As recently as the early 1990s, Tulum was a quiet village 2 km (1.5 mi) from the archaeological site, and tourism outside of the ruins was limited to a few small shops and simple cabañas on the beach.

[2] With the rapid increase in tourism, vacation rentals, small hotels and hostels, as well as restaurants and bars, the town is getting more and more popular.

[3] Since 13 March 2008, the town is head of the newly founded municipality (município), the ninth in Quintana Roo.

[5] Most of them are cabañas built in the traditional Maya style with thatched palm roofs though there are some more high end hotels as well.

Due to the increasing popularity of the place, the inexpensive cabañas with hammocks that could be rented some years ago are not available anymore, the prices now have gone very high, especially on the "hotel zone".