The beaches of Cancun are pristine, but that doesn’t happen naturally. No one Instagrams
the shitty parts of their holiday destination, only the postcard-perfect spots.
I have always been someone who not only wants to discover the culture and beauty of a new place, just like everyone else, but to also experience the reality of day to day life in a another country, even with all the ugliness that sometimes comes with that.
From begging my South African ex-boyfriend to show me the slums of Johannesburg to seeing exactly how the locals live in the poorest parts of communist controlled Cuba, I will forever be interested to know the whole story of a place.
After returning home from Mexico, sustainable tourism is definitely something we need to talk about, and acknowledge more. I’ve been noticing this for years in different parts of the world already, Thailand’s famous Maya Bay was even closed to the public indefinitely a few weeks ago.
So when I recently stayed in a special place like Tulum, a tiny coastal town on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, I felt torn in describing this as the natural paradise that it absolutely is, whilst still noticing the enormous toll that tourism was taking on the environment this small town has been built upon.
Tulum’s fragile eco-system is starkly juxtaposed against amazing architectural feats such as Azulik being built, that advertise and tout their eco-friendly accommodation. Having privately toured this gorgeous place, I was indeed super impressed with how they have somehow entwined a 5 star resort into the trees, yet it’s growing popularity also brings an undeniable strain on the community, along with the other surrounding yogi retreats & businesses.
Amidst the special vibe of Tulum, you will notice the cracks if your eyes are truly open- and how it is simultaneously causing environmental chaos from the much needed money it brings in from tourists. The majority of Tulum’s problems begins and ends with water. Clean water is something that will come to you in plastic bottles only as the town supply has severe waste management issues. If it storms (like the mini-hurricane I experienced) you should fully expect the electricity to stop working as well. And you can forget any pressure in your showers unless you are paying thousands of USD per night at one of the expensive resorts beachside, which rely heavily on huge diesel generators. These issues are complex and need the full understanding and support of tourists, locals, government bodies and private developers. For things in Tulum to continue in a positive way, we all need to be on the same page to enjoy it.
The complex eco-system of this ancient place is much better explained not by me, but through the documentary film “The Dark Side of Tulum” which everyone should watch before visiting, please see the link below;
I sincerely hope Tulum doesn’t follow in the footsteps of Playa Del Carmen & Cancun in the coming years, as it is the absolute treasure of Mexico – and a very special part of the world.