![]() ![]() ![]() The exhibits are relatively small and take just a few hours to see. ![]() The city’s theater, Teatro de Cancún, has a regular lineup of stage plays, comedy shows and musicals, and every evening, the Ballet Folklórico de Cancún puts up an entertaining performance of traditional Mexican dances at the Cancún Convention Center.Ĭulture vultures will delight in browsing through the 400 Maya artifacts on display at the Museo Maya de Cancún. Cancún’s cultural offerings might surprise youĬancún is famous for being party central, but rest assured you can still get your culture fix between the raves. Is Tulum or Cancún better for arts and culture?īoth Cancún and Tulum have much more to offer than the beach, and you don’t need to go far to discover an arsenal of culture houses and artsy treasuries. The winner: Cancún beats Tulum just by a smidge, mainly for the wide range of beaches found here. ![]() It’s part of a protected nature reserve, where hundreds of sea turtles nest each spring. (Playa Ruinas is accessible from the archaeological site by stairs, but the staircase has been closed since the pandemic started, and it's not clear when it will reopen.) An 18-minute drive up the coast is Xcacel, one of the most pristine beaches in Riviera Maya. From there, you'll have an excellent view of the Tulum ruins, perched high above the brilliant aquamarine waters of Playa Ruínas. Playa Pescadores is a great place to see fishers haul in their catch in the morning. While Cancún and Tulum are both cocooned in pearly white-sand beaches, venture further afield to discover the two cities' under-the-radar strands. However, this might change a few years down the road if prices in Tulum continue to increase. The winner: Tulum still has the edge over Cancún on this because of the budget options in the pueblo. But Tulum’s rising popularity has made prices skyrocket in recent years, and beachfront accommodation is pricier than before. Tulum has a whole slew of boutique hotels that range from palapa-style cabañas (cabins) to barefoot luxury villas. If you’re dreaming of waking up to a view of the sea, be prepared to part with some cash. You’ll also find an extensive offering of affordable apartments available for short term rental in the new residential areas of La Veleta and Aldea Zama, just a few blocks from the main drag. The main drag, Avenida Tulum, can be dusty and clogged with traffic – but it redeems itself with a lineup of well-priced vegan cafes, family-run seafood restaurants, and drinking holes that don’t cost the earth. The pueblo is compact and walkable, overflowing with low-cost taquerias and laid-back hostels where backpackers bond over craft beer and reggae music. Ola Bike on Avenida Coba rents out the iconic turquoise bicycles for M$150 (US$7) per day. Thankfully, Tulum is big on bikes, and they’re cheap to hire in town. Tulum is a tale of two cities – the beach and pueblo (town) are around 6km (4 miles) apart. Tulum is big on bikes, and they’re cheap to hire in town © Margarita Almpanezou / Getty Images Tulum is a bike-friendly city, but prices have soared It’s also easy to catch an Uber, a safer and cheaper option than flagging down a taxi. Catch route R1 or R2 to downtown, and it’s a flat fee of just M$12 (US$0.50). One of Cancún’s winning trades is its efficient city bus system, which connects the two areas. Centro also plays host to a smattering of budget hotels and affordable apartments, but choices are limited. Just a 20-minute drive away is Cancún Centro, where you’ll find local flavors in colorful markets and authentic taquerias that dish out ridiculously good US$1 tacos. Blvd Kukulcán, the main drag that cuts through the Zona Hotelera, is flanked by American chain restaurants and shiny malls. Cancún’s resorts are pricey, but there's an excellent public bus systemĬancún’s Zona Hotelera brims with all-inclusive resorts that take front-row seats on the glitzy 19km (11-mile) stretch of majestic Caribbean beaches. The Riviera Maya isn't the cheapest part of Mexico, but there’s no shortage of world-class resorts, funky hostels, and restaurants offering great value in both Cancún and Tulum. If I'm on a budget, should I choose Cancún or Tulum? So which beach town should you pick for your Riviera Maya getaway? If you’re torn between the two, this friendly competition might help you decide which city suits you best. Low-key palapa huts stand alongside boho-chic boutique hotels and art galleries that blend seamlessly with the surrounding tropical jungle. They may be just two hours away apart by car, but they’re as different as night and day.Ĭancún is vibrant and vivacious: sky-scraping hotels and extravagant resorts line the sugar-white sand, while local markets abound inland. Cancún and Tulum are the crowd-pleasers of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, both swathed in powder-puff sand and lapped by the spearmint Caribbean Sea. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |