Tulum, Mexico

[ATexanAbroad 627]

Just now, wild_turkey said:

Congrats? Those are seriously great places to go but I don’t think anyone started a thread on Tulum to see how it measures up to Patagonia or Antarctica. This isn’t a travel contest.

I also can’t think of a single person who goes to any part of Mexico to classify themselves as a world traveler. It’s Mexico. It has nice beaches, good food, beautiful people, and it’s close to Texas.

I think youre taking this a bit personally and havent read the comments between me and other people so let me sum it up for you.

Tulum was really cool. Like most shit, americans find a way to commercialize and then ruin it. Now it has the name and the people that go are closer to the 10 range than a 1 on the level of cocksucker. Again, for you, think lines and lines and lines of people that took hours to get ready waiting in line to take pictures, everywhere. It is a place that people want to say they went more than they actually want to be there.

If you confuse that with general travel and places that people want to casually take pictures, that is on you.

[wild_turkey 3081]

Again, for you, think lines and lines and lines of people that took hours to get ready waiting in line to take pictures, everywhere. It is a place that people want to say they went more than they actually want to be there.

You don’t need to paint me a picture because I’m in Tulum currently and that has absolutely not been my experience, this time or on previous trips. I have seen ZERO people standing in a line to take a picture of something. You are acting like this is The Louvre which couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I see people hanging out on a beach having fun. That’s it.

I also don’t know how you can read minds and figure out that random strangers go to a certain place for the sake of saying they went there rather than say, I dunno, maybe they enjoy it?

But then again, I’m not the one that got on a thread about a Mexican beach to brag about Antarctica.

[ATexanAbroad 627]

15 minutes ago, wild_turkey said:

 

You don’t need to paint me a picture because I’m in Tulum currently and that has absolutely not been my experience, this time or on previous trips. I have seen ZERO people standing in a line to take a picture of something. You are acting like this is The Louvre which couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I see people hanging out on a beach having fun. That’s it.

I also don’t know how you can read minds and figure out that random strangers go to a certain place for the sake of saying they went there rather than say, I dunno, maybe they enjoy it?

But then again, I’m not the one that got on a thread about a Mexican beach to brag about Antarctica.

 

Maybe you're completely oblivious, walk down the hotel row, go to any of the "vegan" restaurants, go to the day clubs, go to "pablos mansion"

You got your panties in a wad I mentioned Antartica. Nobody gives a fuck but you. Try something new, branch out from Mexico. I believe in you.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

1 hour ago, wild_turkey said:

 

You don’t need to paint me a picture because I’m in Tulum currently and that has absolutely not been my experience, this time or on previous trips. I have seen ZERO people standing in a line to take a picture of something. You are acting like this is The Louvre which couldn’t be farther from the truth.

 

You've never been to Tulum, have you?

[wild_turkey 3081]

We went to Tulum this weekend and had a great time. I'll provide some info in case anyone is considering a trip to Tulum and wants some perspective.

Trigger warning:  This post will be in regards to Tulum, Mexico. If you are interested in travel to Antarctica, that's a different thread and this won't be of much interest to you.

Wife and I love the beach but we live in DFW, so we travel to beaches whenever possible. Our favorite beaches are in St. Barth, where we try to go 1-2 times a year, but it takes some effort to get there and that isn't practical for a weekend trip. Mexico is a great option when we need a quick getaway, especially when the Texas spring weather is still too chilly.

Lots of options in Mexico and I can certainly understand that some people would prefer one area over another. I know people who love Cabo and have no interest in Isla Mujeres, and vice versa. To each his own. I'm not here to convince anyone that Tulum is better or worse than any of the other places, just different.

Tulum suits us for a variety of reasons. We like that the hotels are mostly smaller boutique hotels without the mega AI resorts that occupy Cancun and much of the Riviera Maya. We like that there are no cruise ship day trippers. We like the jungle vibe of the Riviera Maya. We like that the crowd skews towards younger people who are mostly fit and attractive. We like that a thong bikini is standard beach attire, and if my wife wants to lose her top, that's fine too. We like the food scene and being able to walk along the main beach road and pop into any random bar or restaurant that looks appealing. We like that it generally has a live-and-let-live kind of vibe.

It's not without its drawbacks. The biggest drawback for us is the chance of sargassum on the beach, which is unfortunately true of anywhere in the Caribbean. In St. Barth we can mitigate that by going to a different part of the island, but in Mexico, it's just a long continuous beach so we have to accept it for what it is. This past weekend, sargassum was moderate on Friday but then pretty mild on Saturday and Sunday. I consider that a win.

