Tulum Alternatives: 10 Underrated Mexico Destinations to Visit Instead
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Last updated on April 6, 2026
I haven’t been shy about sharing my distaste for Tulum, Mexico. It’s one of my least favorite Mexico destinations to visit. In fact, I wrote an entire post about it. But what Tulum alternatives are there? Glad you asked!
After traveling to 26 Mexican states over a year and a half, I’ve found loads of amazing places to visit in Mexico instead of Tulum.
Ones that can offer great night life, stunning beaches, cenotes to swim in, charming towns, beautiful resorts often for half the cost and a far more authentic experience. While no place can truly ever replace another, here are 10 Tulum alternatives to consider for your next vacation that I feel offer a better travel experience.
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My 10 top Tulum alternatives
Since one of Tulum’s biggest draws is its gorgeous beaches, this list of Tulum alternatives focuses on Mexican destinations on or near the beach (no more than a 45 minute drive). Although, I realize the beaches aren’t the only draw to visiting Tulum.
Tulum’s boho chic vibes, luxury “eco” hotels, legendary nightlife, and “health” focused services are a major draw too.
While no two destinations are truly the same, I’ll explain why I feel each of these Tulum alternatives are a good swap. They may not be able to check all the boxes of Tulum, but they definitely offer a more authentic experience and usually capture at least a few!
➡ Read Next: Is Tulum Worth Visiting? No. Here’s Why ⬅
1. Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: Closest Dupe
Cabo San Lucas, on the tip of Baja California Sur, is the “Tulum” of the west coast. It has loads of luxury hotels with a boho chic vibe, several all-inclusive hotels for ultimate relaxation, health and wellness retreats, and loads of great restaurants, bars, and night clubs.
If you want a good time with a younger crowd stay at the Mayan Monkey Los Cabos. If the goal is to relax in luxury I recommend Nobu Hotel, which has an unmatchable Cabo vibe.
It also has incredible beaches! While the water is a bit cooler on this coast and not necessarily that insane Caribbean blue, it’s filled with diverse wild life. You can get out on the water on a whale watching tour or explore the private coves and beaches on a snorkeling boat tour. Either way, you won’t be sad you spent a day on the water!
For a more charming, authentic feel head to San Jose del Cabo just a 15 to 20 minute drive away. They have an amazing outdoor art gallery pop up every Thursday and overall just a really great local feel to it.
2. Todos Santos, Baja California Sur: Best for Health + Wellness
If you’re interest in visiting Tulum was because of it’s holistic, health and wellness offerings—think yoga retreats, meditations, and cocoa ceremonies—than one of the best Tulum alternatives to visit is Todos Santos in Baja California Sur.
This charming pueblo magico is home to roughly 10,000 people, not including the neighboring towns of El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach. I’ll be the first to admit it has some touristic elements and inflation is real in Baja California Sur. Its proximity to California makes it one of the most expensive states in Mexico.
However, it’s still packed with authenticity, has amazing food from some amazing Mexican chefs, the most incredible beaches, hiking, and so many other fun things to do nearby. We spent two weeks in Todos Santos and loved every minute.
If you want to stay in town I highly recommend staying at Cien Palmas. They are friends of areas and have created the most incredible property, now home to one of the best bars and cafes in Todos. If you prefer a beach stay book one of the incredible suites at Villas La Mar.
- The 10 Very Best Things to Do in Todos Santos, Mexico
- The 15 Best Restaurants in Todos Santos Mexico (Right Now)
- Is Todos Santos Mexico Worth Visiting? (Yes! Here’s Why)
- Epic Baja Hiking: The Sugar Port Trail in Todos Santos, Mexico
3. La Paz, Baja California Sur: Best for Beaches
La Paz, Baja California Sur is my top pick for replacing the idyllic blue beaches you’ll find in Tulum. This charming city is filled with authenticity, amazing food, and loads of fun things to do nearby.
La Paz is home to Balandra Beach, voted one of the prettiest beaches in the world. Its also home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected National Marine Park, Espiritu Island where you can snorkel with sea lions, see rare Blue Footed Boobies, and have ceviche tostadas on a secluded pristine beach.
It’s the capital of Baja California Sur and the largest city, so expect lots of traffic, noise, and crowded beaches on the weekends. But the great news is it’s mostly Mexicans instead of foreign tourists adding to its charm and authenticity! Also, prices are far more reasonable here than in Tulum.
If you’re wondering where to stay in La Paz, I recommend Casa Kootenay which has a pool and is steps from the La Paz Malecon. You can read more about things to do in La Paz and some of the top activities below.
- 10 Amazing Things To Do in La Paz, Mexico
- How to Swim with Sea Lions in La Paz, Baja Mexico
- Is Visiting Balandra Beach Worth It?
4. Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo: Best for Rustic Beach Vibes
Isla Holbox is probably the closest overall vibe compared to Tulum, just more remote and pristine. It’s an island located on the Caribbean that you can only reach by ferry. It’s very rustic, with dirt roads, boho chic casitas near the beach, and the most stunning turquoise waters.
No cars are allowed on the island. Instead, people get around by foot, bike, or golf cart which adds to the experience.
Stay at Awa Botique Hotel. It’s a total vibe with gorgeous pools beach access and lush rooms. One of the top things to do in Isla Holbox is experience bioluminescence. We did a bioluminescence tour outside of Puerto Escondido and in Puerto Rico and both times it was magic. You can book one of those tours (ideally near a new moon) below.
