One of the questions that I am most often asked when talking about the beaches on the Mexican Caribbean, is what do I recommend the most, Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum. My answer is always the same “it depends on what experience you are looking for”, because although they are relatively close to each other, each city has its own “personality”.
If you are trying to decide where to go after all this Covid-19 chaos has passed, you have come to the right place, because here we will talk a little more about each destination. Before taking note, pour yourself a cold beer, put on that Spotify playlist with songs that make you travel instantly, relax and visualize yourself on one of those wonderful Mexican beaches.
Cancun
To begin with, Cancun is not part of the Riviera Maya, since the riviera ranges from Puerto Morelos to the Sian Ka’an biosphere. But that does not take away the fact that it has the most beautiful beaches, as you surely already know, with turquoise water and white sand. Besides, from here you can make excursions to Isla Mujeres.
Cancun is a much more Americanized city where resorts predominate, especially all-inclusive. If your only plan is to stay at the hotel, enjoying the pool and the beach, then this is your place. In Mexico, the beaches are actually public, but unfortunately the hotels “appropriate” them, so practically the beach where the hotel is located will be used by its guests, since there are very few public accesses.
The tourist area is modern, its main artery is Blvd. Kukulcan, where most of the renowned restaurants -which certainly have beautiful views of the Nichupte Lagoon-, bars and luxury shopping centers are located. This area also has its own center where there is a handicrafts market and the famous nightclubs. While it is a very popular spring break destination for Americans, it should be mentioned that it is also a very familiar all-inclusive destination and rather expensive.
Playa del Carmen
Although it does not have the beaches of Cancun or Tulum, “Playa” as everyone calls it, has an amazing atmosphere and welcoming vibes, which is why it has managed to position itself in recent years as one of the favorite destinations of travelers worldwide. It also has a perfect location right between Cancun and Tulum, and facing the island of Cozumel. It is very close to many cenotes and next to most of the famous Xcaret parks.
The hotels in Playa are more diverse, here you can find everything from hostels to chic boutique hotels to large luxury chains. The city’s beaches are accessible to the general public and because they are smaller, they are usually more crowded. There are sections where the water is perhaps not as beautiful as in other places on the Riviera Maya and where the beaches are narrower, since the sea has taken up territory.
One of the jewels is its beautiful 5ta Avenida (5th Avenue), a pedestrian street of just over 2 kilometers, where you find everything: restaurants, bars, boutiques, ice cream parlors, little hotels, mariachis, etc. It is always full of life and is definitely the most suitable choice if you are looking for that essence of a Mexican “beach town”. A destination that also has more options for all tastes and budgets.
Tulum
Smaller and more bohemian, but very chic, that’s for sure. Tulum is 2 hours from Cancun, it has wonderful beaches with calmer and crystalline water and it has a jewel which is its archaeological zone. Here you have the perfect postcard of Quintana Roo: Mayan temples and the turquoise sea as a backdrop.
In Tulum, ecological boutique hotels predominate. Everything is more in harmony with nature: more jungle and less noise. But it is still a destination that strives more towards luxury and this can be seen in the restaurants, bars and boutiques located in the tourist area near the beach. Although it also has other much cheaper options on the Federal Highway, but those are a little further away from the beach.
Tulum is ideal for romantic trips or to chill out with friends. Its location is perfect for exploring the nearby cenotes, which in my opinion are unmissable and the Sian Ka’an biosphere, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. And it is a little closer -than Playa del Carmen- to Akumal, in case you want to go swimming with turtles. Another advantage that I would add is that it is very close to the Mayan villages located between Tulum and Cobá where you can buy from souvenirs to furniture made by local artisans.
To summarize, these are the basic points that I would question before choosing any of these places: what budget do I have? Do I want to live the destination or lock myself in an all-inclusive resort? What kind of environment am I looking for? What kind of experience do I want to have?
Traveler tip: three factors that you should always take into account, regardless of the city you choose:
- Hurricane season: the season is from June 1 to November 30 and even if you are lucky to not experience any hurricane, it is more likely to rain between those dates.
- Always find out how the sargassum is, as it also varies by season. Although it is a natural phenomenon, you can check ow much the hotel does to clean the beach and if there are barriers in that area of the sea to stop it.
- With Covid-19, if you have already made up your mind to travel, make sure that the hotel where you are staying complies with all the preventive measures.
Now, let’s prepare this trip that you have dreamed of so much. What awaits you is sun, the smell of suntan lotion, a bucket with ice cold beers and some shrimp tacos… all with ocean views.
* When it’s convenient to travel due to Covid-19…
If you want to travel to Cancun or the Riviera Maya and would me to organize your trip 100% customized through our travel agency Tripdreaming, please contact me at silvia.lucero@tripdreaming.com.
For editorial questions, please contact me at silvia.lucero@latrotamundos.com.
