Located about 80 miles south of Cancun is the town of Tulum. This area has gained traction among tourists over the years, and it seems to grow in popularity more and more each year. With additional interest comes new and exciting attractions for travelers to look forward to, including a brand new airport and new resorts.
“Tulum is a highly sought after destination known for pristine beaches and lush jungle surroundings, vibrant culture and close proximity to ancient Mayan ruins,” said Mark Benson, associate vice president of sales and strategy for Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. “The destination is ideal for an enchanting, romantic getaway.”
Let’s take a look at the latest happenings in this destination.
Tulum International Airport
One of the most noteworthy updates is the opening of the Tulum International Airport (Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport), which means travelers staying in the Tulum area can choose to fly into this airport instead of taking the almost two-hour transfer from Cancun International Airport. Lori Gold, founder of The Resorts of the Riviera Maya, was able to visit the airport when it first opened, and while the location is not as close by as she thought, it should still save time for travelers staying in the Tulum area.
“It was much further south than I expected, and the distance from the highway to the actual terminal was also further than expected (approx. 10-15 minutes). The airport itself is small and compact and has unique design elements that make you feel like you are in Tulum,” Gold said. “I think the two main benefits are that it is a much smaller and less hectic airport than Cancun, making it easier to navigate, less wait times for things like immigration and baggage and hopefully a smoother arrival experience and that it will save those staying in the Tulum area and further south a lot of transfer time.”
Gold points out that an analysis is still key for travel advisors booking clients to the Tulum area to find out which airport makes the most sense to fly into.
“I recommend first using Google Maps to determine the distance between each airport and the resort,” Gold said. “Then compare flight timing/pricing and transfer pricing. Currently airport transfers from Tulum airport are quite high in price compared to Cancun (the airport authorities charge transfer companies around 5x the price of Cancun to enter the airport to pick up passengers). Once you compare all of these metrics, you will have a better understanding on which airport to book clients into.”
New Hotels and Resorts
Inclusive Collection, part of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts already has Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa located in Tulum, and the resort company recently opened another property in this destination: Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club. These two resorts, along with Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, were recently featured on “The Bachelor.”
“With the recent opening of the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport, which brings direct flights from several U.S. and Canadian markets into Tulum, and the continued demand for luxury all-inclusive travel, 2024 was the right time to introduce Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club to the region,” Benson said, adding that the property offers guests “variety, convenience and culturally rooted experiences while keeping luxury at the forefront.”
With lush greenery and cenote-inspired designs, the resort stays in line with what the destination offers. Guests can enjoy unique experiences such as concerts under the stars, aqua spinning and indigenous spa treatments. “One of the most unique offerings Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club can provide guests with is access to the beach front Zamna Beach Club,” Benson said. “Located just a short shuttle transfer from the main resort, Zamna Beach Club sits in a coveted location in Tulum's beach zone and boasts both the Villa Zamna. Villa Zamna provides a private beach house with five bedrooms, a private chef and butler, two private rooftop plunge pools, and full access to Casa Zamna amenities.”
XELA Tulum is another new hotel that recently opened in this destination. Travelers in search of a boutique accommodation can relish in the privacy this property offers. With only 12 rooms total, it has a secluded feel.
While they aren’t quite as brand new, Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya and Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort are also worthy of a mention, as they both opened in 2022.
Tren Maya
There is not yet a stop available in Tulum, but it’s important to keep Tren Maya (Maya Train) in mind as a possible form of transportation for your clients vacationing in this area in the future. According to AFAR’s guide to Tren Maya, the route will eventually stop at Tulum Airport.
Gold said the train will be a great addition for certain travelers and journeys, but the stations are not necessarily right in the cities. “For example, the Tulum Tren Maya station will be in the same complex as the airport, which is at least 30-45 minutes away from downtown Tulum,” Gold said. “We have yet to see how travelers will efficiently get from the stations to the cities and hotels and what cost that entails, and those factors will be huge in deciding if Tren Maya is the right choice for transportation. Right now the train is not operating at full speed, so it’s hard to gauge how much, if any time and money will be saved by using the Tren Maya to get let’s say from Cancun to Tulum vs. taking a private transfer all the way.”
New Tulum?
Located just under a three-hour drive south of Tulum is the town of Bacalar, and it’s been referred to as the “New Tulum.” It sits on Lake Bacalar, called “the Lagoon of Seven Colors,” due to the water’s beautiful hues. With the new airport in Tulum and the expansion of Tren Maya in the works, will Bacalar be the next Quintana Roo destination for advisors to send their clients to?
“I think the new Tulum airport and Tren Maya (which will stop in Bacalar as well) will be huge in bringing more business to this destination due to its remote location in the Southern part of Quintana Roo,” Gold said. “The Tulum airport cuts the driving time from Cancun airport in half to Bacalar, and I think this will be the perfect situation to take the Tren Maya (if flying into either airport).”
Those advisors with curious travelers interested in exploring the less-traveled side of Mexico might want to keep this destination on their radar.
About the Author
Don r | 09/03/24 - 11:43 AM
Tulum is the most ugly place you could possibly visit too many tourists too expensive every one there is looking to rip you off the beaches are terribly dirty I don't know why anyone still goes there Roy r
1 | reply