5. Bacalar, Quintana Roo: Best for Water Color
Bacalar Lagoon is another one of the top Tulum alternatives andone of my favorite Mexico destinations. Home to Laguna de Siete Colores, or the Lake of Seven Colors, its waters rival the most pristine oceans in the world. It has a small town feel with several chic bungalows near the water.
The town itself has great restaurants, beautiful sailing tours, beach clubs, and even a natural lazy river to float down! Honestly, it’s a great spot to visit instead of Tulum although there isn’t much of a night life scene. So, if that was a main draw of visiting Tulum, I would go to Cabo San Lucas instead.
- 10 Things To Know Before Visiting Bacalar Lake, Mexico
- 9 Bacalar Must Do Activities for Your Next Trip
- Is Bacalar Lagoon Worth Visiting? Yes! Here’s Why
6. Mazunte, Oaxaca: Best for Boho Vibes and Beaches
Oaxaca is hardly a hidden gem. It’s one of the most popular states to visit in Mexico and is revered for its handmade goods, craftsmanship, authenticity, and regional food. While most people fly to Oaxaca de Juarez, the city in the mountains and capital of the state the coastline is an amazing destination that far surpasses Tulum.
Mazunte, which neighbors several other incredible beach towns like Zipolite and Puerto Angel, is a super boho chic hippy beach town making it one of the best Tulum alternatives. Think yoga classes, surfing, Mexico’s only nude beach, great cafes, and fresh seafood.
It’s definitely got a tourist vibe to it, but it remains somewhat of a hidden gem. Mazunte was our favorite beach town in this area. Zipolite, while fun and had gorgeous beaches, was a bit more of a party vibe.
Puerto Angel had a more upscale vibe and calmer beaches making it a great option for families. Mazunte was a happy medium between each. Our recommended place to stay in Mazunte is Casa Mazunte Tierra Verde.
7. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca: Best for Beachy Days
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit Puerto Escondido is inching its way to Tulum status. A growing number of digital nomads and expats have moved to Puerto Escondido over the last few years causing prices to rise and lose some of its authenticity.
There’s also the issue of water pollution from the city and hotels previously dumping sewage into the ocean. However, I still think it’s a worthwhile alternative to Tulum and one of the top Mexico destinations.
To start, it’s bigger than Tulum offering visitors a completely different experience. While you can still find fun places to party, it’s more about nature and surfing. The beaches are gorgeous, there are great restaurants, and it still has that rustic charm that I love from Mexican beach towns.
There are loads of fun accommodations in Puerto Escondido for fairly cheap. Our top pick is Raíz Hotel. It’s a few blocks from Playa Zicatela, one of the most popular beaches in Puerto Escondido, and close to great restaurants.
8. San Pancho & Sayulita, Nayarit: Best Trendy Beach Towns
San Pancho and Sayulita are two trendy surfer towns in beautiful Nayarit. Sayulita is another spot that has become a hot destination for digital nomads in recent years, but it still has loads of charm. San Pancho is about 15 minutes from Sayulita and has a more local vibe (and is definitely more authentic compared to the two).
We loved the beaches in Nayarit. The waters were absolutely stunning and you are surrounded by lush jungle which adds to the tropical feeling. Surfing is definitely the big draw here but you can also take a yoga class, go snorkeling with loads of marine life, or just relax on the beach.
If you want a slower, slightly less touristic experience stay in San Pancho at Ciyé Hotel (it’s a dream). If you want more options in town stay at Aurinko Bungalows in Sayulita.
9. Merida, Yucatán: Best for Cenotes and Safety
Merida isn’t a beach town, so it’s one of the least apples-to-apples Tulum alternatives on this list. However, it’s a historic colonial city and the capital of the Yucatán with epic cenotes nearby and is only a 45 minute drive to Progresso Beach.
It’s also one of the safest cities in Mexico making it a great place to visit if safety issues were a concern for visiting Tulum. We’ve been to Merida three times and are always finding new things to do! If you’re okay trading full-time access to the beach on your Mexico vacation, then you should consider visiting Merida.
- Is Merida, Mexico Safe to Visit? Yes! Here’s Why.
- 18 Essential Merida, Mexico Things to Do You Can’t Miss
- The Perfect 2 Days in Merida, Mexico (Itinerary with Map)
- Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Merida, Mexico
- 11 Amazing Merida Day Trips You Don’t Want to Miss
- The 17 Best Restaurants in Merida, Mexico You Can’t Miss
10. Valladolid, Yucatán: Best for Cenotes and Charm
Valladolid is another amazing town in the heart of the Yucatán. When it comes to authenticity, not much can beat Valladolid. It’s colorful, it’s historic, it has a thriving Mayan community, is affordable, safe, and nearby to loads of amazing cenotes, ancient Mayan cities, and an hour’s drive to the beach.
Valladolid was one of our favorite cities we visited in all of the Yucatán peninsula and is a top recommendation for those looking for adventure and fun in this region. The best part? It’s extremely affordable.
You can get street food or go to a traditional market to get breakfast or lunch for less than $5. Hotels range between $40 to $100 max per night. Our top pick for places to stay in Valladolid is Colonte Hotel Origen.
As you can see there are loads of Tulum alternatives to consider for your trip that offer an amazing vacation experience without the hefty price tag or the other drawbacks facing Tulum today. Let me know which alternative to Tulum looks most appealing to you in the comments below!
