Is Maui Hostels in Hawaii?

No. Maui Hostels is located in Mexico — specifically in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, on the Riviera Maya (Quintana Roo). We have no affiliation with the island of Maui, Hawaii.

Where is Maui Hostels located?

Maui Hostels operates two properties in Mexico's Riviera Maya: Maui Tulum in the La Veleta neighborhood of Tulum, and Maui Playa del Carmen one block from Quinta Avenida and the Caribbean beach.

Why is it called Maui if it is in Mexico?

The name reflects the laid-back, beachfront, tropical vibe of our hostels — but Maui Hostels is a Mexican brand operating exclusively in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The Perfect Tulum Itinerary — 5 Days for Backpackers

How to Use This Itinerary

This is a real 5-day Tulum itinerary, built for backpackers staying in town (not the beach zone) and getting around by bike, colectivo and the occasional taxi. No rental car needed. Total budget for the 5 days, excluding accommodation: ~$180–250 USD.

We assume you're based in La Veleta or Centro Tulum — anywhere else and you'll spend half your days commuting. If you haven't booked yet, see our [Tulum hostel landing page](/tulum) or the [Best Hostels in Tulum 2026](/blog/best-hostels-tulum-2026) breakdown.

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Day 1 — Arrival, Town, Sunset on the Beach

Morning: Arrive (see our [Cancún airport to Tulum guide](/blog/cancun-airport-to-tulum-cheapest-way) for the cheapest route)
Afternoon: Drop bags, rent a bike (~150 MXN/day), explore La Veleta and Centro
5 pm: Bike or colectivo to Playa Paraíso for sunset (free public beach)
8 pm: Dinner at El Camello Jr — local seafood, no tourist markup

Cost: ~$25 USD (bike + dinner + colectivo)

Day 2 — Tulum Ruins + Beach Day

6:30 am: Bike to the Tulum Archaeological Site (arrive before 8 am, beat the heat and 90% of tourists)
8–10 am: Tour the ruins. Entry: 95 MXN
10 am: Walk down to the beach below the ruins (free access from the south)
12 pm: Lunch at a beach club (or pack snacks)
Afternoon: Beach time
Evening: Back to the hostel for sunset drinks

Cost: ~$30 USD

Day 3 — Cenote Day

The classic Tulum cenote loop, doable entirely by bike:

Gran Cenote — 500 MXN, get there at 8 am
Cenote Calavera ("Temple of Doom") — 250 MXN, 5 min away
Cenote Carwash — 200 MXN, slightly further but worth it

Bring water, snacks, snorkel gear (no rentals at Calavera and Carwash). Plan ~5 hours total.

Evening: Dinner at Burrito Amor, then drinks on La Veleta

Cost: ~$60 USD (entries + lunch + drinks)

Day 4 — Cobá Ruins + Cenote Choo-Ha

A full day trip you can do without a tour:

7:30 am: Colectivo from Tulum to Cobá (~80 MXN, 45 min)
9 am: Enter Cobá ruins (100 MXN). Rent a bike inside the site (60 MXN) — the ruins are spread across 5 km of jungle paths
12 pm: Lunch in Cobá town
2 pm: Taxi or colectivo to Cenote Choo-Ha — an underground cenote that doesn't get half the crowds of Gran Cenote
5 pm: Colectivo back to Tulum
Evening: Easy night, rest your legs

Cost: ~$40 USD

Day 5 — Sian Ka'an Biosphere (or Lazy Beach Day)

You have two great options for your last day. Pick based on energy levels.

Option A: Sian Ka'an Biosphere Tour

A UNESCO World Heritage mangrove and lagoon reserve. Boat trip with bird-watching, floating down ancient Maya canals, sometimes dolphin and manatee sightings. ~$80–120 USD per person — the most expensive thing on this itinerary, but unanimously the highlight of most trips. Book through your hostel for fair pricing.

Option B: Beach + Bike Loop

Morning at Playa Pescadores (the free local beach, north of the beach zone)
Afternoon swim at Casa Cenote (open-air cenote that connects to the sea)
Sunset on Tulum beach with tacos from the road
Total cost: ~$25 USD

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Itinerary Cheat Sheet

Day

Plan

Daily cost (USD)

1	Arrival + town + sunset	$25
2	Ruins + beach	$30
3	Cenote loop (3 cenotes)	$60
4	Cobá + Cenote Choo-Ha	$40
5	Sian Ka'an OR beach + Casa Cenote	$25–120
Total	—	$180–275

Pro Tips

Bike, don't taxi. Tulum is flat and bike-friendly. A 5-day bike rental costs less than 2 taxi rides.
Skip beach-zone hostels. They're 3x the price and 30 minutes from town.
Always carry cash. Many cenotes and colectivos don't take cards.
Sunscreen rule. Reef-safe only at cenotes. Several charge a 200 MXN fine.
Cancún airport ride share. Cheaper than ADO if you find 3 people on the [/r/tulum](https://reddit.com/r/tulum) Discord.

Extend or Shorten This Itinerary

3 days? Days 1, 2 and 3 only.
7 days? Add a day trip to Bacalar (the seven-color lagoon) and a day in Valladolid.
Combining with Playa? Spend 3 days in Tulum on this plan and 3 in Playa using our [Playa del Carmen vs Cancún](/blog/playa-del-carmen-vs-cancun) guide.

Where to Stay

This itinerary assumes you're staying central. Maui Hostels Tulum in La Veleta puts you within bike distance of every activity above, includes breakfast and bike rental, and has a pool for crashing after Day 3 cenote-hopping. Direct rate at [mauihostels.com.mx](https://www.mauihostels.com.mx/tulum).