Saturday, July 24, 2010
Tulum's sugar sand beaches take the top spot
Dear Reader,
I've seen many beaches on my scouting trips. Only the best make it into my top five. One beach zone that stays in that top five is Tulum.
I'm not alone in loving this area. Thirty million Tripadvisor readers recently voted Tulum #2 in their top ten Beach and Sun Destinations worldwide.
When you see the beaches, it's not hard to see why this place rates so highly... with powder-soft, silky white sand, washed by brilliant-turquoise Caribbean.
Offshore, the coral reef beckons, with a kaleidoscopic array of bright-colored fish. Inland, a rich jungle landscape awaits. The thick tropical foliage hides ancient Mayan ruins...crystal-clear cenotes...and jagged limestone outcrops.
Jewel-bright butterflies flit overhead...iguanas bask in sunlit clearings...and birdsong drifts from tree to tree.
Tulum is only 2 hours from Cancun's international airport. Plans call for a second international airport close to Tulum. Yet, despite how easy it is to get here, Tulum feels secluded, hidden...off the beaten track.
The Sian Ka'an biosphere is partly responsible. This reserve covers 1.3 million acres of land, with a further protected 200,000 acres just south of Sian Ka'an. The two areas comprise almost one third of Mexico's Caribbean coast. The biosphere is home to endangered turtles, jaguars, tapirs, manatees, and hundreds of species of birds and mammals.
Development is restricted outside the biosphere, too. Tulum watched the rise of Cancun--and decided to follow a different path. Clusters of high-rise condos... faceless hotel chains...all-inclusives sprawled along the beach....Tulum wanted none of that. There are height and density restrictions in place. Tulum wants to keep its eco-chic, low-profile credentials.
One development fits that Tulum vibe perfectly.
Los Árboles Tulum is 12 minutes from Tulum beach. This exclusive, off-the-grid development has 221 home sites spread over 1200 acres of pristine jungle. Large five-acre lots give you room to stretch out, and a sense of privacy. You can improve 1000 square meters of your lot, and use 30% of this for the footprint of your home...and put a pool, meditation platform or amphitheater on the rest. The peaceful jungle--and her flora and fauna--envelop your home.
Lots in Los Árboles Tulum are $60,000. You pay $10,000 down when you sign the contract, and $500 a month for three years. The remaining $32,000 is due on completion. (This deal is only available to Pathfinder and International Living readers...if you walked in off the street, you'd pay $25,000 down). That's a steal for such a generous chunk of land in an upscale community in this location.
Build costs average $70-85 a square foot. Don't think that off-grid means a rustic cabin, though, or that this type of development will only attract green warriors. Jungle lots in private communities appeal to middle-class professionals in Mexico. They value the space and privacy. The clean lines and simple details of their fashionable homes harmonize with the surrounding jungle, rather than trying to compete with it.
If you want to experience the boutique style and charm of Tulum (and, of course, check out those jungle lots) for yourself, Los Árboles Tulum host a chill weekend on August 27th-30th. The trip gives you a flavor of what Tulum has to offer...exploring the world-famous Mayan ruins...swimming in the cool clear waters of a natural limestone cenote...and discovering the natural beauty of the Sian Ka'an biosphere. You'll have time to relax on Tulum's perfect beaches--and see if they make your top five. The trip is $199 per person. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today.
Margaret Summerfield
P.S. The developer's done things the right way...the Tulum way...in Los Árboles. It took five years. It was worth the wait. The development is now taking shape as a community. Only 33 lots are available with the reduced down payment and financing--and 11 have already sold. Pay a refundable deposit, and you can select your lot and then arrange to see it on a chill weekend. Contact Los Árboles Tulum here to choose your lot.
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