Renting a scooter in Tulum is one of the best ways to explore the seemingly endless cenotes, beaches, and ruins. We spent a few months remote working in Tulum and found scooter rentals were the ideal mode of transport for us.
Tulum is so jam-packed with things to see that taxi prices can really put a dent in your budget. By renting a scooter you can fully immerse yourself in everything Tulum has to offer.
This moped guide will help you decide whether renting a scooter in Tulum is for you.
Also, check out some of our other nearby guides:
- Renting a Scooter in Cozumel
- Tulum Vegan Food Guide
- Best Things To Do in Bacalar
- Best Things To Do in Cozumel
Why rent a scooter in Tulum?
Exploring Tulum by scooter means you can travel at your own pace and adds a little more adrenaline to your day too!
Tulum is divided by its downtown and beach areas which makes getting around on foot or bicycle time-consuming and exhausting.
Renting a scooter gives you the freedom to explore everything at your own pace - and that hour-long walk to the beach is now just 5 minutes away.
Top reasons to rent a scooter in Tulum:
- Cheaper than taxis - Taxis are generally more expensive in Tulum than in other areas of Mexico. Drivers will try to charge tourists premiums, which can be haggled down, but who wants to do that all day?
- Maximize your time - If you want to cram a lot into your day, then a scooter allows you to move at your own pace.
- Safer than bicycles - I've ridden bicycles and scooters around Tulum and in my opinion, scooters are the safer option. On a bicycle, you're constantly at the mercy of passing vehicles. On a moped, you have a little more control.
- It's fun - At the end of the day, nothing beats the cool breeze in your hair and the sun on your back that comes with cruising on your own scooter.
Is Tulum safe to rent a scooter?
Like anywhere, safety depends mostly on how sensible you drive. But I will say, it can get a bit crazy on Tulum's roads. I found a lot of locals drive fast and aggressively and it's best to stay out of their way. In addition, the roads are dotted with some serious potholes, which get gradually worse towards the beach. Also remember, it's illegal to drive a scooter without a helmet in Mexico. The police will get you for it.
Is Tulum a good place to learn how to ride a scooter?
In my opinion, Tulum isn't a good place to learn how to drive a scooter.
The combination of terrible roads, poorly signed one-ways, and aggressive drivers, means it's probably going to make for a stressful learning experience. If you are learning to ride a motorbike for the first time in Tulum, I recommend starting somewhere quiet with no traffic (outside of downtown) to build up some confidence.
Tips for driving a scooter around Tulum
- Wear a helmet
- Always stick right and let bigger vehicles pass
- Watch out for potholes
- Pay attention to one-way roads (downtown)
- Always be ready to react
- Lock up your scooter when not using it
Where to rent scooters in Tulum?
If you're budget-conscious rent from downtown Tulum, not the beaches, where you will pay significantly more.
In town, the key is to shop around. There are dozens of scooter shops, but you're likely to pay more right in the center and less a little outside.
We rented from Kelly Bikes and Scooter Rental at the southern end of town. The shop has bad reviews, but our experience was fine.
What you need to rent a scooter
Most rental shops in Tulum will require you to leave your passport and/or a deposit.
Deposits are usually quite high too, we were asked to leave $260 USD at Kelly Rental. However, we just left a passport with them instead.
The price of renting scooters in Tulum
Scooter prices fluctuate in Tulum depending on: the season, the shop, and the number of days renting.
The average price seems to be 500 pesos (or $25 USD) for a single day. The more days you book the more haggle-room you'll have to lower your price.
Unfortunately, the price of scooter rentals jumps during peak season (Dec-Feb).
It was a little frustrating that many shops in Tulum won't haggle during peak months either. I even had one store owner tell me he wouldn't rent to me for longer than two weeks because he makes so much money on daily scooter bookings between December and February.
Monthly scooter rentals in Tulum
When I first arrived in Tulum, my initial plan was to rent a scooter on a monthly basis.
That quickly changed when I realized monthly prices were daylight robbery. In fact, it can cost the same price to rent a scooter for a month in Tulum as it is to buy one secondhand online.
Monthly scooter prices vary between $350-$600 USD per month if you're renting through rental shops.
A better way to go is to use Tulum's active Facebook Groups and hope someone can do you a better deal. I found $300 USD per month through Facebook Groups, however, I didn't go through with it.
If you're planning on staying in Tulum for 3+ months I highly recommend purchasing your own scooter via Facebook marketplace and reselling before you leave.
