more thoughts on Tulum

[Freddy2000]

We've been here 3 days and while we are having a nice time--it feels like things are changing at a far more rapid pace then I've seen in my 10 years of visiting the area. I know there are big fans of Le Zebra on this board but I found the place--with its W hotel aesthetic and constant loud music--kind of depressing (not to mention its 8 dollar quesadillas....). And places like that seem to be sprouting up everywhere. I have seen signs posted with (to me!) the dreaded words "TECHNO PARTY ON THE BEACH TONIGHT".
I am thinking we need to find the next Tulum.

[pepper]

I do love the fish tacos at LaZ, but I can always do w/o music. I especially think it's terrible that there's techno parties everywhere.

Our last trip in August, we felt the same way, but couldn't think of where else to go for such a nice beach. Maybe St John or Turks and Caicos...but wonder if the food is as good as in Tulum.

[Berto]

I have been thinking the same thing about Isla Mujeres lately. When I first went there it was very laid-back (1982), undeveloped & cheap. Now it is getting crowded & every inch seems to be getting developed.

I am thinking: Isla Holbox. It is much harder to get to than Isla Mujeres from the Cancun airport & doesn't have the ruins like Tulum so that should limit the hoards of people for another few years.

Any other ideas?

[pepper]

Holbox is a nice place, but doesn't have the beach that Tulum has - the water is greenish, the sand is extremely fine and kinda smells like decomposed seaweed if you grab a glob and sniff it. And no waves.

There's no reef, no ruins...only fishing... and whale sharks in the summer. Heaps of mosquitoes which didn't bother us as much as the tabanos (aggressive biting horse fly) and chiquistes (sand fleas).

[xamachdan]

Punta Allen might be an option, it hasn't changed much in the past 4 years.
XD

[beachreader]

Or maybe one or two places along the Punta Allen road? :)

Xamach Dos comes to mind, and I was actually going to post that even without Dan being here. It really reminds me of what you guys always talk about when you reminisce about Tulum of yore. Small, funky, warm, quiet. Not as far away as Majahual or those other places, but definitely as quiet.

[AdGuy]

I have to agree...bump on down the road towards Punta Allen and stay at one of the remote places. You may want to buy a rake at the PDC Walmart along the way to groom the beach! :)

[minniemex]

I do love the fish tacos at LaZ, but I can always do w/o music. I especially think it's terrible that there's techno parties everywhere.

Our last trip in August, we felt the same way, but couldn't think of where else to go for such a nice beach. Maybe St John or Turks and Caicos...but wonder if the food is as good as in Tulum.


I can answer for the food in the Turks - it is good, but it isn't anything very "ethnic" to the area except for the rice and peas - that I loved!! The beaches are beautiful but the food and accommodations are very expensive. I stayed at some remote places (Salt Cay & North Caicos) and at both places you have to order your meal in the afternoon for that evening. Just to compare - here is a picture of a North Caicos beach -

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Turks/Dsc00091.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Turks/Dsc00095.jpg

[minniemex]

I have been thinking the same thing about Isla Mujeres lately. When I first went there it was very laid-back (1982), undeveloped & cheap. Now it is getting crowded & every inch seems to be getting developed.

I am thinking: Isla Holbox. It is much harder to get to than Isla Mujeres from the Cancun airport & doesn't have the ruins like Tulum so that should limit the hoards of people for another few years.

Any other ideas?

Berto - how are the skeeters there?? I have always read that they are bad?? The other thing I wasn't sure about was the depth of the water?? Do you have to go out far to get deep?? And also, no snorkeling??

[minniemex]

Or maybe one or two places along the Punta Allen road? :)

Xamach Dos comes to mind, and I was actually going to post that even without Dan being here. It really reminds me of what you guys always talk about when you reminisce about Tulum of yore. Small, funky, warm, quiet. Not as far away as Majahual or those other places, but definitely as quiet.

BR - did you go out in the water there?? I know your time there was short. How about snorkeling??

[beachreader]

I didn't snorkel, but Zach and Shelly did for a short bit. I did swim, and the water's fine. Some turtle grass, but enough clear areas to get around.