A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tulum vs. Wilmington for Attractions, Nightlife, Beaches, and Couples

Should you visit Tulum or Wilmington?

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 Wilmington 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 ancient, archeological, and tropical town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Wilmington

Wilmington is a charming, historic, and welcoming city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Tulum and Wilmington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tulum or Wilmington?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Tulum. Although Tulum and Wilmington are both popular with visitors, Tulum has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Tulum is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Wilmington is known for its historical sights. Tulum is more touristy than Wilmington and is popular for its archeological sights, beautiful beaches, and dramatic cenotes. It is also home to the Tulum archeological ruins. Wilmington is popular for its laid back beaches, historical waterfront area, and university setting.

How is Tulum different from Wilmington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Wilmington 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 Wilmington?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Tulum from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. 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.

Wilmington offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are art, history, and science museums around town. The Battleship North Carolina is a popular destination. Science enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science or the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. For art, head to the Cameron Art Museum or Art in Bloom Gallery.

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

Tulum is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Tulum. 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).

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Wilmington. Head to the waterfront for local seafood restaurants that offer outdoor seating and fresh caught fish. There are also farm-to-table restaurants and local diners with casual food.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Nightlife?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for nightlife. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Wilmington. Live music is popular around town. There are also bars, lounges and dance clubs. When the weather is warm, many places make use of the outdoor setting, which makes for a relaxed and fun evening.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Resorts?

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

Tulum offers an unforgettable resort vacation. 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.

Wilmington is not a resort destination.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Wilmington is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel to Tulum specifically to enjoy its famous scuba diving and snorkeling areas. 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.

Wilmington is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Beaches?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for its beaches. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for the beache.

The beaches in Tulum are among the best in 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.

The beaches at Wilmington attract visitors from all over. Nearby you'll find Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They have long stretches of sand and great waves. The water is usually warm enough for swimming between the months of April and October. During these peak months parking can be challenging, but during the quieter times, you shouldn't have trouble.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for its Old Town?

Wilmington is a city with good options for its historic old town. However, Tulum does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Wilmington to see the historical old town. The Historic District is along the waterfront and has 18th and 19th century architecture. There are also great restaurants and interesting shops.

Tulum does not have a historic old town.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Hiking?

Tulum is great for hiking. However, Wilmington is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Tulum for the hiking trails. 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.

Wilmington is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tulum or Wilmington?

Tulum is great for shopping. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Wilmington offers some nice shopping areas. Head downtown for the most interesting local shops. You'll find boutiques and souvenir shops where you can pick up art, accessories, or antiques.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Families?

Both Tulum and Wilmington are high quality 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, Wilmington is very family-friendly. Near town you'll find several beaches - Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They're all family-friendly and perfect for a day's activity. The city also has the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the Children's Museum of Wilmington, and the Wilmington Railroad Museum. For a rainy day there are also indoor play areas and entertainment centers.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Couples?

Tulum is a must-visit destination for romance. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

Tulum has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Wilmington is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beaches are great for a relaxing day of swimming and sunbathing. In the evening head into town and enjoy one of the local seafood restaurants on the waterfront. You'll also find great shopping and historical sights in the area.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Tulum is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Wilmington is not a good destination for backpackers.

Tulum is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's no longer an undiscovered backpacker paradise, but there are still affordable options in the area and there's a great nightlife scene.

Wilmington is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's usually overlooked by backpackers, the university and great beaches make this a surprisingly fun destination.

Is Tulum or Wilmington Better for Students?

Wilmington is a city with good options for students. However, Tulum is not popular with students.

Wilmington is a good city to visit for students. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a popular school that brings many students to town.

Tulum is not popular with students.

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

Tulum is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Wilmington is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Tulum offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shared vans, Collectivos, that provide transportation through the area. The Tiburon is also a local bus that runs along the coastline.

Public transit is generally limited in Wilmington. There are public buses around town, but for practical reasons, you'll want to have your own vehicle.

Is Tulum or Wilmington a more walkable city?

Tulum is great for its walkability. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

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

Wilmington is a somewhat walkable place. The Historic District is best explored on foot. You can also get around Wrightsville Beach on foot, but traveling between these places requires a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Wilmington or Tulum?

How long in Tulum or Wilmington?

In either Tulum or Wilmington, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Tulum has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Tulum than Wilmington. In general, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Tulum, and 2-5 days is enough time in Wilmington.

Families should spend more time in Tulum than Wilmington. 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 Wilmington. 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the tropical town of Tulum, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Wilmington, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this historic destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This city 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 Wilmington?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Tulum, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Wilmington. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 Wilmington?

Tulum, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Wilmington is a fun place to experience. In Wilmington, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Tulum or Wilmington?

Tulum is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the historic destination of Wilmington. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Wilmington, we can see that Wilmington is more expensive. And not only is Tulum much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tulum would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tulum 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 Wilmington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wilmington than you might in Tulum.

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

Which is Bigger, Tulum or Wilmington?

Wilmington has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Wilmington, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Tulum or Wilmington?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Tulum or Wilmington in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tulum as well as Wilmington. Most visitors come to Tulum for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Wilmington because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Tulum is around the same temperature as Wilmington in the summer. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Wilmington fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In the summer, Tulum often gets less sunshine than Wilmington. Tulum gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 283 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Wilmington. Tulum receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tulum usually gets less rain in July than Wilmington. Tulum gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or Wilmington in the Autumn?

Both Wilmington and Tulum are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Tulum because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Wilmington this time of year.

In the autumn, Tulum is a little warmer than Wilmington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tulum in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Wilmington averages at about 65°F (18°C).

It's quite sunny in Wilmington. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Wilmington during autumn. Tulum gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Tulum. In October, Tulum usually receives more rain than Wilmington. Tulum gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) 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. June to October in Tulum is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Tulum or Wilmington in the Winter?

Both Wilmington and Tulum during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Tulum this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Wilmington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Tulum is generally much warmer than Wilmington. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 23°C (74°F), and Wilmington fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

It's quite sunny in Tulum. In the winter, Tulum often gets more sunshine than Wilmington. Tulum gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 180 hours of full sun.

Tulum usually gets less rain in January than Wilmington. Tulum gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or Wilmington in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tulum and Wilmington. Many travelers come to Tulum for the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Wilmington in the spring for the beaches.

Tulum is much warmer than Wilmington in the spring. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Wilmington fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wilmington 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 Wilmington during spring. Tulum gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tulum usually receives less rain than Wilmington. Tulum gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) 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. The hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.

Typical Weather for Wilmington and Tulum