I’m usually a pretty optimistic, positive traveller. I enjoy the vast majority of places I visit.
But I don’t love Tulum.
It’s definitely not one of my favourite places in Mexico.
And, despite being one of Mexico’s most popular destinations, I actually think it’s quite overrated.
Don’t get me wrong, Tulum has the makings of a perfect tropical destination.
Turquoise waters, soft white sand, ancient Mayan ruins perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean – it sounds like it should be amazing.
My partner visited Tulum 15 years ago, and she said it was incredible back then. Laid-back, bohemian, and magical. But when we went in 2022, we were pretty disappointed.
It was overpriced (I mean, WAY overpriced). It felt very showy, with overly pleased-with-themselves wellness retreats and pretentious resorts.
Everywhere you looked, people were strutting around, preening and taking photos of themselves.
Kind of grim, actually. The kind of tourism I hate.
Most of the nicest sections of the beach were reserved for exclusive use by fancy beach clubs and hotels.
And the sections of public beach that were free to access were generally pretty dirty, littered with plastic, glass bottles, and other rubbish.
There were a few redeaming features, though.
The Mayan Tulum ruins were fantastic, even despite the crowds. I had some fairly decent food in the main town.
And I did love renting a motorbike and exploring the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. That place, at least, hasn’t been spoiled by over-tourism yet.
But, overall, I wasn’t a fan of Tulum. I don’t plan to go back.
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