There's also the fact that it's a 1 hour 45 minute ride from Cancun airport, but we can get a driver and relax along the way. The loud beach clubs can be annoying, especially if you accidentally book a hotel that's right next door to one. We've spent many nights in various Bagatelles but I think that phase of our life is mostly behind us, so we avoid places like Bagatelle and Taboo, and we pick hotels that are a safe distance away. It's fairly easy to spend a weekend in Tulum and avoid loud clubs entirely, or if clubs are your scene, then there's plenty to choose from. 

This past weekend we stayed just 2 nights. Fairly short but entirely doable and it beats sitting around our house bored. Flew out of DFW early Friday morning and were on the beach in Tulum by noon. Flew home Sunday afternoon. Easy non-stop flights on American, which should eventually be easier once the U.S. Covid test requirement is dropped. 

We stayed at Ahau which has about 20 rooms. It has a great location, walkable to most places, but not too close to loud clubs. The hotel has a beach club of its own that plays beach club music 11-7, fairly loud during those hours, otherwise fairly quiet. There was a live band on Saturday which was nice. Rooms are nice and clean but not overly extravagant. Our room's back porch faced the ocean and steps went directly into the sand. We would absolutely stay at this hotel again.

We had dinners at Arca (excellent) and NU Tulum (good but not memorable). Also had drinks at Meze which has a great environment and the menu looks good. If we go back I would want to eat at Meze or Hartwood. Food prices are pretty typical for what we pay for a restaurant of similar quality in Texas.

We did not go to the ruins or a cenote because that wasn't the goal of our visit. We wanted to lay on the beach and we had limited time. The ruins are easy to do and we've been there before. The good cenotes are farther from town and require at least a half day commitment, or possibly a full day. Perhaps next time. The Sian Ka'an nature preserve also looks like it's worth exploring.

Long post, hope it's somewhat informative or helpful for anyone interested.

Here are a handful of pics:

 

[ATexanAbroad 627]

Glad you enjoyed your time, I am admittedly very harsh on Tulum but I dont live in DFW and only have a weekend to choose. (I use to). I have definitely done the long weekend quick gettaway to Tulum before and while there are other places in Mexico I would go to first, Tulum definitely makes a lot of sense if you just have Fri-Sun. You're definitely right that if you stay at the far far end of the hotel zone you can get away from a lot of the mess. Trying to find amazing places that arent overrun and over developed is getting harder and harder in the Caribbean. 

[midtown 3338]

Well crap.  My special lady friend (travel nurse from Florida) who is very much the Instagram type tourist wants to go go Tulum now.  So put me in the hypocrite section.  If it weren't for the double Ds she's bringing I'd DK this trip.   so Ill be reading the whole thread now for advice and tips. 

Edited April 1, 2022 by midtown

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

i live down here and have thought about just wearing a go-pro on my head and documenting the tits and ass i see on a daily basis and posting it in the hot or not thread. but i'm just too lazy to fuck with a go pro.

but i usually have a chub by the time i get home from my 5 minute bike ride home from work.

[midtown 3338]

I told her I would go because I've heard there is lots of young hot ass in g-strings

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

i can even wrap my head around the level of crazy one would find in a travel nurse from florida sportin' double Ds.

[midtown 3338]

2 hours ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

i can even wrap my head around the level of crazy one would find in a travel nurse from florida sportin' double Ds.

What if I told you she was also a single mom? 

Edited April 1, 2022 by midtown

[htown85 159]

Tulum was awesome in 2019 when I went. Most attractive women I have seen in one weekend. Never been to Antarctica, but Isla Holbox is more remote and “authentic”, but harder to get to. I’d go back to Tulum over Holbox and that opinion will probably get me shot on this site.

 

[ATexanAbroad 627]

17 minutes ago, htown85 said:

Tulum was awesome in 2019 when I went. Most attractive women I have seen in one weekend. Never been to Antarctica, but Isla Holbox is more remote and “authentic”, but harder to get to. I’d go back to Tulum over Holbox and that opinion will probably get me shot on this site.

 

Eh I mean it's popular for a reason. When I think about it, it comes down to this, are you vacationing or are you traveling. 

Edited April 2, 2022 by ATexanAbroad

[midtown 3338]

Well I am out on Tulum.  I've been showing my special lady friend all the pictures of the sargasso seaweed and she's yeah no thanks.   Belize it is.   Much easier because I've been there 5 times so the learning curve is zero.  Even if the seaweed is bad on the windward side in Belize that week we will just spend the day at secret beach.  

