Is Tulum Still Worth Visiting? 8 Reasons to Go
As someone who lived in Tulum for many months, I do believe Tulum is worth visiting. Yes, it’s over-touristed, polluted, and expensive – It’s not the tree-house hippie paradise you see blasted all over social media. That being said, it does have its charms, especially compared to the other tourist meccas on the Mayan Riviera like Cancun. If you want a sleepy beach town, I recommend staying in Akumal over Tulum, but if you want nightlife as well as a beach, Tulum is one of your best options in Mexico
8 Reasons Tulum is Worth Visiting
1. It’s Still Cheaper Than Cancun
Cancun used to be the premier destination on the Mayan Rivera for tourists who wanted to come and sit with their toes in the sand on a Mexican beach. Today, Cancun has been superseded by Tulum, because it’s smaller, cleaner, and far cheaper. Even now, Tulum can still be considered a great budget destination, especially if you earn in USD or Euro.
2. It’s Close(er) to Nature
There are a lot of “eco-resorts” and hotels in Tulum that are built to look like treehouses, I wouldn’t buy the hype about them. A hotel is still a hotel. That being said, the experience of being in Tulum is closer to nature than its super-built-up neighbors like Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
3. It’s Where You Can See Remnants of the Mayan Empire
Because Tulum is still basically a village, it’s a lot closer to its roots than other popular locations on the Mayan Riviera. Tulum, which was originally called Zama, was a major port city for the Maya people 500 years ago. Today, you can still see the ruins that made the great city from the famous “Playa Paraiso” public beach in Tulum. You can also enjoy authentic Yucutani Mayan food at popular spots like Taqueria Honario in Tulum Centro.
4. It’s a World-Class Party Capital
Tulum is starting to be called the Ibiza of North America, and this is because of the amazing festival culture in Tulum. Host of the annual Zamna Festival as well as the monthly famed full-moon parties at Papaya Playa Project, Tulum is widely considered the best spot to go out in all of Mexico.
5. It’s Not Overrated – It’s Just Crowded!
Tulum is not overrated, it’s just crowded! People go to a place they’ve seen on Instagram, like Cenote Calavera, at peak time during peak season and have a terrible time because of the crowds. Or, someone visits during Sargassum or Hurricane season and can’t go to the beach, so they have a terrible time as well. There are so many things to do in Tulum, but it’s important to do them right so you have the best trip possible.
6. It Has Beautiful Weather – But You Need to Know the Right Season to Go
Tulum is very seasonal. When I was considering making Tulum my full-time home it was stories from friends who had lived there through hurricane season that scared me off it. Hurricane season in Quintana-Roo spans June to November, with a higher likelihood of storms from August to October. Luckily, by the time hurricanes hit Tulum they’re usually downgraded to tropical storms, but they still wreak havoc on the region. Summer is also incredibly hot in Tulum, and because of the heat, the sargassum (seaweed) blooms. Sargassum can make it impossible to swim in the ocean, or even to see it. By the time I left in early June, it was already difficult to access the public beach past the meters of stinky seaweed lining the shore.
🌧️ Bad Time to Visit Tulum: While the big storms are from August through October, the rainy season starts in June.
☀️ Best Time to Visit Tulum: The best months to visit Tulum are Nov-May
👉 TIP: Cenotes are great alternatives to the beach if there’s a seaweed bloom when you’re in Tulum.
7. Cenotes – Natural Swimming Holes Unique to the Area
Cenote (seh-NOH-tay) literally means “sinkhole” in Mayan. These sinkholes, which started out as water sources and places for sacred offerings for the Mayans, have in recent years developed into freshwater swimming spots for tourists and locals alike. Sometimes Cenotes are completely underground, sometimes they’re half in a cave, and sometimes they’re entirely above ground. Cenotes that are 100% above ground are sometimes called lagoons.
8. World-Class Cuisine With Local Authentic Street Food Options
The restaurants in Tulum are world-class, and you can get anything you want from Sushi to smoothie bowls. But, right around the corner from the super-expensive international restaurants you’ll find amazing authentic street food stalls. If you’re not a street food person, I recommend the sit-down restaurant Taqueria Honario, which is a local staple that only sells Yucatan regional cuisine.
