Tulum Holidays

On-trend town

Tulum spent years as the underdog of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, letting Cancun and Playa del Carmen take top billing. But now, trendy Tulum’s basking in the limelight. And rightly so. This town of two halves has plenty to be smug about, including some wow-worthy Mayan ruins, lap-of-luxury hotels and some of the whitest beaches on the Caribbean Coast. Just so you know, the beaches on this stretch of coastline sometimes experience increased levels of seaweed – called sargassum. It’s influenced by the weather and ocean currents. If your hotel’s affected, the staff will do everything they can to clear it as quickly as possible.

Traditional and 21st-century

This place takes things a lot easier than its northerly siblings. But it’s no shrinking violet. First off, you’ve got the main drag, where you can grab tacos from street stalls, or traditional restaurants. Then, down on the beach, there’s another strip, which is on the more la-di-da end of the scale. Think eco resorts, high-end hotels and chic eateries and bars, dishing up ceviche alongside cocktails.

Sightseeing and sands

As ruins go, Tulum’s easily nab the crown for the most snap-friendly setting. They’ve downed tools on a clifftop, peeping over the Caribbean Sea. There’s a beach underneath, too, with sands the colour of sugar. From May to October, mumma turtles come to nest on Tulum’s beaches, so staying here’s a must for nature nuts. The daytrips are decent, too – swim in cenotes or explore the Sian Ka’an reserve.