Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sarah Bladen

Paradise lost: How a Mexican party resort is facing environmental disaster

Photograph: AP

With its Caribbean beaches, Mayan ruins and lush jungles, the Mexican resort of Tulum is lauded as an eco-paradise attracting flamboyant hipsters and Burning Man types who like to party year-round on the Goa-Bali-Ibiza circuit.  

The main beach road is lined with boutiques with kaftans costing £500 and luxurious bamboo-style hotels. Since the border with the US is still open, Tulum is also enticing a new type of visitor – people who are rebelling against the coronavirus restrictions.

“I came to Mexico to get away from the divisive political situation back in the States,” admits 38-year-old Matt Miles, a construction manager from Georgia. “Here it doesn’t feel like Covid really exists – everything is open and the vibe is buzzing. Me and my buddy went out midweek and ended up at an underground reggaeton club. Around 200 of us were dancing in this sweaty joint. We left around 4am and it was still going strong.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.