Tulum Beach
Tulum Beach
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
647 reviews
Excellent
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Poor
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carebear
Paris, France39 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
Tulum is way overcroweded with mass tourism. It is very polluted. Terrible quality of the air.
Constant heavy trafic. Very noisy and stressful. The beach is very small and mostly occupied by private restaurants. Renting a beach chair will cost 20usd per person without a sun umbrella.
Drug dealers are around the beach area and even on the beach!! Local drug cartels are also very active in this city...
To be avoided except if you are spending time locked down in a gated resort hidden from the outside world...
Constant heavy trafic. Very noisy and stressful. The beach is very small and mostly occupied by private restaurants. Renting a beach chair will cost 20usd per person without a sun umbrella.
Drug dealers are around the beach area and even on the beach!! Local drug cartels are also very active in this city...
To be avoided except if you are spending time locked down in a gated resort hidden from the outside world...
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruddiger77
52 contributions
Dec 2021 • Solo
Been to Mexico many times, albeit all at all inclusive resorts. Wanted to try Tulum. Takes 2 plus hours from Cancun airport and a mess to get into the hotel zone on beach road as it’s only one road in and out. So will take a whole days travel just to get to your hotel.
Lots of hotels, beach clubs, bars and restaurants along the road, not easy to walk with traffic and puddles or sewage couldn’t tell. They’re trying to go for a trendy meets hippy vibe but are failing miserably. The bars and beach clubs are overcharging for everything. A Margarita shouldn’t cost $10/$15 in Mexico - sorry not sorry! Most beach clubs all want a minimum spend like $50 plus just to access the beach and chairs/beds etc.
Feels like everyone wants to rip you off here felt way different than any other Mexico trip, perhaps they’re trying to make it all back at once before all the travel restrictions again.
Go for a few days to experience it but nothing special way cooler spots all over the Caribbean and if you do want to go to Mexico stick to an all inclusive. You won’t find any authentic Mexican culture here as the tacos at most spots were just meh.
Lastly, and to reiterate Mexico (Tulum) is not supposed to be this overpriced. They’re charging more here than some of the higher end Caribbean Islands I.e Cayman, Turks and Aruba etc.
Tulum and or Mexico isn’t high end and they shouldn’t try to be something they’re not!
Lots of hotels, beach clubs, bars and restaurants along the road, not easy to walk with traffic and puddles or sewage couldn’t tell. They’re trying to go for a trendy meets hippy vibe but are failing miserably. The bars and beach clubs are overcharging for everything. A Margarita shouldn’t cost $10/$15 in Mexico - sorry not sorry! Most beach clubs all want a minimum spend like $50 plus just to access the beach and chairs/beds etc.
Feels like everyone wants to rip you off here felt way different than any other Mexico trip, perhaps they’re trying to make it all back at once before all the travel restrictions again.
Go for a few days to experience it but nothing special way cooler spots all over the Caribbean and if you do want to go to Mexico stick to an all inclusive. You won’t find any authentic Mexican culture here as the tacos at most spots were just meh.
Lastly, and to reiterate Mexico (Tulum) is not supposed to be this overpriced. They’re charging more here than some of the higher end Caribbean Islands I.e Cayman, Turks and Aruba etc.
Tulum and or Mexico isn’t high end and they shouldn’t try to be something they’re not!
Written December 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruno B
Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP10 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
Amazing beach. Clean water. No waves. Beautiful view of el Castillo of the Mayan ruins.
But in all Mexican attractions there are a thousand vendors trying to push cheap things for a very high price. They are really pushy and annoying. I tried to buy a umbrella to protect me from the sun in a small street vendor who was charging four times the price I saw in the supermarket. Outrageous!
The waiters, room keepers, drivers, bell boys are really pushy when it comes to tipping (“propina” as they say).
In the airport be careful when getting a taxi. There is no Uber and there is no regular taxi there. Just the ones with “different pre arranged prices” (twice or three times of what they charge outside). I had a really bad experience trying to get out of the airport. They tried to overcharge me, then I decided to talk to a taxi driver which was delivering some people, so that he take me back downtown when he was traveling back on his only route. The guy didn’t even talked to me, because he was afraid of the airport taxi people.
