do have lights, there aren't normal electric outlets.
    If you get a cabana with a sand floor, bring something like zip-lock bags to keep your jewelery and small valuables in. If you drop something in the sand you may never find it again.
    Many of the small cabanas don't even have furniture, so don't pack very much because you don't want to have clothes stacked in the sand.

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    Bring just the basics
  • Tip Rating:
  • bdwoot
  • By bdwoot on January 30, 2006
  • Tulum Page by bdwoot
  • The Only Thing To Drink - Tulum
    The Only Thing To Drink
    by bdwoot, 1 more photos
    We got by with a big one for me and a small one for the wife, as well as two carry ons.

    Sneaks, water sandals like Tivas, bathing suit, t-shirts, one pair of jeans, broad-brimmed hat. Expect everything to get wet and never dry out until you get home.

    DEET (esp. from July to early January), sunscreen by the ton, floss, toothpaste, benadryl to aid sleep and in case you are allergic to something, tums and whatever hangover cure you prefer.

    Nothing you can't carry with you all the time. Leaving it in the room while you at the beach just ain't smart.

    If you are in a basic cabana on the beach that lacks electricity, a rechargeable Coleman lantern that you recharge during the day comes in really handy. Our snake light really helped too.

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    I learned the hard way...you don't have to!
  • Tip Rating:
  • wilocrek
  • Updated By wilocrek on January 16, 2008
  • Tulum Page by wilocrek
  • I would recommend bringing a backpack as opposed to standard luggage. There is a steep staircase from the restaurant down to the beach. Plus if your planning on exploring the rest of the Yucatan and your using the bus, having a backpack or large duffel bag is a must.

    I would recommend bringing a pair of hiking shoes if your planning on exploring the Mayan ruins around the Yucatan, some of which still allow you to climb the pyramids. Otherwise simple waterproof sandals will work and you can use them in the shared shower facilities as well. Bring a lightweight, jogging style pants to wear at night. This will help to keep the mosquito's from feasting on your legs and they will, repellent or not! Bring a couple pair of swim trunks that have zippered pockets. That way you can carry items with you and not have to have a bag with you all the time. For example I would put money inside a ziploc bag and then put it in my swim suit pockets and swim all day and not only did I have cash when I needed for a drink, snack, etc, the money was dry! Don't try it with your Ipod or camera though!

    Bring the strongest Deet Mosquito repellent you can find and bring lots of it! No matter what time of year it is the Yucatan is swarming with them and they are unforgiving! At all times after being in the water, spray every exposed crevice on your body, specifically the feet as thats a favorite target for mosquito's as people rarely spray their feet. I made that mistake my first trip and my feet were covered with bites! If you go into the camping section of any sporting goods store you can by a sort of "mosquito incense" that you can burn in your cabana at night and it does a terrific job of keeping those blood sucking bastards at bay!

    Bring a combination lock to use to lock up your cabana. The cabanas have old key style locks that are rusted. Plus with a combination lock you don't have to worry about a key!

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    you don't need much
  • Tip Rating:
  • hotsauce28
  • Updated By hotsauce28 on February 29, 2008
  • Tulum Page by hotsauce28
  • Tulum Packing Lists
    by hotsauce28
    Definitely NOT one of those big wheeled ones! It'll be impossible to drag it to your cabana. Too rocky/sandy.

    If you're going in the winter, perhaps something long sleeve. Other than that, you don't even need a bathing suit. Lots of naked people running around.
    Towels can be borrowed at "front desk" for 10 pesos.

    SUNSCREEN!

    obviously...

    Candles, flashlight and water.

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    HOT! HOT! HOT!
  • Tip Rating:
  • emilienoelle
  • Updated By emilienoelle on August 11, 2004
  • Tulum Page by emilienoelle
  • Tulum Packing Lists
    by emilienoelle
    You barely need any clothes here, but bringing more than one bathing suit is a good idea. Hats and sunglasses are smart, too.

    Sunblock!! Lots and lots of it, too. Even the kind for your lips. Otherwise you WILL pay.

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    Packing List
  • Tip Rating:
  • hayward68
  • Updated By hayward68 on December 15, 2002
  • Tulum Page by hayward68
  • Iguana - Tulum
    Iguana
    by hayward68
    Bring along a small knapsack to carry your water and bathing suit for those excursions that you'll be taking.

    Water shoes are good for climbing over the rocks that you will sometimes encounter in the water.

    Pack the sunscreen and insect repellant. It's really expensive in Mexico. Preferably bio-degradeable sunscreen if you can find it, that's all your allowed to use at Xel-Ha. It cost me $10US for a bottle of it at Tulum.

    Bring lots of film with you, again, it's expensive there! Bring underwater camera for some great pics of fish!

    Scuba diving, snorkelling gear,

    Pepto bismo, immodium, the usual stuff for encounters with dodgy food and drinks.

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    Sun lotion
    Lady_Disdain
  • By Lady_Disdain on January 15, 2008
  • Tulum Page by Lady_Disdain
  • Don't forget to take a good sun lotion - and to apply it liberally.

    Walking around in the sun, with few trees, can easily lead to sun burn. And the cool sea breeze may just take your mind off the sun until it is too late. Been there, done that!

    Don't forget the tip of the ears, feet and back of the knees and neck. They are specially painful and easily forgoten...

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    Mosquito Repellent
    Lady_Disdain
  • By Lady_Disdain on January 15, 2008
  • Tulum Page by Lady_Disdain
  • I didn't need mosquito repellent during the day, but the little bugs sure do come out at night!

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    Beach wear
    Lady_Disdain
  • By Lady_Disdain on January 15, 2008
  • Tulum Page by Lady_Disdain
  • "I'm here for the ruins - not to lounge on the beach" - or, at least, so I thought, as I planned my trip. I am a die-hard history fan and not too fond of lying on the beach.

    So there I was in Tulum, with the beautiful sea stretched out in front of me, feeling tired and sweating. And not a change of clothes or a beach towel to hand. So I rolled up my pants, took off my shoes and paddled around the edge of the water. Sigh.

    Moral of the story: a bathing suit and a small beach towel do not take up much room in your day pack. Take them.

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    Footwear
    CindyLou99
  • Updated By CindyLou99 on October 2, 2005
  • Tulum Page by CindyLou99
  • You might want to bring a small bad to carry your stuff for the day.

    Be sure that you have good shoes for walking. There is some rough terrain and a lot of steps, so you will want to be comfortable. You also might want a hat for extra protection from the sun.

    Sunscreen is a must.

    You will not want to forget your camera for all the great photo opportunities there.

    A bottle of water will be greatly appreciated, because of the heat combined with all the walking.

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