Essence

I met a Mayan man named Victor yesterday who shared with me his memories of growing up in Tulum. He vividly recalled his younger years in the early 60’s when Tulum was still referred to as Zama. He mentioned that his beloved hometown was a fisherman’s village comprised of only 50 families when he was a kid. The jungle was vast + endless, the beaches were untouched and the language was pure to his ancestors.

Victor and I went on to discuss the gentrification and how the landscape has changed exponentially in the last decade but specifically in the last 3 years. He expressed his sadness for the growing lack of authenticity + over saturation of unconscious tourists. He shared his fears about the rapid expansion of his sweet beach town and his concerns about the high priced hotels & attractions, the money from which, hardly goes to the actual indigenous Mayan community.

I told Victor I only started visiting Tulum in 2014 but I remember it still had a secretiveness to it, just not in the exclusive way that’s now being brought to the surface. I recalled not having wifi access on the beach back then, he laughed, and we both agreed that the now famous hotel zone was once a lush jungle, only 5 years ago.

Tulum has changed drastically, as most stunning destinations tend to do over time + social media spotlight. I’ve had moments on this trip where I wished Tulum could still be that encapsulated bubble, with its off-grid, low maintenance, high vibrational magic.

For me the teachable moment in connecting with Victor is to continue to spend more time and money supporting locals directly. I purchased some art from him that I’ll cherish forever. Our conversation touched me deeply. I know that this man is part of the essence of what made me fall in love with Tulum and the vibrancy that oozes out of it.