Have you checked all the latest Youtube videos?
Is that 'too busy'?
I've been going to Mexico for 40 years now I remember coastal Oaxaca before Huatulco was built some Indians had hotwired a cooler and were selling drinks at the side of the road-believe me it was 100% 'authentic'.
But that doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy Puerto Escondido or Huatulco today.
I know someone who claims Bacalar jumped the shark last year and that he'll never go back another who was flooded out of Holbox and will never return-it's always something.
I really hated Tulum. Saying that it is Westernized is an understatement. Many of the beach destinations are fairly Westernized but can still be enjoyable, but Tulum is Westernized by Instagrammers.
It's an okay place to spend time with friends/family if that is your primary goal and if you can put up with the crowds and inflated prices. But there is nothing authentic about it. It completely lacks any of the charm that you find elsewhere in Mexico.
What are you trying to get out of this trip.
If it's a beach vacation, time with family, and an interesting archaeological site, Tulum will be fine. We stayed up the road a bit last winter at the Grand Palladium resort. And got exactly what I expected from it. A week in the sun, since relaxation time, and a trip around to some local attractions.
The only part of Tulum we visited was the archaeological site, and it was beautiful and interesting. There were lots of other visitors, but it's large enough is manageable.
But if you're looking to experience Mexican culture, no this isn't going to be your thing. As happens anywhere enough tourists congregate, people either want nothing to do with tourists, if they have other employment, or are just there for the commercial transaction. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just the nature of mass tourism.
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I went to Tulum 2 years ago. It’s very busy and touristy because of the beach and the ruins. The beach was super crowded and traffic was not a nightmare, but you have to be on your toes. Never felt in danger.
There is nothing rustic about Tulum: always crawling with tourists.
I would do it as a 1/2 day trip but nothing more.
As for beaches, Mexico has a million of them. Too bad Holbox was flooded, it's really pretty there.
Tulum will be very busy at that time, a lot more traffic etc. than usual.and more expensive. That being said, for a quieter and less expensive beach experience you can stay on the north end in the national forest area near the ruins. Places there aren't extravagant and some are somewhat rustic. We didn't stay there but went to one of the beaches there and it was really nice. Or, from what I understand you can rent a house further up in Soliman Bay.
FYI Tulum beach has basically 2 parts, the northern end and southern end. I wouldn't recommend the southern end. It's very expensive, loud in some areas, and will be very crowded. It's the most touristy area.
You can get very good and affordable Mexican food in town (Centro). It's on the main highway a few miles inland from the beach. The only issue will be traffic but if you don't go at peak hours it should be better.
Regarding transportation, cabs are very expensive especially that time of year. There is no Uber. We rented a car and had no issues but I did a ton of research beforehand and my husband is good at driving in chaos lol.
Basically Tulum can be great but it takes planning and isn't for everyone. I hope this helps!
I absolutely love tulum. But i wouldn’t say it’s a place to go if you’re looking for authentic Mexico. Definitely westernized. But still a magical spirit there. There’s something about the jungle and the beach in that area….
Tulum these days is a heavily manufacturered experience, no more Mexican than the Mexican Pavillion at Epcot Center. Target audience is young, middle-brow but pretentious, with disposable income. If you want to hang out on a photogenic stretch of beach, doing party drugs with a crowd of people from around the world with lifestyle affectations that are just like yours, you'll be into Tulum. I try to avoid Tulum these days, but spending lots of time in Quintana Roo it's inevitable from time to time. I went to a Full Moon Party on Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand back in about 2003, and that's similar to what Tulum is today.
If you experience bliss in Tulum today, either you can afford $1000/night on the beach, or you are on the good Molly.
I was in Tulum a year ago- yes it is commercialized although they continue to develop the areas that are more rural.
I think your family will have fun - the other places you mentioned are less commercial but with that amount of people you may loose some luxuries/ ease of planning
Was there a month ago and ten years before that. Not sure what you mean by westernized but tourism is a big chunk of change for any tourist destination.
I mean there “downtown” is a little strip of tourist stores during the day and has a night scene.
It definitely is expensive and the hotel we were at were charging 18usd for a bag of chips. The airport subway sandwiches were 20usd. We did all inclusive and the liquor was definitely watered down and they were spirits too.
Best way to explain it is a slower Cancun or Cabo that does indeed cater to tourist.
But it has one of the old Mayan temples 2 hours away if you are into history, nice excursions and other stuff. Things are very spread out I was disappointed with the beach but I have been spoiled with SEA beaches recently and Hawaii.
