Is Tulum Overrated? A Realistic Look at Mexico's Trendiest Destination
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Last July, I found myself unexpectedly en route to Tulum, Mexico, all thanks to a jaw-dropping flight deal—$170 round trip. How could I resist? Everyone around me kept asking me if Tulum was worth it, but I couldn't say because I'd never been. As someone who prides themselves on offering honest travel advice, it pained me to admit that I couldn't answer that question with certainty before my own visit.
Now, I can spill the beans and give you the tea.
Tulum has two sides: the beach strip and the town-side. The beach is all about luxury resorts and pricey meals—I dropped $110 on an amazing appetizer and dessert. But was it worth the hefty price tag? Definitely debatable, but it was honestly one of the best meals I’ve ever had. That was still an insane price, but you’re really just paying for the experience. And what an experience it was!
The town is different. It's more local and less glitzy. Still, as someone who's not into super fancy or super cheap travel anymore (let's call it something in the middle - "ludget" traveler, perhaps?), even the town felt a bit touristy and overpriced.
However, amidst the tourism boom, there were pockets of magic that made my journey worthwhile. Here is my itinerary for a few days in the jungle of Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
3 Days in Tulum Itinerary
Day One - Arrive in Cancun roughly 9AM. Take 2 hour bus to Tulum. Explore the town and grab some grub.
Check into airbnb, then head to rent a bike/scooter. I personally got a bike, but looking back I regret not spitting up the extra few pesos for a scooter. Biking in July heat for 30+ minutes sometimes was tough. Once the bike was rented, headed to Azulik for my expensive yet gorgeous and delicious dinner reservation. Explored the restaurant and their partner museum and retail experience. Biked back and took a dip in my AirBnb pool.
Day Two - Early wake up to catch the sunrise at Playa Paraíso, then headed into Ruinas Tulum. KEEP IN MIND many spots (like the ruins) in Tulum require you pay in cash and don’t take card!
After a nice nap in the air conditioned Airbnb, I headed to a beach club to enjoy the beach on a covered bed and private pool at Papaya Playa Project. The entry fee was a minimum spend of roughly $65 on food, which was easily covered with an appetizer of guac, two watermelon drinks, a water and a dessert.
Day Three - Water day! Pro tip: head to all the touristy spots right when they open. First stop was Gran Cenote. While there was a line and a bunch of people right when they opened, all i had to do was wait 30-45 minutes and I had the place practically all to myself - minus a couple who was traveling and we ended up connecting. The main reason I love travel so much. If I had a scooter or a car, I would’ve visited more cenotes but getting a taxi/driver so often was ripping the bank. After that I headed back to Playa Paraíso for a snorkeling tour of the second biggest coral reef in the world. One word to describe these tours? Chaotic! The water was choppy, there was a bunch of other tours in the same spot, people where all over the place, but it was a fun adventure to say the least. Saw lots of turtles and sting rays! Ended the afternoon enjoying a coconut at The Coconut Experience and returning my bike before an early morning flight home.
Would I go back to Tulum? Probably not for fun. Unless work paid for it, then sure! Personally, I'd rather explore other places nearby, like Playa del Carmen or Akumal. And don't miss a road trip to visit cenotes—probably my favorite part. I’ll list a few popular ones and off the beaten path ones below.
So, is Tulum all it's cracked up to be? Kinda, but not really. It's nice and all, but there's more to Mexico than just Tulum's fancy resorts and crowded, private beaches.
Cenote List, from popular to off the beaten path:
Gran Cenote
Cenote Dos Ojos
Cenote Calavera
Cenote Tankah
Cenote Azul
Cenote Sac Actun
Cenote Dos Osos
Cenote Cristalino
Cenote Escondido
There are SO many, you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Just keep in mind how busy, pricey, far away, accessible and touristy they are.
New travel friends I met at Gran Cenote!
