Tulum has a reputation that precedes it: part bohemian sanctuary, part wellness mecca, part nightlife magnet…
Before visiting in June 2025, I expected a place dominated by hype, with music festivals and high-end hippie culture. What I found instead was a town far more nuanced, relaxed, and livable than I imagined.
Set along Mexico’s Riviera Maya—a stretch of Caribbean coastline running south from Cancún—Tulum has evolved rapidly. It has pristine beaches, Maya ruins, and jungle landscape… but it has become much more than that.
Today, the town draws a mix of people: retirees, young families, yoga enthusiasts, digital nomads, backpackers, and corporate groups. Among them are everyday people simply looking for a slower pace of life in a beautiful setting.
Why Mexico Keeps Drawing People In
Mexico itself helps explain Tulum’s rise. It’s the queen of tourism in Latin America, welcoming some 45 million visitors in 2024.
Americans and Canadians have long flocked to Mexico, but now, more and more are choosing to stay. More than 1.6 million Americans and 50,000 Canadians now live in Mexico full- or part-time.
Familiar amenities, a warm climate, and a lifestyle built around outdoor living and lower stress have made Mexico not just a vacation spot but also a lifestyle destination.
You see that shift in Tulum as well. While many still think of it as a glitzy party town, that image really only applies to the Hotel Zone. Beyond it are neighborhoods with a completely different feel…
La Veleta, Aldea Zama, and Selva Zama are home to long-stay visitors and locals. Here, Tulum feels like a place with true community, with friendly people, quiet, leafy streets, pedestrianized zones, and café culture.
My June 2025 Scouting Trip
On my recent scouting trip, La Veleta stood out most. It’s an up-and-coming neighborhood with easy access to all of Tulum’s attractions—the beaches, nature reserves, cenotes (natural swimming holes), and nightlife. It’s walkable, with low traffic, great restaurants, shops, and plenty of greenery.
What surprised me most was the atmosphere. People moved through town by bicycle, even in the heat. Cafés stayed open late, filled with conversations shifting naturally between Spanish, English, and French. Long-stay residents and locals mingled easily.
Unlike Playa del Carmen or Cancún—where vendors approach you before you even step out of your taxi—Tulum felt far more relaxed and human. As someone told me during the trip, Tulum offers the ingredients for a happy life: low stress, natural beauty, good amenities, and friendly people.
It’s the kind of place where you start your day looking out at quiet greenery, bike to a café or cenote, spend the afternoon at the beach, and return to a peaceful home base.
An Income-Ready Retreat In La Veleta
In La Veleta, we’ve identified a new opportunity for real estate investors… one reflects that quieter, more grounded side of Tulum…
Unlike a pre-construction project, this development is already complete, operational, and generating income. For investors who prefer to start earning immediately rather than waiting years for delivery, this is an advantage.
The boutique retreat consists of 30 units arranged around a lush, cenote-inspired pool. It has been operating for about a year, and during my stay there, it felt peaceful, well-appointed, and refined.
Dense plant life frames the reception area and pathways, giving the property natural privacy. Throughout the space, materials like local woods, marble, and Mayan chukum plaster create an eco-chic design that matches Tulum’s aesthetic.
Amenities include a 24-hour concierge, a gym with a smoothie bar, co-working lounge, massage rooms, a firepit, bike rentals, laundry service, and parking. The pool anchors the development: a shaded courtyard surrounded by cascading greenery, designed to feel like a natural cenote.
The property sits on 2,500 square meters in a walkable part of La Veleta, about a minute from Calle 7, 5 minutes from the beach, and 30 minutes from the new international airport.
Units And Returns
The units range from entry-level studios to spacious penthouses, all furnished with equipped kitchens, modern bathrooms, and private terraces. Interiors feature natural materials, giving them a stylish and relaxing feel.
Management is completely turn-key, handled by a professional team, which removes the operational burden many remote investors face.
Rental performance has been strong. From August 2024 to 2025, penthouse studios generated $14,800 in net Airbnb income—a return of almost 8%.
With prices from $139,000 to $279,000, this project offers a lower price per square meter compared with similar developments in La Veleta, as well as higher projected occupancy thanks to its amenities and established management.
The Team Behind The Project
Behind it is the only BBB-accredited brokerage in Tulum and one of the few in Mexico affiliated with the National Association of Realtors. They manage marketing across more than 20 international booking platforms.
Construction was completed by an experienced Puebla-based developer with decades of residential and infrastructure experience. They proved their resourcefulness during the construction of the Tulum Maya Train Station. When other developers lost labor to this government project, this group avoided delays by flying in their own workers and machinery.
Why Timing Matters
Tulum is in a phase of infrastructure-backed growth, and yet values remain lower than what you see in many mature international beach markets…
New developments, hotels, and shopping centers are rising quickly. Property values in core neighborhoods have been appreciating at 8% to 12% annually.
Rental demand from tourists, long-stay travelers, remote workers, and seasonal residents continues to grow…
In that context, a completed, income-producing property is rare. It offers immediate cash flow with the potential for appreciation.
For investors seeking a lifestyle property, a hands-off rental asset, or a combination of both, it’s an attractive option. Prices start at $139,000, and only eight units remain.
OPA readers can access a $5,000 discount for a limited time. Find out more by clicking here now.
To smooth travels and successful property buys,
Sophia Titley
Editor, Overseas Property Alert