Edited April 4, 2022 by midtown

[wild_turkey 3081]

Well I am out on Tulum.  I've been showing my special lady friend all the pictures of the sargasso seaweed and she's yeah no thanks.   Belize it is.   Much easier because I've been there 5 times so the learning curve is zero.  Even if the seaweed is bad on the windward side in Belize that week we will just spend the day at secret beach.  

I think it depends when you go. Later in spring through summer is more likely to have sargasso. It was okay when we were there last week.

[midtown 3338]

1 hour ago, wild_turkey said:

I think it depends when you go. Later in spring through summer is more likely to have sargasso. It was okay when we were there last week.

I am following a FB group called Sargasso Seaweed Updates Riviera Maya and it looks unreal some of the pictures people are posting.  Like seaweed from about 20 yards out all the way up onto and covering the entire beach.  Lots of picture of seaweed free beaches too but it looks to be half and half and its only April.  

[CycleTex87 2944]

Dudn't look anything like Antarctica.  

[ATexanAbroad 627]

1 hour ago, CycleTex87 said:

Dudn't look anything like Antarctica.  

Damn straight, hoss.

[PRONG HORN 3085]

Do the hotels say anything about crocs, or is it just generally known that they're down there.  This was less than ten miles from downtown Tulum.  

 

 

[rage-a-holic 4256]

1 hour ago, PRONG HORN said:

Do the hotels say anything about crocs, or is it just generally known that they're down there.  This was less than ten miles from downtown Tulum.  

 

 

That's in Sian Ka'an, it's a protected biosphere reserve. There are crocs everywhere and swimming near the mangroves is really fucking stupid.

There are plenty of open beach areas with zero crocs, that's not one of them.

[Augustus 3061]

Normally, for a Thurs-Mon or Fr-Tues or Wed trip I'll go to Puerto Vallarta/Sayulita because it's only a 2-2.5 hour flight.  Quicker than I drive to Flagstaff from Scottsdale.

But I want to do something different so we're gonna go to Tulum Nov 4-9.  Supposed to be good weather that time of year, and "they say" the seaweed won't be an issue.

I am looking forward to the white sands and greenish blue water because somehow the Caribbean is something I've never seen.

We'll be in the party zone so I expect my leg hairs to be vibrating as I try to sleep.

[Pescado_Rojo 19262]

On 4/7/2022 at 8:28 PM, rage-a-holic said:

That's in Sian Ka'an, it's a protected biosphere reserve. There are crocs everywhere and swimming near the mangroves is really fucking stupid.

There are plenty of open beach areas with zero crocs, that's not one of them.

Not only that, that Croc is a fixture by the bridge. Errbody knows it's there. 

[threesheets 1645]

Family and I are looking at Barcelo Maya Palace for a trip later this month. Anyone stayed there by chance?

[SimonBolivar 10686]

15 minutes ago, threesheets said:

Family and I are looking at Barcelo Maya Palace for a trip later this month. Anyone stayed there by chance?

I've been to the Barcelo in Oaxaca and it has absolutely abysmal food (really nice staff though) so I hope for your sake that the Maya Palace location is better.

[rage-a-holic 4256]

1 hour ago, threesheets said:

Family and I are looking at Barcelo Maya Palace for a trip later this month. Anyone stayed there by chance?

You know that's in Puerto Aventuras right?

[Deej 76201]

I have a friend who was kidnapped and held for ransom in Tulum earlier this year, if that helps. 

[threesheets 1645]

I've watched a couple of videos and 

2 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

You know that's in Puerto Aventuras right?

Close enough.

[MontereyMX 836]

11 hours ago, Deej said:

I have a friend who was kidnapped and held for ransom in Tulum earlier this year, if that helps. 

fuck that, I was actually about to leave this thread and check flights down there.   nope!

[LCHorn 2560]

It was a little weird when we would see police roll up and all of the servers and bartenders would nonchalantly shake their heads and say “cartels”.
 

It seemed like at least one person got killed every day while we were there; I guess they just get swept away with the seaweed.

[threesheets 1645]

14 hours ago, Deej said:

I have a friend who was kidnapped and held for ransom in Tulum earlier this year, if that helps. 

Tell me more. Everything I'm reading is that resorts are safe and that being out and about at night is where people get in trouble. I'll have two teenagers with me, so we won't be doing much. It would suck not being able to get out least once during the day though.

13 hours ago, threesheets said:

I've watched a couple of videos and 

I obviously didn't finish my thought here. I was just saying I watched a travel guy on youtube tour the hotel and all the restaurants last year. It passes the eyeball test at least.

[Deej 76201]

Not staying at a resort. Was staying at a hostel for an extended period.