Apparently in Mexico they prefer to take advantage of the tourists instead of taking advantage of the tourism itself. I don’t recommend to anyone visit Mexico, unless you are extremely patient and don’t mind being charged two or three times the value of the purchased item.
If you like beautiful beaches and nature, go to Thailand instead. It will be cheaper and more pleasant, I am sure.
But in all Mexican attractions there are a thousand vendors trying to push cheap things for a very high price. They are really pushy and annoying. I tried to buy a umbrella to protect me from the sun in a small street vendor who was charging four times the price I saw in the supermarket. Outrageous!
The waiters, room keepers, drivers, bell boys are really pushy when it comes to tipping (“propina” as they say).
In the airport be careful when getting a taxi. There is no Uber and there is no regular taxi there. Just the ones with “different pre arranged prices” (twice or three times of what they charge outside). I had a really bad experience trying to get out of the airport. They tried to overcharge me, then I decided to talk to a taxi driver which was delivering some people, so that he take me back downtown when he was traveling back on his only route. The guy didn’t even talked to me, because he was afraid of the airport taxi people.
Apparently in Mexico they prefer to take advantage of the tourists instead of taking advantage of the tourism itself. I don’t recommend to anyone visit Mexico, unless you are extremely patient and don’t mind being charged two or three times the value of the purchased item.
If you like beautiful beaches and nature, go to Thailand instead. It will be cheaper and more pleasant, I am sure.
Written November 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1984oc
London, UK55 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
We came for 10days to relax and that couldn’t have happened. Firstly it’s really expensive for example three tacos costing usd25. I don’t mind spending money but this is the standard cost everywhere in a poor
Environment. It’s loud, dirty, polluted. Getting taxis everywhere is a nightmare and they try to charge usd60 for a 15min ride. Queuing to take out cash at the bank takes 45min. Roads are terrible and they cause traffic. The tipping system is that the restaurant adds 15% to your bill and the server then asks / pleads with your for more claiming that the service charge on the bill is for the restaurant. Travelling along the beach at night you find yourself stuck in traffic on a
Loud dusty road which smells of the toilets and the generators. Never going again
Environment. It’s loud, dirty, polluted. Getting taxis everywhere is a nightmare and they try to charge usd60 for a 15min ride. Queuing to take out cash at the bank takes 45min. Roads are terrible and they cause traffic. The tipping system is that the restaurant adds 15% to your bill and the server then asks / pleads with your for more claiming that the service charge on the bill is for the restaurant. Travelling along the beach at night you find yourself stuck in traffic on a
Loud dusty road which smells of the toilets and the generators. Never going again
Written January 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea W
Nepean, Canada55 contributions
Mar 2022
I was in Tulum in Dec 2019 for the first time and overall found it expensive but charming and the beaches beautiful. I also loved that there are so many plant based options everywhere, so I returned March 2022 and it is a nightmare!! It is one big construction site. The seaweed is out of control and you cannot swim. The beach clubs still want to charge you $100USD to stay there even though they are virtually empty. We went to the pubic beach and still wanted to experience the ocean so we walked through the seaweed. We are staying in a air bnb in Aldea Zama which is lovely but the construction noise is insane and wakes you up around 7:30 am. Garbage EVERYWHERE. Everywhere you walk you see a TON of garbage, which I didn’t see in 2019. Restaurants are generally a rip off. We were charged $10 USD one place for a ‘Tulum beer’. We didn’t ask for price beforehand because most Mexican beer is 35-50 pesos. The hotel zone is a complete disaster with construction. We cycled everywhere but the pollution is out of control. The pollution was so bad that the back of my throat hurt so much from the vehicle exhaust that I thought I had covid, I felt so sick by the end of the day. I feel bad for the locals, they are truly being taken advantage of. For the prices you pay, customer service and quality of food does not match. If you want to be ECO, do not go to Tulum. I feel just by being here I am a big part of the problem.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ewv
9 contributions
Aug 2022
beaches of Tulum are full of sargasum. very difficult smell. very little work visible to remove. lots of beach clubs closed. but my biggest problem is it seems every club and restaurant is selling drinks at 350 pesos or 15 dollars and food very high price but food is nothing special ( americanized mexican). unfortunately the beach front area is very very expensive and exploited, and since the beaches are no longer beautiful no need to waste time in tulum.
