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Driving is generally the best way to explore the coast. If you don’t rent a car, you could easily spend as much on taxis as a rental would cost. Buses are economical and comfortable for

travel between cities, but you need a car to reach that bragging-rights beach at the end of a long dirt road or to find authentic Mayan handicrafts in a jungle village. Two exceptions:

Cancún’s traffic is vexing, and addresses can be hard to decipher. And the nearly obsolete stereotype of getting stopped for a bribe (_ mordida _) lives on where the coast highway enters El

Centro. You can easily get around on foot, by bus and the occasional taxi. A car can also be a liability in Playa del Carmen, where construction is constant, traffic gridlocked and parking

nonexistent . Taxi fares, while not cheap, are well worth it. On the flip side, cars are a lifesaver in Tulum, especially if you stay in town but want maximum beach time. The beach strip

stretches so far south that taxis become a major expense. BIKES Unlike most of the Riviera Maya, bicycles are popular in Tulum, where a lovely (but long) bike trail runs from the pueblo to

the beaches. Hola Bike and iBike Tulum are reliable shops in town; some beach hotels provide bikes to guests for free. However, the heat and humidity can be draining; be sure you are very

fit and well acclimated. CAR RENTALS Renting is expensive once mandatory and optional insurance is figured in. Rejoice if it adds up to $45 a day in low season, but be prepared to pay $80 or

more. Don’t skip the optional insurance, either: Under Mexican law, if you are involved in an accident, you may be jailed until authorities determine who is at fault and compensation is

arranged. Even if your credit card provides some level of insurance, the best it can do is reimburse you after the fact. But if you’re fully insured, you’ll soon be back on the road. If you

don’t pick up a rental car at the airport, you can in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos  and  Tulum. WAYS TO SAVE: Plan your excursions in a cluster to limit your rental to just a few

days. This also allows you to rent in town (ideally El Centro rather than the Hotel Zone in Cancún) instead of at the airport, where rates are highest. If you do rent from the airport,

reserve online a week before you leave home for the lowest rates.