[rage-a-holic 4256]

3 hours ago, threesheets said:

Tell me more. Everything I'm reading is that resorts are safe and that being out and about at night is where people get in trouble. I'll have two teenagers with me, so we won't be doing much. It would suck not being able to get out least once during the day though.

I obviously didn't finish my thought here. I was just saying I watched a travel guy on youtube tour the hotel and all the restaurants last year. It passes the eyeball test at least.

The resort is a 30-40 minute drive from Tulum proper. You'll be plenty safe, unless you decide to actually go party in Tulum.

[CHIEF 5044]

21 hours ago, threesheets said:

Family and I are looking at Barcelo Maya Palace for a trip later this month. Anyone stayed there by chance?

Stayed there three times before we became divers, back around 2006-2009. It was new and very nice. Like Rage said, it is right next to Puerto Aventuras, which is where all of the fishing charters are docked. Not the nicest beach, but plenty of hot topless South American women playing beach volleyball. CHIEF Jr. was about 7 and we had to wrestle him away to go do shit. The hammocks are a nice place to take an afternoon siesta. Be sure to get the liquor upgrade, it was about $60 back then, and you can drink top shelf liquor the whole time you are there.

Oh, and be sure and get the direct transfer to your resort from the airport in Cancun, its worth the price to not spend half of your first and last day stopping by the other resorts to pick up passengers.

CHIEF

Edited June 8 by CHIEF
airport transfer

[threesheets 1645]

4 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

The resort is a 30-40 minute drive from Tulum proper. You'll be plenty safe, unless you decide to actually go party in Tulum.

Any sweat flying in/out of TQO though? I went to book just now and the flights into Cancun on the major carriers had jumped $300 since yesterday.

[rage-a-holic 4256]

2 minutes ago, threesheets said:

Any sweat flying in/out of TQO though? I went to book just now and the flights into Cancun on the major carriers had jumped $300 since yesterday.

Just be aware that taxi/shuttle prices from the new airport to literally anywhere are insane.

[rage-a-holic 4256]

[CHIEF 5044]

2 hours ago, threesheets said:

Any sweat flying in/out of TQO though? I went to book just now and the flights into Cancun on the major carriers had jumped $300 since yesterday.

Don't go in using your same account. Create a new one, or if a family member has an account have them look up flights. Airlines and travel sites are notorious for pulling that shit. Its a tactic to make you go ahead and book to avoid the prices going up again. Ask me how I know. We have three accounts to look at, mine, my wife, and my son.

And yeah, those transfer fees are absolutely insane. I think ours was like $150 total from Cancun, roundtrip, two adults and a child.

CHIEF

[wild_turkey 3081]

Tulum proper has seemed fairly safe when I have been there. Kidnapping for ransom is crazy but maybe people who stay in hostels are a little more susceptible to that?

[SurlyGator 828]

My daughter (no pics) is currently dogsitting for neighbors who are in Tulum.  Family of 6, four daughters (again, no pics).  Assuming they make it home safely, I will consider letting them know I monitored Surly for news of their possible kidnapping.  Maybe.

[Deej 76201]

21 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

Just be aware that taxi/shuttle prices from the new airport to literally anywhere are insane.

The bus from Cancun to Tulum is cheap. $10. About a two hour ride. 

[rage-a-holic 4256]

2 minutes ago, Deej said:

The bus from Cancun to Tulum is cheap. $10. About a two hour ride. 

I'm aware. He's flying in to the Tulum airport.

[Deej 76201]

Sorry, combined others' post in my head. 

[Superhero 8631]

We just got back from Tulum and in general were underwhelmed. We had a private car take us from the airport to Le Zebra. It was a boutique hotel on the beach south from Tulum proper. The hotel itself was excellent, good on-site restaurant, and the sister hotel next door also had excellent food.

We did a one-day guided tour of the ruins, swam in a cenote, and had lunch at a local home where the family served us the most delicious meal on the trip (not kidding) - chicken wrapped banana leaves and baked in the ground, with fresh tortillas and a fantastic habanero sauce.

The food at the hotel was overpriced, but we expected that. But the food outside the hotel along the beach was not good and over-priced. We went to a restaurant our last night and it was easily $180 without drinks. A few simple lunches (think sandwiches) were easily $60. The only thing was reasonably priced was the 6-pack of Modelo.

 

My wife had to go to the hospital with an eye issue, and we used the opportunity to check out the touristy part of Tulum - lots of restaurants, pharmacies (they're everywhere!), and a few gift shops for tourists. Taxi to and from the hotel to Tulum proper was $85 (about 20 minutes each way).

I recommend against going to Tulum, especially this time of year where it's almost unbearably hot. Yes the beaches are awesome, and there are a variety of hotels of different price ranges, but there is not much to do, and things are over-priced.

