The easiest way to get here is to rent a car at the Cancun airport when you arrive.

The Village of Tulum (Tulum Pueblo in Spanish) is about 80 miles (130 km) south of Cancun.

Your first hint of Tulum is the Tulum Pemex (gas station) and the entrance to the Tulum Ruins (both on your left).  Continue straight ahead for another mile or so to another big intersection - this one with Tulum's only traffic lights: you want to turn left toward Boca Paila / Punta Allen.

In two miles you meet the beach road.  Turn right.

Rancho San Eric lies about 4 miles (7 km) ahead.

The road has just been paved - January 2006.   There are small groupings of modest hotels and houses along the way.  Rancho San Eric is the second-to-the-last place before the arch at the entrance to the Sian Ka'an reserve.

Your next clues are the pictures on the home page of this website.  Look for the 6 ft high (2 meter) serpentine stone wall on your left.

Piece o' cake...

Tulum Pueblo is the regional center of this area and here one will find many smaller stores selling groceries and other things.   There is actually quite a nice selection of grocery items; many people do most of their shopping in Tulum.  A number of services are also available including taxi, car rental, laundry, post office, telephone, FAX and internet. Wireless internet services are available, for those with laptops so equipped, at a number of locations. There are two banks now open for business in Tulum each with ATM machines.

Some visitors to Rancho San Eric stock up on supplies before they arrive, particularly if they are going to be here for awhile.  There are several good supermarkets in Cancun and one in Playa del Carmen (40 miles north of Tulum, on your way down) that offer a somewhat greater variety.

Along the beach road to the north one will find a selection of restaurants, a few even within walking distance (for those so inclined).   Naturally, the type of food offered, prices and dining experience will vary.

Similarly, in Tulum Pueblo, there is a variety of restaurants offering fun Mexican, Italian and other types of food.

Prudent travelers will temper their enthusiasm for local cuisine by sensible health precautions.

Basically nobody accepts credit cards or will cash a check in Tulum.   Period.

There are now two banks in Tulum.

Bring traveler's checks.  They can be cashed in the bank or 'Casas de Cambio' (money changers) located in Tulum.  Actually a decent exchange rate.

Each unit at Rancho San Eric includes:

    - Linens: sheets, pillow cases, towels, blankets
    - Bottled drinking water
    - Basic, but adequate, kitchen utensils, pans, dishes etc.
    - Propane stove top (usually no oven) and refrigerator
    - Hot water only in shower
    - Minimal 12 volt electricity
    - Beach, sun, tropical gardens