Scooter Rental in Tulum: Everything You Need to Know

Renting a scooter in Tulum is a fun and efficient way to explore the area’s beaches, cenotes, ruins, and other attractions. 

There are so many incredible things to do in and around Tulum. I love riding a bike around Tulum town, but you get sweaty and hot fast. 

While working remotely from Tulum, my husband and I rented scooters over a few weekends. It was our favorite way to get to the beach and the Tulum ruins from our hotel in Tulum Centro. 

Scooter rental places are on nearly every block in Tulum, and renting one is quick and easy. Even though it’s so easy, there are quite a few things I wish I had known before renting a scooter the first time. Read on to learn everything you need to know about renting scooters in Tulum.

The second scooter I rented in Tulum

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The Ultimate Guide: Tulum Scooter Rentals

How to rent a scooter in Tulum

You’ll find places to rent scooters on almost every street in downtown Tulum and near the hotels on the beach road. You can look up scooter places online or walk down the road and see what you find.

I rented a scooter from two places in Tulum Centro: Kar Kun, a highly-rated spot on the main road with cute blue Italian vespas, and a rental spot near my Airbnb. We had a great experience renting from both places. 

Tulum scooter rental requirements

You need a driver’s license to legally drive a scooter in Tulum, but most rental places won’t look at your license. Your license can be from a different country and does not need to be an international driver’s license. 

Most scooter rental places require you to leave an ID or passport as collateral. This can be tricky since you need your ID to drive legally. If you’re renting a scooter with someone else, one of you can leave your ID, or if you’re driving on your own, you can leave your passport. 

Some scooter rental places (including Kar Kun) will also require you to leave a deposit of a couple of thousand pesos in addition to the rental fee. It’s a good idea to take out $4000+ pesos before attempting to rent a scooter since you may need that much or more to pay and leave a deposit. 

Tulum scooter rental cost

The base cost for most scooters is 500 pesos (~$27 USD) per day, but it gets more expensive if you want a nicer moped. However, you can get a better deal if you rent for multiple days. 

We paid 500 pesos ($27 USD) for a small, cheap scooter for 24 hours and 1200 pesos ($65 USD) for a cute baby blue Italian vespa for 48 hours. However, I think we could have gotten these scooters for a little less if we had shopped around more. 

If you want to use a scooter for a few months, consider buying one. Day rental prices add up, and you can save money by buying a scooter and reselling it when you leave. There are lots of scooters for sale on Facebook marketplace (just search “scooter tulum”), and in physical stores like Chedraui. 

Best types of scooter rentals in Tulum

Classic scooter vs Vespa rentals

There are a lot of scooters, mopeds, Vespas, and motorbikes to choose from in Tulum. 

Almost every scooter is made by the brand Italika. While living in Tulum as a digital nomad, I rented an Italika D125 (in black and dark blue) and an Italika Vitalia 150 (in baby blue). 

The D125 was easier to drive around town at a low speed. It was much smaller, and felt safer for me to drive. However, it did not deal with bumps very well. I had back pain for a few days after riding on the back while my husband drove. Another issue is that the gas tank is small. You can drive to the beach from Tulum town and back, but not too much further.

Riding on the Vitalia 150 Vespa felt very different. The seat was more comfortable and absorbed the bumps better, so I didn’t experience any back pain. It has much more storage and a bigger gas tank. However, it is much larger and heavier and accelerates quickly, making it a little scarier for me to drive. However, my husband and I preferred this scooter over the first one as long as he was driving and I was sitting on the back. 

If you’re riding a scooter by yourself around town, I might recommend a smaller, cheaper scooter like the D125. However, if you’re riding with someone else and plan to go longer distances, the Vitalia wins. 

Places to go on a scooter in and around Tulum

There are so many beautiful places to visit in and around Tulum, and you can reach many of them by moped. Here are some places you can easily reach by scooter from Tulum downtown or Tulum beach.

Drive between Tulum downtown and Tulum beach: If you stay in downtown Tulum, you will quickly realize that you’re far from the beach. Tulum’s public beaches (and beach clubs) are a few miles away. Taxis are expensive, and there is no reliable public transport between the town and the beach, so scootering is a great way to travel between these two areas. I recommend checking out Playa Paraiso. 

Tulum Ruins: The Tulum ruins are some of the most stunning and unique Mayan ruins I’ve ever seen. The ruins are located inside the Tulum archaeological zone along the Caribbean ocean. The ruins have two entrances: via the beach road (past Playa Paraiso) and highway 307. The highway 307 entrance is best for people with cars since there is a large parking lot and shuttle, and the beach road entrance is an easy way to reach the ruins by scooter. Right near the entrance on the beach road, you can pay $100 pesos ($5 USD) to park your moped.

