Tulum Travel Experience

• Negative Experiences:

  • Visitors expressed disappointment in their recent trips to Tulum, citing high prices, scams, aggressive locals, cartel influence, and a decline in the overall experience.
  • Complaints included overpricing, scams at gas stations, exaggerated currency exchange rates at restaurants, and feeling unwelcome.
  • Reports of feeling unsafe, being scammed, and experiencing aggressive behavior from locals, such as confrontation over currency exchange and added tips.
  • Accounts of tourists almost getting kidnapped, taxi drivers violating routes, and friends needing to jump out of a taxi due to suspicious behavior.
  • Some mentioned decline in the town over the past years due to corruption, greed, and influence from drug cartels.

• Positive Experiences:

  • Despite the negatives, some travelers still found Tulum enjoyable in the past, especially before the recent surge in tourism and social media hype.

• Recommendations:

  • Many suggest alternatives like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Holbox, and Puerto Morelos as more enjoyable and affordable destinations in the region.
  • Local insights advised avoiding touristy areas, exploring less crowded spots, and focusing on cenotes, ruins, and natural attractions over mainstream hotspots.

• Travel Insights:

  • Past travelers remembered Tulum fondly from years ago but felt disappointed by recent experiences due to a variety of negative encounters.
  • A mix of positive and negative reviews highlighted the evolving landscape of Tulum and the impact of increased tourism, cartel influence, and pricing issues on the overall travel experience.