[rage-a-holic 4256]

5 hours ago, Superhero said:

We just got back from Tulum and in general were underwhelmed. We had a private car take us from the airport to Le Zebra. It was a boutique hotel on the beach south from Tulum proper. The hotel itself was excellent, good on-site restaurant, and the sister hotel next door also had excellent food.

We did a one-day guided tour of the ruins, swam in a cenote, and had lunch at a local home where the family served us the most delicious meal on the trip (not kidding) - chicken wrapped banana leaves and baked in the ground, with fresh tortillas and a fantastic habanero sauce.

The food at the hotel was overpriced, but we expected that. But the food outside the hotel along the beach was not good and over-priced. We went to a restaurant our last night and it was easily $180 without drinks. A few simple lunches (think sandwiches) were easily $60. The only thing was reasonably priced was the 6-pack of Modelo.

 

My wife had to go to the hospital with an eye issue, and we used the opportunity to check out the touristy part of Tulum - lots of restaurants, pharmacies (they're everywhere!), and a few gift shops for tourists. Taxi to and from the hotel to Tulum proper was $85 (about 20 minutes each way).

I recommend against going to Tulum, especially this time of year where it's almost unbearably hot. Yes the beaches are awesome, and there are a variety of hotels of different price ranges, but there is not much to do, and things are over-priced.

Tulum is hot, crowded, ridiculously overpriced, dangerous, an ecological nightmare and the pristine beaches people love to tout are covered in gigatons of sargassum half the year. So you can't swim and the smell is unbearable. It gets worse every year.

[CHIEF 5044]

8 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

Tulum is hot, crowded, ridiculously overpriced, dangerous, an ecological nightmare and the pristine beaches people love to tout are covered in gigatons of sargassum half the year. So you can't swim and the smell is unbearable. It gets worse every year.

Best thing we have ever done is abandon the Riviera Maya for the west coast of Cozumel, you never have to worry about the sargassum. 
 

CHIEF

[Superhero 8631]

12 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

Tulum is hot, crowded, ridiculously overpriced, dangerous, an ecological nightmare and the pristine beaches people love to tout are covered in gigatons of sargassum half the year. So you can't swim and the smell is unbearable. It gets worse every year.

You hit it on the nail with those items. I didn't think it was dangerous or an ecological nightmare. The sargassum was a big deal though, they had workers remove it everyday, but it's a losing battle.

One think I'll add is there is a lot of vacancy but they are still building. Doesn't make sense at all, especially all the condos they're building 1-2 miles away from the beach. Who TF would want to spend $250K+ to live in a place where there are not store, restaurants, etc. Does not make sense.

[rage-a-holic 4256]

3 minutes ago, Superhero said:

You hit it on the nail with those items. I didn't think it was dangerous or an ecological nightmare. The sargassum was a big deal though, they had workers remove it everyday, but it's a losing battle.

One think I'll add is there is a lot of vacancy but they are still building. Doesn't make sense at all, especially all the condos they're building 1-2 miles away from the beach. Who TF would want to spend $250K+ to live in a place where there are not store, restaurants, etc. Does not make sense.

There is no infrastructure to support all the new construction. The biggest issue is that all these condos/hotels are dumping their raw sewage into existing cenotes and aquifers.

I'll repost this, it's worth a watch.

 

[Tonesky 853]

If I could repeat my experience from the 90s - Akumal condo, rental car, carefree exploration up and down the coast, nighttime driving between Akumal and PDC - I'd be all over it.  But, those days are gone forever.

[mchookem 15539]

man, people ruin everything 

[troph 24024]

1 hour ago, Tonesky said:

If I could repeat my experience from the 90s - Akumal condo, rental car, carefree exploration up and down the coast, nighttime driving between Akumal and PDC - I'd be all over it.  But, those days are gone forever.

when I was first dating my wife about 10 years ago we had what might have been the last good time in the Tulum area. Sargassum hadn't fully taken over and it wasn't cheap but it wasn't over crowded or expensive yet (except on the beach).  We rented a car so we were mobile and without a guide (wife can speak enough spanish), stayed I forget where in Tulum but it wasn't on the beach, we wandered around, ducked in and out of bars, got high and laid around with a day pass at one of the beach hotels/restaurants. went swimming in the cenotes and I distinctly remember eating lunch at late lunch at a restaurant in Akumal when the rains came in after our lunch on another round of drinks and we said fuck it and stayed there until dinner, walked the beach after the rains subsided, no one was there, ate dinner from the same table, went back to our place after dark and fucked each others brains out. it was the most hedonistic and amazing vacay I had had in quite some time. highly recommend.