Written August 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christer M
Stockholm, Sweden6 contributions
Feb 2020
Tulum has fantastic beaches and great climate. But it has been missmanaged to the point there is no fun going there. Most of the beaches have been "privatised" by hotels and beach clubs which demand that you spend, typically, 50 US dollars for a seat in the sand. No matter if it starts raining or you only spend one hour. So the people you meet there are mostly youngsters with rich parents, it seems. For normal people there are only partly good bike lanes, you have to run your bike on side walks and in the midst of long car lanes.
I am sure Tulum once was a paradise. But if you don't belong to one of the closed communities or beach clubs, I think you are better off in other places in this part of Mexico.
I am sure Tulum once was a paradise. But if you don't belong to one of the closed communities or beach clubs, I think you are better off in other places in this part of Mexico.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Costa Rica y Mexico Guests(EN)
Tulum, Mexico115 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
When you follow the influencers you get what you get.
When you do your own research you are more likely to get what you want and what you are looking for, and budget friendly too.
Wait, a beach in Hotel zone with high prices; must be joking. Of course when you go to “the most in spot” don't you expect resort prices. Example; 4 soft drinks, 4 house margaritas and parking for Vagalume will set you back $100 easy. Oh, you want to use the beach too? More!
So what are you doing in the Hotel Zone? The Zona archeologica has free beaches, restaurants and more with the ruins as backdrop. Yea, a beach with extremely reasonable locals prices and friendly atmosphere.
There is a difference between stay and play, why is it necessary to play where you stay. Tulum is really 4 + locations, each unique and no surprise, not all beach centric, each with different price points and activity. If sargassum season, most QROO beaches get it, try cenotes for water activity, Sian Kaan, Bacalar. Dozens of cenote nearby, take your pick. You might enjoy a memorable low cost way to be cool, in cool water.
I much prefer the up and coming Calle 7 Sur in La Veleta for some of th beat food in the region at reasonable prices. 1/2 what the hotel zone charges.
Yea bumpy, pothole filled roads and no signs add to the adventure. If you are in hotel zone - please don't slam the whole town or region with your disappointment or complain about NYC prices; its a choice you made while other options are plentiful, authentic, fun and delicious.
Nighttime taxis to/from beach are more expensive because they can get it. Supply and demand.
I come to Tulum monthly and not since years ago does the hotel zone enter th picture.
When you do your own research you are more likely to get what you want and what you are looking for, and budget friendly too.
Wait, a beach in Hotel zone with high prices; must be joking. Of course when you go to “the most in spot” don't you expect resort prices. Example; 4 soft drinks, 4 house margaritas and parking for Vagalume will set you back $100 easy. Oh, you want to use the beach too? More!
So what are you doing in the Hotel Zone? The Zona archeologica has free beaches, restaurants and more with the ruins as backdrop. Yea, a beach with extremely reasonable locals prices and friendly atmosphere.
There is a difference between stay and play, why is it necessary to play where you stay. Tulum is really 4 + locations, each unique and no surprise, not all beach centric, each with different price points and activity. If sargassum season, most QROO beaches get it, try cenotes for water activity, Sian Kaan, Bacalar. Dozens of cenote nearby, take your pick. You might enjoy a memorable low cost way to be cool, in cool water.
I much prefer the up and coming Calle 7 Sur in La Veleta for some of th beat food in the region at reasonable prices. 1/2 what the hotel zone charges.
Yea bumpy, pothole filled roads and no signs add to the adventure. If you are in hotel zone - please don't slam the whole town or region with your disappointment or complain about NYC prices; its a choice you made while other options are plentiful, authentic, fun and delicious.
Nighttime taxis to/from beach are more expensive because they can get it. Supply and demand.
