Safe Healthy Travels in Tulum and the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
The last 12 months of media coverage related to Mexico would have many people believing that Mexico as a country is a risky place to visit because of the recent H1N1 (Swine flu virus) and stories of drug kidnappings and shootings primarily centered around several US border towns. Regional events have unfortunately hurt the local tourism economy half a country away on the Yucatan Peninsula.
A fair (or unfair) comparison might be made when the LA Riots erupted after the Rodney King verdict in the US in 1991, people from around the world had the perception, “Don’t go to the United States, there is violence and looting in the streets and the place is burning down!” I certainly wouldn’t visit South Central Los Angeles that week, but it’s not going to cancel my trip to San Diego.
As a lifetime Colorado resident who has been a full-time resident on the Yucatan peninsula south of Cancun for nearly 2 years, I can tell you it’s a wonderful place to live and visit. I have never felt “unsafe” for myself, members of my family, or friends who have visited on numerous occasions. As far as the flu here, the virus does not do well in warmer climates and with the average temperatures here in the mid-80s, it’s a much safer place to be than most locations to the north.
Why should you visit this amazing area? The biggest reason is that it truly is a beautiful and magical place that is changing fast. We can only hope that much of what we love about this place will remain as the coming years bring the inevitable changes that paradise almost always delivers. It’s a bit of sad irony to have places like this shared knowing that sharing will change the place. So forgive me beautiful places of the world for sharing a little bit about a place called paradise, Tulum.
For those of you who have been to Tulum, Mexico the mere mention of the place will certainly conjure fond memories of lazy days on the beach and the varied shades of turquoise blue waters. The Tulum beaches and warm clear blue waters are indeed sublime but there is much more to this place than mere breathtaking beauty.
Tulum has kiteboarding schools and “Eco Chic” cabana resorts like Ocho Tulum, Playa Azul, and OM Tulum, as small Mayan, and Mexican Yucatan hotels and spas; try Blue Tulum Hotel and Spa for total luxury with the highest standards.
Tulum is scuba adventures on the Caribbean reefs and under the earth exploring the world’s largest underground river system that collects in sinkhole springs known as cenotes. Tulum is saltwater flats and deep sea fishing, kayaking lagoons, and a growing Mecca of yoga; it’s mostly green and natural with 1.3 million acres of protected Sian Ka’an wetlands with protected low-impact access.
It’s an international melting pot where you may hear six languages on any given day just walking down the street. Tulum also has a growing deserved reputation for a wide variety of excellent restaurants serving up fine local and international fare in paradise. You’ll find all kinds of traditional Mayan and Mexican dining options, but you’ll also find plenty of Italian, French, German, Thai, Sushi, and more.
Tulum is within a short drive of all the other things that make vacationing on the Yucatan so much fun and convenient though maybe not so adventurous activities like golfing, world-class shopping, and nightclubs as close as 30 minutes away in Playa del Carmen.
So yes, Tulum is a unique and great way to have that adventure vacation. It’s got a little bit of everything that you want in a tropical destination vacation. For me, that’s an adventure and getting out in it, and for others, it’s never leaving the beach or a day or week of shopping or golf.
What people need to know is that Tulum and the rest of the Yucatan is a great vacation destination that is safe for both the adventurous and the more tame sun seekers. See you in Tulum!
