Do I need to carry cash?

Yes. While larger restaurants take cards, most cenotes, street food stands, and small shops are cash-only in Pesos.

Is it safe to drive in Tulum?

Yes, but stick to daylight hours. The roads between the town and cenotes are poorly lit at night.

Planning a 5-Day Tulum Trip: Ruins, Cenotes, and Logistics

Spend your first two days exploring the Tulum and Cobá ruins to beat the heat, then dedicate the remaining three days to cycling or driving between cenotes. Rent a car or a scooter to avoid overpriced local taxis and maximize your time.

Secure your transport. Do not rely on Tulum taxis, as they are notoriously expensive and don't use meters. Rent a car from the Cancun airport or a scooter in town. If staying in town, rent a bicycle for $10 USD per day for local cenote runs.
Beat the crowds at the ruins. Arrive at the Tulum Archaeological Site at 8:00 AM sharp. If you wait until 10:00 AM, you will be stuck behind massive tour buses from Cancun.
Select your cenotes. Pick one 'open' cenote (like Cenote Azul) for swimming and one 'cave' cenote (like Gran Cenote or Dos Ojos) for snorkeling. You only need to visit two or three over five days; they all share similar characteristics.

Do I need to carry cash?: Yes. While larger restaurants take cards, most cenotes, street food stands, and small shops are cash-only in Pesos.
Is it safe to drive in Tulum?: Yes, but stick to daylight hours. The roads between the town and cenotes are poorly lit at night.