I come to Tulum monthly and not since years ago does the hotel zone enter th picture.
Written July 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tate3441
Alexandria, Virginia215 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
The sad irony of yet another once pristine tourist area is that greed and complete lack of management by the Mexican government have made this place a pathetic mess.
Still trying to cling to its bohemian roots, you can get vegan food and almond milk, but no backpackers can afford these outrageous prices, and the claim of eco-tourist hotels is a complete fail: due to lack of infrastructure planning for this industry, there is not enough power, so every energy hungry hotel runs a diesel generator 24/7. No rules on LEED building standards: so no insulation, no solar water heating, no photocells in sight. Litter is EVERYWHERE. So, book your yoga vacation and never leave the bubble of your overpriced compound, and you might stay with the delusion that your vacation had low impact. But every morning, massive tanker trucks are pumping the raw sewage out of your hotel, and probably dumping it in the jungle somewhere, contaminating ground water. Your hotel gets a delivery of potable water daily because the groundwater is not safe. Global warming (everyone’s fault, not just Mexican tourists) has caused a huge increase in Sargassum Weed rafts in the Caribbean, which the trade winds blow to the Tulum beaches. Despite a massive effort with workers shoveling the weed from the beaches and taking it away in dump trucks every day, the beach in April is UNSWIMMABLE by all but the most committed swimmers willing to wade through 100 meters of thick weeds to get to open water. Parking here costs $400MXD ($20 USD) daily, the same as airport parking in most US cities! I resent some exorbitant cost that we are charged for something every day. Just yesterday, a bike rental was $20 USD each. Such a disappointment to be fleeced every day for a really poorly managed area with a smelly weed covered beach and a miles long street of hotels and bars that is filled with trash, pollution, and generator noise. But you can get an almond latte, so it is all okay, right?
Still trying to cling to its bohemian roots, you can get vegan food and almond milk, but no backpackers can afford these outrageous prices, and the claim of eco-tourist hotels is a complete fail: due to lack of infrastructure planning for this industry, there is not enough power, so every energy hungry hotel runs a diesel generator 24/7. No rules on LEED building standards: so no insulation, no solar water heating, no photocells in sight. Litter is EVERYWHERE. So, book your yoga vacation and never leave the bubble of your overpriced compound, and you might stay with the delusion that your vacation had low impact. But every morning, massive tanker trucks are pumping the raw sewage out of your hotel, and probably dumping it in the jungle somewhere, contaminating ground water. Your hotel gets a delivery of potable water daily because the groundwater is not safe. Global warming (everyone’s fault, not just Mexican tourists) has caused a huge increase in Sargassum Weed rafts in the Caribbean, which the trade winds blow to the Tulum beaches. Despite a massive effort with workers shoveling the weed from the beaches and taking it away in dump trucks every day, the beach in April is UNSWIMMABLE by all but the most committed swimmers willing to wade through 100 meters of thick weeds to get to open water. Parking here costs $400MXD ($20 USD) daily, the same as airport parking in most US cities! I resent some exorbitant cost that we are charged for something every day. Just yesterday, a bike rental was $20 USD each. Such a disappointment to be fleeced every day for a really poorly managed area with a smelly weed covered beach and a miles long street of hotels and bars that is filled with trash, pollution, and generator noise. But you can get an almond latte, so it is all okay, right?
Written April 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vivianne B
1 contribution
Apr 2022 • Couples
Dont go to Tulum if you are not prepared to spend big money. You dont find 2 euro cervezas here, but beers start at 6, at night the taxis ask 55 dollars for a 9 minute drive and so on. On average, the dish prices are more expensive than in Europe. In every nicer restaurant you also pay 6 euro's for water AND there is guys offering you coke on the way to the bathroom everywhere. Also most things have an entree fee or minimum spend. These can also get up to 125 dollars.
Architecture here is amazing, the town is worth a visit but dont expect it to offer affordable luxery. Stay 2 nights and splurge or go to holbox and enjoy a more laid back vibe.
Architecture here is amazing, the town is worth a visit but dont expect it to offer affordable luxery. Stay 2 nights and splurge or go to holbox and enjoy a more laid back vibe.
