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Not so long ago, Tulúm, Mexico, was a backpackers' haven. A small town beside one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Mexico, it was just far enough south of Playa del Carmen—about 40 miles—to be off the beaten path. There were a few hotels and beachside palapas for those who wanted to play beach bum.
No more. Today a four-lane highway connects Tulúm with Playa and Cancún, a new international airport is planned less than 20 miles away, and a new, sleek, tourist-oriented downtown called Aldea Zama is under way. New developments are going in, and real estate prices are rising.
Tulúm still retains its laid-back, slightly zen, eco-chic vibe... You still find yoga classes and massage centers, as well as inexpensive local restaurants in town. But you also find palapa-style accommodation with all the amenities (instead of the hammocks they used to offer), Bikini Boot Camp (at the Hotel Amandala), and trendy eats along the beach.
This is a great place to kick back. There's sun and warm, turquoise Caribbean waters offering swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and more. It also has some of the few Maya ruins that are near the ocean (see the video above). If you visit the ruins, consider taking a bathing suit--the admission fee also gives you access to the beach by the ruins. A little time in the Caribbean waters is a great way to end your culture tour on a hot day.
Inland, you'll find jungle and lots of cenotes for fresh-water swimming. (You can even dive in a few cenotes, entering the underground river system.) Enjoy zip-lining above the jungle canopy? You can find that, too.
And if you want to stay awhile, these days there are plenty of vacation rentals in Tulúm. Depending on the rental's location and the season, you can pay as little as about $50 a night for a small villa that sleeps two to four people. Realistically, however, many rentals are $150 or more a night for a double room, and $1,000 or more for a week's rental of a one- or two-bedroom. In high season (roughly December through February, the weeks around Easter, and July and August) rates can go even higher.
These prices aren't exactly chump change. So here are a few tips for getting the most bang for your buck.
Go while tourism is down
Mexico's overall tourism numbers are back up to 2008's heady levels. But from what I saw on a recent trip to Tulúm, tourism is still a bit slow there—at least for hotels that aren't part of all-inclusive packages. Almost all the hotels along Tulum's beach indicated that they had vacancies. Many also offered promotional rates—I saw two that offered rooms at $60 and $80 a night, respectively. Rate-wise, it also helped that this was low season...which brings us to the next tip...
Go during low season
Unless you've set your heart on spending Christmas by the beach, you can save big bucks by going earlier or much later. Surprisingly, Thanksgiving (which isn't celebrated in Mexico, of course) is low season. And November tends to be the coldest month in the Yucatán Peninsula—meaning that temperatures are generally in the 70s and 80s, with cool evenings: perfect weather for folks from snowy northern climes. Trade Christmas for Thanksgiving—and use the money you save on room rates for adventure excursions.
Negotiate
It never hurts to try negotiating on price. If a hotel is fully booked you'll be wasting your breath, of course. But if it's not—especially if it hasn't already posted a promotional rate—it may be open to a lower rate just to fill a room. Alternatively, if the hotel won't budge on rate, see if it will throw in a few bennies, like spa services, a room upgrade, or free cocktails. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Finally, if your resources are limited, visit Tulúm sooner rather than later. This area is targeted to become an upscale destination...so as even more amenities go in, the prices will likely only go up.
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Tulum_Beach, Mexicoby InternationalLiving2,825 views
relax!!!!!!! i wanna go there some day!
luverdude 10 months ago