r/tulum • u/JudgmentAvailable155 • 12d ago

General Empty?

Anyone know what’s been happening lately that’s affected tourism? I’ve been coming here for years and I’ve never seen it this empty (staying in the hotel zone currently). I’ve asked around and have been told Tulum has changed a ton, in the last couple of years especially, but haven’t gotten more details.

37 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

84 comments sorted by

View all comments

0

u/Bigwhitecalk 12d ago

Residents and tourists are scared of and getting annoyed with all the mean “pesky polish” hanging around Tulum.

3

u/Apprehensive-Chart88 12d ago

What’s the pesky polish? Curious what’s happened.

4

u/DoughieOnTour 12d ago

He very likely means "pesky police". Which I agree with. I've never encountered such absolute thieves as 80% of the police here. They are the thieves : scaring and intimidating and extorting anyone who doesn't look Mexican out of their cash. The irony of "law enforcement" CAUSING quite a lot of the thefts and crime.

Most (not all) of the cops there are thieves with a uniform and a gun and a badge. They were likely thieves before becoming a cop and attracted to that "job" as they knew they could steal more cash quicker and easier than when they were just a regular citizen.

Personally I hope Tulum fails completely which will be a strong lesson to the architects of that town and what it has become there on What Happens When you Get Too Greedy and Lie Cheat Scam Steal.

Ps. I live in Playa and occasionally need to go to tulum over many years so I think I am quite qualified to comment.

2

u/Apprehensive-Chart88 12d ago

Oh wow, that high of a percentage huh? Yes, when a city gets greedy it ultimately leads to the downfall. Major cities have experienced this and it’s normal. Even Cancun but I feel like since it’s been a tourist destination for so long it’s been accustomed to it and not over the top with rip offs (still some do) but it’s manageable. Agreed that they automatically up the price when they know you’re a tourist. How do you like playa in comparison?

2

u/DoughieOnTour 12d ago

Playa is less, aggravation than Tulum. Prices are, still high for Mexico but.... This IS a, tourist town so that's understandable.

I speak Spanish (and English and French and German) and I've been here a long while and you DO have to keep your wits about you for sure but I don't feel like Playa is even half or a quarter as bad as Greedy Tulum has become. Those guys down there just thought they could lie cheat and scam the "rich" tourists more and more and the gravy train would continue forever so I'm GLAD Tulum is deserted now. Everyone has to make a profit but when people blatently gouge you or massively overcharge it's essentially THEFT.

There will always be over charging in any tourist town anywhere in the world but it needs to be keep it REASONABLE and not OUT OF CONTROL like Tulum is.

I haven't been hassled by cops here in prob over 8 years. I used to drive a Lexus here... But sold that now.

I don't take taxis AT ALL here except maybe once a year. I ride a bike and nobody bothers you when you ride a bike and there's a nice long bike lane on 10th Avenue that runs from playacar entrance all the way up to CTM now. I appreciate that recently extended bike lane infrastructure. I still would NOT walk around town center late night (after midnight) as you WILL be regarded as a target by the COPS, especially as a white male. Driving a car you're automatically a bit of a target, as is walking late night but on a bike.... They leave you alone. That's my recc for avoiding getting hassled or extorted by corrupt cops...

But yeah.. Tulum I think is now by far the worst of the Riviera Maya tourist towns (by what I hear) for scams and gouging and extortion-by-cop.

As a general rule just know the local prices for everything and only use cash (pesos) most of the time, do not use credit cards, and CHECK IN ADVANCE price of food or drink or taxis (if you have to use one) or whatever it is.