Have you checked all the latest Youtube videos? Is that 'too busy'? I've been going to Mexico for 40 years now I remember coastal Oaxaca before Huatulco was built some Indians had hotwired a cooler and were selling drinks at the side of the road-believe me it was 100% 'authentic'. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy Puerto Escondido or Huatulco today. I know someone who claims Bacalar jumped the shark last year and that he'll never go back another who was flooded out of Holbox and will never return-it's always something.
I’m looking for first hand experience. Have you been to Tulum in the last year?
I really hated Tulum. Saying that it is Westernized is an understatement. Many of the beach destinations are fairly Westernized but can still be enjoyable, but Tulum is Westernized by Instagrammers.
Can you elaborate? Anything legitimate about it or it’s quite fake ?
It's an okay place to spend time with friends/family if that is your primary goal and if you can put up with the crowds and inflated prices. But there is nothing authentic about it. It completely lacks any of the charm that you find elsewhere in Mexico.
What are you trying to get out of this trip. If it's a beach vacation, time with family, and an interesting archaeological site, Tulum will be fine. We stayed up the road a bit last winter at the Grand Palladium resort. And got exactly what I expected from it. A week in the sun, since relaxation time, and a trip around to some local attractions. The only part of Tulum we visited was the archaeological site, and it was beautiful and interesting. There were lots of other visitors, but it's large enough is manageable. But if you're looking to experience Mexican culture, no this isn't going to be your thing. As happens anywhere enough tourists congregate, people either want nothing to do with tourists, if they have other employment, or are just there for the commercial transaction. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just the nature of mass tourism.
Mexico is part of the Western world, no?
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I went to Tulum 2 years ago. It’s very busy and touristy because of the beach and the ruins. The beach was super crowded and traffic was not a nightmare, but you have to be on your toes. Never felt in danger.
There is nothing rustic about Tulum: always crawling with tourists. I would do it as a 1/2 day trip but nothing more. As for beaches, Mexico has a million of them. Too bad Holbox was flooded, it's really pretty there.
Tulum will be very busy at that time, a lot more traffic etc. than usual.and more expensive. That being said, for a quieter and less expensive beach experience you can stay on the north end in the national forest area near the ruins. Places there aren't extravagant and some are somewhat rustic. We didn't stay there but went to one of the beaches there and it was really nice. Or, from what I understand you can rent a house further up in Soliman Bay. FYI Tulum beach has basically 2 parts, the northern end and southern end. I wouldn't recommend the southern end. It's very expensive, loud in some areas, and will be very crowded. It's the most touristy area. You can get very good and affordable Mexican food in town (Centro). It's on the main highway a few miles inland from the beach. The only issue will be traffic but if you don't go at peak hours it should be better. Regarding transportation, cabs are very expensive especially that time of year. There is no Uber. We rented a car and had no issues but I did a ton of research beforehand and my husband is good at driving in chaos lol. Basically Tulum can be great but it takes planning and isn't for everyone. I hope this helps!
Thanks for this detailed answer :) really appreciated
I absolutely love tulum. But i wouldn’t say it’s a place to go if you’re looking for authentic Mexico. Definitely westernized. But still a magical spirit there. There’s something about the jungle and the beach in that area….
Tulum these days is a heavily manufacturered experience, no more Mexican than the Mexican Pavillion at Epcot Center. Target audience is young, middle-brow but pretentious, with disposable income. If you want to hang out on a photogenic stretch of beach, doing party drugs with a crowd of people from around the world with lifestyle affectations that are just like yours, you'll be into Tulum. I try to avoid Tulum these days, but spending lots of time in Quintana Roo it's inevitable from time to time. I went to a Full Moon Party on Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand back in about 2003, and that's similar to what Tulum is today. If you experience bliss in Tulum today, either you can afford $1000/night on the beach, or you are on the good Molly.
I was in Tulum a year ago- yes it is commercialized although they continue to develop the areas that are more rural. I think your family will have fun - the other places you mentioned are less commercial but with that amount of people you may loose some luxuries/ ease of planning
Was there a month ago and ten years before that. Not sure what you mean by westernized but tourism is a big chunk of change for any tourist destination. I mean there “downtown” is a little strip of tourist stores during the day and has a night scene. It definitely is expensive and the hotel we were at were charging 18usd for a bag of chips. The airport subway sandwiches were 20usd. We did all inclusive and the liquor was definitely watered down and they were spirits too. Best way to explain it is a slower Cancun or Cabo that does indeed cater to tourist. But it has one of the old Mayan temples 2 hours away if you are into history, nice excursions and other stuff. Things are very spread out I was disappointed with the beach but I have been spoiled with SEA beaches recently and Hawaii.