FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE RIVIERA MAYA
Tulum Area Travel
Your arrival airport will be Cancun International Airport which is located about 80 miles north of Tulum in the Riviera Maya. It will take you about 1.5 hours via private shuttle from the Airport to Tulum. You should find direct flights from almost any major airport in the World.
You have several options, but our recommendation is to utilize the private van service offered through your Protos Vacation Rental. The van will accommodate up to 10 adults plus luggage and take you directly from the airport to your hOMe away from hOMe where you will check in and then be taken by your concierge to your room, condo or house! A taxi directly from the airport is often available but the cost is fixed at $150 each way. Most taxis only accommodate 3 people (barely), so our recommendation is to use our Private Van Service. We can add this option directly onto your reservation for you.
Mexican currency is the peso. You can find many Money exchange kiosks (casa de cambio) all over town and bank machines to withdraw Local money. Many places accept USD but you will not get the bank stated exchange rate. There will always be a cost added to using USD by a lesser exchange rate.
Tulum beach is a 15 minute drive from town and is approx. 10 km long from the Ruins to the Biosphere. There is a small beach just below the Tulum ruins. This beach does not connect to the rest of the Tulum beach.
There are plenty of restaurants to choose from for all taste!
You can use one of the bikes we rent at our offices or you can take a taxi right in front of San Francisco or you can walk to our office and we can call one for you as well.
We are in the tropics! If you leave food out it will attract bugs and A LOT OF BUGS so make sure to through away un eaten food and food containers. Do not leave garbage in your room or condo if you do not have too.
Yes make sure you close your windows if you know it will or is raining. It rains hard in the tropics and it could flood your room or condo.
This has become the number 1 asked question! And the answer is and astounding “YES”! Tulum has the same crime rate approximately as any small town in North America, so chances are that the city where you live has a significantly higher crime rate that we do here in Tulum! All of the bad press you are hearing regarding Mexican violence revolves around the drug trade occurring at the U.S. / Mexico border and again the chances are that your home town is actually closer to this than we are here in Tulum, over 2,000 miles far from the border towns!
We suggest you purchase Travel Insurance! Travel Insurance is like every other insurance policy, you hope you never have to use it, but you feel a lot better when you have it! Should something happen that your travel plans go side ways, the Insurance policy will cover all your costs!
We suggest you leave Tulum 4 full hours before your departing flight.
Upon arriving into Cancun airport you will be given a visa form to fill out for free. Do not lose this form, you will be charged to make a new one at the airport on departure day. If you lose your visa make sure to leave 4.5 hours before your departing flight.
This depends on what you are looking for on a vacation. The winter months are considered high season for snow birds and spring/summer Months summer vacation. The downside being that the price of your vacation rental and everything else is significantly more expensive. The slower months are just as nice starting in May. The prices are much lower and town is much quieter; downside being that it’s HOT and HUMID during the summer months. If you want the best of both, I recommend visiting May, October, November or December before the Holiday season!
With years of experience in business in the Riviera Maya we understand your needs best. How you want to vacation we know, what you want out of your vacation we know, what you should do while in the Riviera WE KNOW!
We know there are other choices for Vacation Rentals in Tulum, but Protos Vacation Rentals is not only the best choice, but the only choice if you are looking to have the greatest vacation experience in Tulum!
We have been here for over 20 years and have done most tours and excursions, visited parks and small surrounding towns in the Yucatan Peninsula. Short answer is A LOT! If lying on the beach everyday all day is not your thing and feel like getting active at one point, you can fill your days or even every day, with activities. It all depends what you are looking to do and what you consider a vacation. Margaritas on Tulum beach or Maya Ruins like Chichen Itza, Coba, Ek Balam or Tulum Ruins. Maybe discovering Cenotes or water parks like Xcaret or Xel-Ha. There are many things you can do in the Riviera Mayas coast.
Yes we do and trust me you will not go wrong with the operators we choose towork with.
We can take care of that too! Ask about our weeding planners and room packages that we offer.
Playa del Carmen Travel
You have several options here, but our recommendation is to utilize the private van service offered through your Protos Vacation Rentals. The van will accommodate up to 8 and 10 adults plus luggage and take you directly from the airport to your vacation rental in Tulum where you will check in and be taken by your concierge to your Apartment or room! The round trip cost of this service varies. Please contact us for further questions. A taxi directly from the airport is often available but the cost is fixed at $82 each way. Most taxis only accommodate 3 people (barely), so our recommendation is to use the Private Van Service. You can add this option directly onto your reservation!
This has become the number 1 asked question! And the answer is and astounding “YES”! Playa del Carmen has the same crime rate approximately as South Dakota, so chances are that the city where you live has a significantly higher crime rate that we do here in Playa! All of the bad press you are hearing regarding Mexican violence revolves around the drug trade occurring at the U.S. / Mexico border and again the chances are that your home town is actually closer to this than we are here in Playa del Carmen, over 2,500 miles removed from the border towns!
Spend the extra few dollars and purchase Travel Insurance. Travel Insurance is like every other insurance policy; you hope you never have to use it, but you feel a lot better when you have it! And should something happen that throws a kink into your travel plans, the Insurance policy will cover your costs!
This depends on what you are looking for on a vacation. The winter and spring months are the most popular because the weather is simply perfect. The downside being that the price of your vacation rental and everything else is significantly more expensive. On the other hand, if you are looking to save money and come visit during the slower months, come any time after the Easter holiday. The prices are much lower and town is much quieter.
These are two totally different vacations! If you are the type of person that prefers to stay in ONE resort area your entire vacation and you enjoy buffet style meals and watered down house margaritas, then you should book an All-Inclusive Hotel.
If you are the type of person that wants to engage and experience what the Riviera Maya has to offer then you are the type of person that should rent a private condo or home.
In one word: Service, service service.
We know there are other choices for Vacation Rentals in Playa del Carmen and Tulum, but despite what they promise and what they offer, there simply is no other firm that offers a greater variety of properties and more personalized service than PROTOS Vacation Rentals. Speak to our staff and view the service options available and you too will agree that PROTOS Vacation Rentals is not only the best choice, but the only choice if you are looking to have the greatest vacation experience in Playa del Carmen!
I’ve been here for over 15 years and have not yet done all the tours and excursions that we have, nor have I eaten at probably even 1/4 of the restaurants here in town. Short answer is you can fill your entire day, every day, with activities…it just depends on what you are looking to do and what you deem as “vacation”.
If you are a lounger-type vacation person, you can enjoy different beaches every single day from Playa del Carmen, south to Tulum and the biosphere Siaan-Kan. Sit in the sun and enjoy an Adult Beverage with an umbrella in it! Or….mix it up and spend some time zipping through the Jungles, Playing a round of golf on a PGA course or visit some of the many ruins in the Riviera Maya! No matter what you define as “vacation”, Playa del Carmen and Tulum will exceed your expectations and your PROTOS Vacation Rental staff is here to make it all perfect for you. See also the tab on this website “Local Area Guide” for some references and personal favorites.