Tulum, Mexico, once a little-known village of fishermen and rubber plantations on the Yucatan’s Caribbean coast, has become one of Mexico’s prime tourist hot spots over the past few years. Straddling the border between Riviera Maya and the Costa Maya, Tulum initially attracted visitors to see their ruins, the only ancient Mayan city built directly on the ocean. Wave after wave of tourists descended upon the archeological site, walked through the temples and ended up high upon the oceanfront cliffs, looking down at one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Before long, visitors were arriving as much for the beach as the ruins and development soon followed.

Pitch a tent for free at Santa Fe Beach in Tulum

Today the beach is crowded with a three-mile long tourist strip known as the Hotel Zone, where some of the most exclusive, pricey digs in the Yucatan offer everything from gourmet food to meditation and Yoga retreats. Fortunately, it’s still possible to experience Tulum the way it used to be. At the northernmost end of the Hotel Zone lies Santa Fe Beach, a wide, windswept stretch of alabaster sweeping toward a crystalline turquoise sea. Few people make it up to this end; other than the beach it offers only a few scattered bamboo cabanas without electricity and a couple of beach shack restaurants. And because of the remoteness, no one cares if you pitch a tent.

Campers at Santa Fe Beach enjoy a secluded strip of sand and a distant view of the Tulum Lighthouse

To find Santa Fe Beach, take the road to Tulum Ruins. At the entrance, instead of climbing the steps into the site, turn right onto the dirt road running parallel to the ocean and follow it for about half a mile. Walk around the chain and posts strung across the road; the Tulum Lighthouse will be behind the chain link fence on your left. Turn left onto the second sand path after the chain link fence ends; this is an unmarked public access that leads to Santa Fe Beach.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut