6 Best Places to Get Work Done in Tulum

What happens when the digital nomads who usually frequent hipster haunts like Bali, Chiang Mai, and Lisbon are faced with a pandemic full of border closures? They go to Tulum. In droves.

While I loved the two months I spent beach hopping and cenote jumping in Tulum in 2020, I eventually became too weak to handle the high season. Prices tripled and crowds quadrupled. Since then, I’ve fled for Oaxaca, Playa del Carmen, and other Mexican digital nomad hotspots.

But if you can handle the tourists and the prices, Tulum has some great trendy “work from anywhere” offices!

Here are six great cafes, beach bars, and coworking spaces to get work done in Tulum, according to a few Tulum digital nomads:

1. Papaya Playa Project

My favorite.

Imagine working right in front of that sunset. That was my regular Tuesday.

Papaya Playa Project might be the only beach club where 40 mbps wifi stretches all the way down to the literal ocean. This was the most stable, reliable, high-speed signal I could get in Tulum. Even better than my apartment!

Plus, the smoothies and breakfast menu are delicious.

This was my favorite weekday spot. DJ starts around 5pm on weekdays and much earlier on weekends, so if you need to take calls keep that in mind. Before those times, it’s pretty mellow and full of digital nomads and beach bums.

Three great working stations here:

1. The indoor restaurant/cafe tables and benches in the back corner left of the bar. There are outlets and strong wifi. The background noise is minimal enough on a weekday to take calls and videoconferences – just watch out for wind.

2. The outdoor couches and tables in the “general area”. These are part of the restaurant, so you don’t have to pay the beach club minimum to sit there.

3. A beach club sunbed in the shade. This is the good life. You can even jerryrig a desk with a bean bag like I did here. (Beach club minimum was 700 pesos on weekday and 1,000 on weekend when I was there in July-August 2020, but likely much pricier now).

2. La Pebeta

Pangaea’s favorite remote work spot for studying class work done. Pangaea is a nomadic soon-to-be doctor and researcher traveling the world before medical schoool.

 “La Pebeta is this quaint little French-inspired cafe in the middle of the dusty roads of Tulum. The staff were wonderful and the wifi was great. I met lots of other digital nomads there as well. And you have to try their three-cheese molletes – they’re to die for!”

3. Hydra’s Jungle Coworking

My neighborhood office.

Nestled just one block off Tulum’s main road and Av. Kukulkan, there’s an Italian paradise with a covert coworking space perfect for digital nomads.

La Hydra by Gigi is a wood-fired pizza spot camoflauged as a jungle. Just past the bar, there are 3 benches, 6 outlets, a handful of kittens, and 25-30mbps wifi speeds. A small sign reading “Jungle Coworking Space” could easily be missed.

If it’s too early for pizza (is there such a thing?), have yourself a smoothie from the papaya tree right above your head. Or, indulge in a cheesy herb omelet made with love. Best of all, the true Italian espresso will be sure to get Tulum digital nomads through their remote work days.

4. Nomade

Alex’s favorite. Alex is a digital nomad working in marketing. He also has a Facebook group for digital nomads and a Youtube channel.

“I love that Nomade has high speed wifi, a well-decorated beach club, and a great atmosphere with soothing music. The food is great. Plus, when your work is done, there are plenty of activities to choose from (e.g. Mayan meditation).”

You can often find Alex climbing up a ladder into one of Nomade’s “nests” with his laptop. If you’re dying for a treehouse office, Nomade might be the Tulum digital nomad spot for you!

5. Posada Margherita

Joe’s favorite. Joe is an executive at a proptech company and spends his time between North America and Greece.

“When I’m in Tulum, I love working from Posada Margherita. They have the best juices and amazing views.”

Plus, if you stay for dinner, you’ll have the best Italian food Tulum has to offer. Pasta like that is enough to keep you coming back!

Bonus: plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.

6. Hunabku Cafe

My local coffeeshop.

Hunabku is a small, sweet coffeeshop in La Valeta offering strong brews, green juices, affordable sandwiches and snacks. I recommend the Coconut Cream Coffee, almond milk cappuccino, and banana bread! (Lots of vegan options here too).

They have a solid 5G connection and a few outlets here and there. The owner and staff are super friendly. Plus, it’s a favorite among friendlier Tulum digital nomads. You’ll feel like family in no time!

There’s usually some chill music playing in the background on top of decent road noise. While it’s a great place to handle email over coffee, this wouldn’t be my choice for those who need to take calls or videoconference.