The Riviera Maya region, in general, is a very popular destination for vacations, particularly for American and Canadian tourists. But although Cancun may get the most visitors out of all of the beautiful places in the Mexican Caribbean, it is Tulum and Playa del Carmen that are two of the top cities in Mexico to buy and rent vacation homes. The popularity of the two destinations also makes them great options for investing in property for not only Americans and Canadians but for Europeans too.
A recent real estate study by HEI Data analyzed a number of cities in Mexico and found that Tulum and Playa del Carmen landed in 3rd and 4th place, respectively, in the top five cities to invest in and rent vacation homes in Mexico. The results of the study pointed out that “they are not only a paradise thanks to their beaches, but also to the capital gain and return on investment,” which makes them ideal places to purchase a vacation or retirement home. Additionally, for those looking to rent vacation homes in either of these areas, there are many options to choose from.
Just on Airbnb alone, there are hundreds of vacation homes available for rent in both of these popular destinations. In Playa del Carmen, many of these properties go for around $50 a night for rentals located within the town area and for around $70 a night for properties closer to the beach. In Tulum, Airbnbs range anywhere from around $30 a night up to hundreds of dollars, with many in the $70-$100 a night range, although in both places, there are luxury properties that go for even more.
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Renting a vacation home opens up the opportunity for a completely different experience when visiting a place like Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Of course, the biggest difference is having the privacy you might not get at a hotel property, but you also have more space to spread out, the option of sharing a rental with family, and the ability to prepare your own meals. In a vacation home, you can even schedule a Mexican cooking lesson in your rental with a private chef, which isn’t something you can do in your average hotel.
While it’s easy to see the reasons for renting a vacation home for your Mexican Caribbean getaway, the question is, why choose Tulum or Playa del Carmen for your vacation? Both cities are further south down the Mexican Caribbean coast from Cancun, and the majority of people who visit fly into Cancun International Airport, so it takes a bit of a ride to get to them. Because Cancun is so much easier to get to, it only makes sense that these two destinations must have a lot to offer to be chosen over and over again, and we’ll share a little bit about each to help you decide where you want to rent your next vacation home.
Tulum
Tulum is an excellent place to explore ancient Mayan ruins, with well-preserved ruins of a port city right in town, including the magnificent El Castillo. The nearby Parque Nacional Tulum is a great place to visit natural limestone sinkholes turned into swimming holes called cenotes. And, of course, there are plenty of beautiful white sand beaches in Tulum, along with an authentic beach town, often referred to as Tulum Pueblo.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is the perfect place to go if you want to explore the sea, as the reef system is part of one of the largest systems in the world. There is also a pretty vibrant nightlife scene in Playa del Carmen, with numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs along the popular 5th Avenue. Of course, you’ll also find beautiful beaches both in Playa del Carmen and on the Island of Cozumel, which is only a short ferry ride away.
You may not be prepared to buy a vacation home in Tulum or Playa del Carmen yet, but there are plenty of vacation homes available to rent. Doing so will give you the opportunity to discover why so many Americans, Canadians, and Europeans already spend their vacations in these much-loved Mexican Caribbean vacation destinations.
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