1

:) big desition.

the hotels now at the beach they are far from everything, so only chance the bar and restaurant at the same hotel. I recommend papaya playa..but aslo in town there are some new hostels..just they dont have a beach....from there to the beach alwasys taxi or rent a bycicle.

2

Friends stayed at Cabanas Tulum, second row (not direct ocean front but gets good breeze) and it is a beautiful place, full breakfast included (anything off the menu), has electricity and AC from 7pm to 7am for $135 in low season. Great beach and staff.

3

I consider Tulum as having three "zones." There is the town proper, which is a strip of highway with lots of restaurants and places to stay. Just north of the main part of town is the turn-off for the beach. Where this road hits the beach road, one can go north or south. Going south, there is one cabaña hotel after another. Right at the turn-off the beach is narrow and many of the cabañas, while on the beach, have their backsides facing the road, which can be noisy at times. Further south the beach is wider and the accommodations slightly fancier. In general, there is a range of styles and prices. If you go north from the turn-off, things are more isolated and the road eventually ends at the ruins. I stayed at La Vida e Bella, which is on this north strip. I really loved it there. The food (Italian) was decent and the cabañas were quite nice. My cabaña was set back a bit so it was a bit cheaper, around $120/night in April of 2011. I wish I would have paid the extra $10 or so for a cabaña right on the beach. I really preferred being on the northside, closer to the ruins, because things were a lot quieter; only two or three hotels, I believe. It is very easy to walk south down the beach to the other cabañas and their restaurants. We rented a car so driving into town was very easy.

4

We really liked Teetotum, which is between the town and the beach. About a 15 minute bike ride to the beach on the bike path,and the hotel has bikes, or you can walk to the town,which has restaurants and bars. It is less expensive than the beach at about $100 US for two with a nice continental breakfast. Best of all, the places near the town have all-day electricity and AC. Big rooms, fridges, and big beds.

5

Las Ranitas is much farther south on the beach, I haven't stayed there but it's on my short list. Seems like a nice place and I like the idea of the pool. Wide variety of rates, too.

6

Inca ruins? I should tell that to my Andean archeologist friend. I think she would cry.