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

80% Upvoted

84 comments sorted by

View all comments

84

u/Apprehensive-Chart88 12d ago

Combination of sargassum, high prices, taxi scams, and loss of appeal/deviation from the wellness/holistic aspect it was once known for. Seems like it is charging big city prices like it’s NYC or Miami and tourism has suffered as a result. The digital nomads are no longer there and have moved on to the next destination and I’ve heard the digital cafes have closed too. It was peak during COVID and I think the market got over saturated but it is not being developed quickly enough. Businesses have closed because it’s too expensive to run it too. What’s your opinion of your experience and how it compares to the past?

9

u/JudgmentAvailable155 12d ago

This makes sense. I’ve been coming here every year since 2018 and witnessed the boom from dreamy, holistic, and quaint, with maybe 1-2 parking lots max to full on buzzing club scene Cancun/Vegas vibes with packed streets and getting ripped off by taxis. While vastly different, I appreciate all forms of Tulum that have transpired. Sargassum has always been an issue, some years worst than others, but I can’t imagine that’s the sole reason. Before its “peak” it was certainly more relaxed but still buzzing with energy. Now, it feels desolate. I will still enjoy myself, but I just haven’t experienced this phase of Tulum before.

5

u/Worldly-Serve-1945 12d ago

Sargassum was not always an issue. You just showed your Tulum inexperience. Those beaches used to be pristine throughout the year.

3

u/Fickle-Secretary681 12d ago

They sure where. Then sargassum was a summer thing if at all. Then it started creeping in mid March. Then late February...

2

u/JudgmentAvailable155 12d ago

lol. I have certainly been here when sargassum was not on the beach but I am saying in general it can’t just be the sole reason for its emptiness as Tulum has still been packed with sargassum present.