What's it really like?
Gay Tulum, Mexico, is around two hours from gay Cancun and an hour south of Playa del Carmen, and like its sister cities, it’s all about chillaxing and de-stressing. While Puerto Vallarta is the gay party mecca of Mexico, Tulum is where gay people go to recover. There’s even a gay, clothing-optional resort in town; more on that in the Sleep section.
The region has a few gay events during the year, including the Arena Festival in Playa del Carmen during the first week of February. Tulum has its own gay pop-up party, Fruits. There’s also one gay bar in Tulum town, Red Room, known for entertaining drag and burlesque shows and serving drinks served by handsome, shirtless bar staff.
Another draw for all visitors to gay Tulum is the historical areas. Mayan culture still exists in this hub. The Tulum Ruins is an ancient Mayan city perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. The best part is that it’s conveniently located three kilometers east of the town. The famous Chichen Itza, with the iconic Mayan pyramid, is two hours northwest of the city.
Tulum has three seasons: wet, dry, and shoulder, all offering reasons to travel. The peak season, November to April, is the dry season when most people converge on the city, and prices are at their highest. On the opposite end of the scale is the wet season, June to October, when prices are lowest, but hurricanes are frequent. The shoulder seasons, May and October, are when things are quieter, the climate is moderate, and prices revert to their standard.
There are two primary areas in gay Tulum where you can stay. Firstly, Tulum town is where you’ll find some unique experience properties like Hotel Bardot (a tribute to the Day of the Dead), the gay, clothing-optional Loba Tulum, and some budget choices like Maison Tulum and Hotel Posada 06 Tulum (the most popular hotel booked on MisterBnB).
Next is the hotel zone where you’ll find all the best: luxury, absolute beachfront, toes-in-the-sand properties. Some resorts are bang-slap in the center of the party zone, and a few are a few kilometers or so on either side.
Almost all the properties in Tulum are local brands except for one hotel managed by Hyatt, the Aloft Tulum, also located in the city center.
Gays and the Law
Tulum is well-known for welcoming the LGBTQI+ community. Same-sex marriages have been legally performed there since 2012. There’s very little discrimination in the region, and many gay tourists comment on how safe they feel there.
However, while gay Tulum is generally accepted, visitors should respect cultural norms regarding public displays of affection.
Getting Tested
Walk-in-labs is in the east part of Tulum town and offers a variety of STI screening packages. Like most other Mexican cities, they’re not free for visitors.
It appears that PrEP isn’t available in gay Tulum like it is in Cancun, so it’s best to bring your own. Be sure to have your prescription or letter from your doctor handy. Even prescription drugs in Mexico get a once-over by customs officials.
If you need an emergency dose of PEP, the international hospital emergency rooms are the place to go.
Local Neighhorhoods
There aren’t any specific gayborhoods in Tulum, but it’s best viewed as having three tourist zones.
Naturally, there’s Tulum town, a quiet city where walking the streets and stopping at cafes is a common pastime.
Seven kilometers south of the town is the hotel zone. This beachfront area is nicknamed ‘the Party Zone’ as there are bars and all-day beach clubs as far as the eye can see.
Finally, gay Tulum is all about luxury beachfront for many, and there’s no disappointment there. The idea here is to stay and spend as much time as possible at your resort, where pools, jungle, and beach are all at your doorstep.
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