Muyil Ruins and Sian Ka’an: You can visit the beautiful Sian Kaan nature reserve and Muyil Mayan ruins by scooter. The Muyil ruins are very different compared to nearby ruins like Tulum or Chichen Itza. There are fewer visitors, and the ruins are in a dense jungle. The ruins are also an entry point for Sian Kaan, where you can see incredible wildlife and float down a Mayan canal. Reach the ruins by driving about 20 minutes south on highway 307 from Tulum Centro. 

Kaan Luum Lagoon: Just fifteen minutes south of Tulum, Laguna de Kaan Luum is a hidden gem few Tulum tourists know about. The freshwater lagoon is a beautiful turquoise laguna, similar to Bacalar, a lagoon further south in Quintana Roo. Kaan Luum is a perfect spot to swim or relax outside the busyness of Tulum.

Cenote Escondido: Cenote Escondido is a beautiful cenote only 10 minutes from downtown Tulum. The crystal clear waters are home to several species of freshwater fish. This cenote is easily accessible by scooter and less popular (busy) than other Tulum cenotes. 

There are other places you can visit by scooter if you’re an experienced driver and have the right type of scooter. For instance, the Coba Ruins, or cenotes north of Tulum. However, if you’re unsure, ask the rental company before you attempt the trip. 

Is it safe to drive a scooter in Tulum?

There are a few factors that impact how safe it is to ride a scooter in Tulum.

Other drivers: Tulum drivers are used to driving alongside scooters. In my experience, driving alongside cars and other vehicles on the roads in Tulum didn’t feel unsafe.

Road conditions: Many of Tulum’s roads are bumpy and full of potholes. There are also many small speed bumps throughout the town. Weirdly enough, the road in Tulum’s archaeological zone (toward the public beaches) felt the smoothest and safest, but there were still potholes here and there.

Scooter driving experience: I would only recommend renting a scooter in Tulum if you have experience driving one or are with someone with experience. Driving a scooter is relatively easy but still dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Given how bumpy some of the roads are and the fact that you’re likely unfamiliar with the area, it is not a safe place to learn how to drive a scooter on your own.

Scooter safety tips

Ask lots of questions: In my experience, the people renting you a scooter won’t tell you anything about the scooter unless you ask. Be sure to ask any questions you may have. The obvious ones are how to turn on the scooter and drive if you don’t already know. It’s also important to ask how to open up any storage compartments or the gas cap. 

Get the renter’s Whatsapp: Before you ride off, ask the customer service rep at the scooter rental company for their Whatsapp phone number. If you have any issues or questions, you can contact them. 

Wear a helmet: Make sure that you get a helmet when you rent your scooter (and wear it). Helmets should be included when you rent your scooter from any reputable vendor. 

Watch out for speed bumps and potholes: Pay attention to the road as you drive. There are tons of speed bumps throughout Tulum, and they can be difficult to see sometimes. And, of course, there are many bumps and potholes as well. 

Be aware of one-way roads: Most downtown Tulum roads are one-way. Before renting a scooter, get familiar with the area and road signs so you know which roads are one-way. 

Always ask about parking: The last thing you want is to get your rental scooter towed. Ask someone if it’s okay to park before you leave your scooter. 

Alternatives transportation options

If you feel unsafe renting a scooter, there are plenty of other ways to get around Tulum. 

Bike rentals: Bikes are cheap and easy to rent in Tulum. You can ride a bike around town or the beach.

Colectivios: Colectivos are shared shuttles that run up and down main roads in the Tulum area. They’re a safe and cheap way to travel between towns or visit cenotes and beaches.

ADO bus: ADO buses are safe, comfortable, clean, and reliable. They’re perfect for longer day trips to places like Coba, Bacalar, or Valladolid. 

Rental car: Renting a car in Tulum is easy, and it gives you the maximum freedom to explore.

Taxi: I generally don’t recommend taking a taxi in Tulum because they are very expensive, but it is a way to get around if you have no other options. 

ATV rental: Although they’re less popular than scooter rentals Tulum has several places to rent an ATV. 

Final thoughts

The Riviera Maya is one of the most beautiful areas in Mexico. Within Tulum alone are dozens of enchanting cenotes, several ancient Mayan archaeological sites, and miles of stunning white sandy beaches. Renting a scooter is one of the best ways to see and experience all this special region has to offer.