Written May 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
duke4155
Orangevale, California
I'm thinking of going to Tulum in December ...Is seaweed still that bad where you can't swim in ocean? We were thinking of staying Nueva Vida De Ramiro?
Written November 4, 2019
December they said it’s high season so no seaweed it’s clear blue water.
Written November 6, 2019
Yes all the yucatan Peninsula is really safe apart from some slangs in cancun city which is kind of far from the touristic area but tulum playa and bacalar among small towns. you are more than safe.
Written October 25, 2019
In October we are going on a cruise and doing the Tulum ruins excursion when we stop in Cozumel. Our main focus is the ruins but we were hoping to get in the water for a little bit just off the back of the ruins. Should we not even plan to do that? I do not have much knowledge of the Sargassum seaweed, is there a chance it will get better by then? This will help me with what to pack for the day. Thank you in advance.
Written August 22, 2019
It suppose to be better in That season but nature is impredictible. I do hope is better still there are another options like tje cenotes you can visit for the day you arr there.
Written September 8, 2019
We are planning to visit Tulum from 8th to 11th Aug, 2019. The seaweed news around has confused us on our visit.
Will most of the Tulum beaches be affected by seaweed and not worth visiting? Is there any beach which will not be affected? Please suggest looking at the current situation, will Playa Del Carmen be better incase Tulum is bad.
Thanks is advance for your help
Written July 16, 2019
OnAir44461566189
Windsor, Colorado
I am currently in Tulum, from what I have heard and seen most beaches are covered in seaweed. This is a problem in the entire region not just Tulum. This being said YES it is still worth it! Have a realistic expectation and be open to experiencing more then the beach. There are beautiful cenotes to swim, ruins to visit, and culture/food to eat. If it's just the beach and blue water your looking for go somewhere else. Others will enjoy the area with less crowds.
Written July 19, 2019
We pre-paid for a rental from Avis but I'm seeing horrible reviews. Will the fraud activity not occur since we have already paid for the car?
Written March 27, 2019
The fraud acticity is not just from Avis.... And the fraud itself is this: You rent a car, you do not take extensive pictures of the vehicle and when you return it, you are pressed for time, scared to miss your flight and boom, it takes one dishonest person sometimes 2 to make your day a living hell. I was once charged the whole cost of a fiat. Imagine 18000usd appearing on your credit card overnight ahah not fun but I solved the matter free of charge, I had an employee returning the vehicle 2 days later and they tried to say there was all this damage.
TAKE 2 ADVICES: PURCHASE THE TOP INSURANCE THAT COMES WITH THAT CAR FROM AVIS.
DO NOT BUY THIRD PARTY CAR INSURANCE BEFORE YOUR TRIP.
UNITED STATES OR CANADA THIRD PARTY INSURANCE MEANS YOU AREN'T DEALING WITH THE MEXICAN INSURANCES AND LAWS DIRECTLY!
It is worth to buy that super expensive insurance, my boss crashed a jeep into a palm tree(FREE). They do not look at the vehicle when you return it.
Written April 9, 2019
I've been reading that it's dangerous renting a car to travel around with, like from cancun airport to tulum, did you notice anything during your stay?
Written March 27, 2019
Hallo
Kann mir einer sagen wie die Algen Plage momentan aussieht , Ist es besser geworden ? Ich plane mit meine Freundin in Mai hin zu fliegen .
Vielen Danke
Written March 2, 2019
Hallo wie sind z. Z. in Akumal im Akumal Bay Resort & Spa. Das ist das einzige Hotel in der Umgebung das dem Seegras Herr wird. Die Angestellten arbeiten teilweise rund um die Uhr mit großen Geräten. Sehr großes Lob an das Personal !!! Man kann an vielen Stellen ins Meer gehen.
Written May 11, 2019
Alguien sabe como está hoy de sargazo la playa de Playa Paraíso??????
Pretendemos viajar allí la próxima semana.
Gracias.
Written January 31, 2019
Acaban de llegar toneladas de sargazo, huele horrible, vayan a cuba
Written May 1, 2019
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