A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tulum vs. Santa Elena for Nightlife, Couples, Backpackers, and Food

Should you visit Tulum or Santa Elena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Santa Elena can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Tulum

Tulum is a tropical, active, and lively town. With stunning beauty, Tulum attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Tulum travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a scenic, tranquil, and outdoorsy town. Santa Elena is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Tulum and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tulum or Santa Elena?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Tulum than Santa Elena, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Tulum is more touristy than Santa Elena and is popular for its archeological sights, beautiful beaches, and dramatic cenotes. Also, Tulum is famous for the Tulum archeological ruins. Santa Elena is well known for its birdwatching and environmental conservation.

How is Tulum different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Elena and Tulum. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tulum or Santa Elena?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Tulum has many famous sights for visitors. It's famous for its world-renowned archeological ruins. The Tulum Archeological Site is very popular for its Mayan temples and castles. You can also travel a bit further to see the Cobá Ruins.

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Is the Food Better in Tulum or Santa Elena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Tulum is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Tulum has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Despite being well established as a top tourist destination in Mexico, you'll still find authentic and delicious local cuisine. Favorite dishes around town include the ceviche, tacos al pastor, and sopa de lima (chicken soup).

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

Tulum is a world class party destination. It's world renowned for its wild nightlife scene and you'll find iconic beach parties, jungle raves, and trendy Tuluminati parties. Most of the local places that are a bit more affordable are in town, and the more touristy and expensive places are around the Middle Beach Zone.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Resorts?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. However, Santa Elena is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Tulum for its luxury resorts. If you're on a budget, you can stay in town for a more reasonable price, but if you want a classic beach vacation, head to the Zona Hotelera stretch along the coast. There are luxury hotels as well as resorts with beachfront pools and luxury restaurants.

Santa Elena is not a resort destination.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Tulum. The water along the coast is shallow and clear, which is perfect for snorkeling. There are also dive trips that take you a short distance out to diverse and beautiful reefs.

Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Beaches?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Tulum offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. World class beaches with turquoise water and long stretches of sand make this a true beach-lovers paradise. Playa Paraíso is a favorite beach in the area and many consider it among the most beautiful beaches in Mexico.

Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

Both Tulum and Santa Elena are destinations which offer very good hiking.

Tulum is a popular spot for hiking. There are coastal walks and routes that take you through the jungle or by archeological ruins. There are many places where you can enjoy a stroll through nature.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Is the Shopping Better in Tulum or Santa Elena?

Tulum is great for its shopping areas. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Tulum. Quirky souvenir shops, local artisan boutiques, and colorful bazaars make shopping a fun experience. Make sure you check out Mercado Maya or the Tulum Bazaar while you're in town.

Santa Elena is a great destination for shopping. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

Tulum is great for its scenery and beauty. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Tulum attracts visitors from all around. Clear blue water, sandy beaches, jungle covered archeological ruins, and hidden cenotes make this a stunningly beautiful place to visit.

Santa Elena is a gorgeous place to visit. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Both Tulum and Santa Elena are very good to visit with kids.

Tulum is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the beaches and archeological sights as much as adults. You can also visit a cenote or see the sea turtles at Akumal Bay. If you're open to getting out of town, there are many adventure parks in the area as well.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Santa Elena is very family-friendly. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Tulum is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Beautiful beaches, world famous archeological sights, and a wild nightlife scene make this a great honeymoon or couple's destination. There are also spas, cenotes, and even cooking classes that you can take together.

Santa Elena is a very popular place to visit for couples. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is terrific for backpackers. Also, Tulum is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santa Elena is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Many backpackers visit Tulum. It's no longer an undiscovered backpacker paradise, but there are still affordable options in the area and there's a great nightlife scene.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Tulum and Santa Elena offer notable public transit options.

Tulum has a few public transit options. There are shared vans, Collectivos, that provide transportation through the area. The Tiburon is also a local bus that runs along the coastline.

Santa Elena has some public transit options. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Is Tulum or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

Tulum is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

Tulum is a very walkable destination. It's easy to walk around downtown Tulum and explore on foot.

Santa Elena is somewhat walkable. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

For even more information, also check out Is Tulum Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Elena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Tulum?

How long in Tulum or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Tulum or Santa Elena. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Tulum due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Tulum, and 2-4 days is enough time in Santa Elena.

Families should spend more time in Tulum than Santa Elena. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Tulum, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Tulum than Santa Elena. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Tulum that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Tulum than Santa Elena if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Tulum.

One day in Tulum or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the ancient town of Tulum. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Santa Elena, many people enjoy the shopping that this outdoorsy destination offers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Tulum or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the lively destination of Tulum. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This town offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Elena. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tulum or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the ancient town of Tulum. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Santa Elena is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Elena. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Tulum or Santa Elena?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Tulum. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping around the scenic destination of Santa Elena. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Santa Elena, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Santa Elena is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum than you might in Santa Elena.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Tulum or Santa Elena?

Tulum has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or Santa Elena in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tulum as well as Santa Elena. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tulum this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

In July, Tulum is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 28°C (83°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In the summer, Tulum often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Tulum gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Tulum receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tulum usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Tulum gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

Both Santa Elena and Tulum are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Tulum for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Tulum is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Tulum gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. It's quite rainy in Tulum. In October, Tulum usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Tulum gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Tulum is November to April. The rainy season in Tulum is June to October. The hurricane season in Tulum is June to October. The hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October.

Should I visit Tulum or Santa Elena in the Winter?

Both Santa Elena and Tulum during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Tulum in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

In the winter, Tulum is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tulum in January average around 23°C (74°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).

In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tulum. In the winter, Tulum often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Tulum gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

Tulum usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Tulum gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. February to May is the dry season in Santa Elena.

Should I visit Tulum or Santa Elena in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tulum and Santa Elena. Most visitors come to Tulum for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Tulum is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tulum usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during spring. Tulum gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tulum usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Tulum gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to April in Tulum is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. June to October is the hurricane season in Tulum. February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season. June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena.

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Tulum