Tulum has emerged in recent years as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico.

Put simply, it makes sense. This vibrant town in the Yucatn Peninsulas Riviera Maya is full of natural beauty with its beaches and cenotes as well as remarkable archaeological sites, delicious food and plenty of opportunities for relaxation.

But the masses of tourists who flock to Tulum year after year tend to get a few things wrong. We asked locals and hospitality experts to share the biggest errors and faux pas theyve observed. From sticking to the beach to disrespecting the environment, here are 15 mistakes tourists often make while visiting Tulum and some advice for avoiding these errors during your travels.

Assuming All Hotels Are Close To The Beach

Tulum has one beach zone its a narrow strip, actually. Thats where the popular beach clubs and restaurants are located. Most hotels and Airbnbs are located in Centro or other hip and growing neighborhoods like Aldea Zama or La Veleta. It can take up to 45 minutes to get from Centro to Tulum Beach, since the only two roads leading to the beach get jammed during rush hours. Our tip: Know the location of your hotel and plan for transportation to the beach and elsewhere in and around Tulum. Betty Nguyen, founder of Go Tulum Travel

Take a look at Google maps, so you can know where your hotel is, and you will have a better idea of the distances and places to visit nearby. In Tulum, locals dont work with street names and numbers, to find your way you will need to know the name of the hotels or local shops. Paola Vazquez, Tulum tourism professional with Mexico Kan Tours

Showing Up Without Pesos

In Mexico, there are few ATMs and high commission rates. A lot of tourists think that they can pay for everything with credit cards, however, our advice is to come with USD or pesos in order to save up money. Ocane Soupey, head of marketing and business development manager at Mexico Kan Tours

Pay for everything in the local currency. Restaurants, hotels and clubs often will not exchange the dollar at market value. So even if you pay with a credit card, pay in pesos and you will see the price difference in what your bank exchange rate is versus the establishment. Jon Robert , co-founder of Yacht Club Company

Disrespecting The Environment

Many tourists forget that they are stepping onto sacred and protected lands of the Mayan biosphere. We encourage guests to avoid single-use plastic, use reef-friendly beauty products and recycle. Keeping Tulum intact and protected is an essential element of coming here in the first place. We are also one of the few places in the world for turtle nesting (May-October) and it is of utmost importance to keep our beaches clean, safe and ready to make a home for the caguama turtles. Angelika Pokovba, a storyteller with Namron Hospitality

Respect the signs of not climbing, not feeding wildlife, not touching. If a place has rules, please respect them and follow them. Do not participate in activities that affect you or others or it may be illegal, such as taking pictures with cubs on the 5th avenue in Playa del Carmen ... Vazquez

Use rash guards and long-sleeved shirts instead of sunscreens when you go to waters/lagoons/cenotes or use sunscreen after your swim to protect the environment, coral and natural water wells. Susana Von Arx, Tulum tourism professional with Mexico Kan Tours