Next Stop: Tulum | Pathfinder International

Sunday, January 29, 2012

This place is quietly transforming itself into the Caribbean's Next Big Thing

Dear Reader,

Until the 1970s, it was a sandy spit of land covered in coconut palms. Land sold for a song. Today, it's a tourist hot spot with more than 170 hotels, shiny shopping malls and luxury condos. Multi-million dollar homes gaze over the marina, where playboy yachts rock gently on the water. Land here is at a premium. There's not much of it left.

If you missed out on Cancun's change of fortune...where land prices soared and investors made a killing...then it's good to know that you can still profit.

You just need to look down the coast to Tulum. And follow the path of progress as Cancun transformed itself from a sorry strip of sand to a mega resort...

A Place with Huge Potential

Cancun started as a deserted beach with no infrastructure. The land was almost worthless, used only for growing coconuts. But it had huge potential.

The beach was coral sand, white and powder-soft. And the sea lapping up on the beach was the turquoise Caribbean ....crystal-clear on the shore, shading to the deepest sapphire on the horizon. It was postcard-perfect. And the Mexican government had a plan for it.

They wanted to develop the country's tourism market. They had enough vision to see past the empty beach and the lack of roads or utilities. They knew that Cancun's natural beauty would attract millions of tourists. They just had to make it easy for those tourists to get to Cancun.

So the government ploughed money into building an international airport and new roads. They put in the utilities. They supported developers and kick-started a building boom.

In 1974, Cancun's first hotel opened. Golf courses, mammoth resorts, and shopping malls followed. Real estate values rocketed.

Today, the international airport lands 800,000 visitors a month in peak season. More than 170 hotels line Cancun's powder beach. In fact, it's hard to catch a glimpse of the beach from the highway that bisects the peninsula. The view is blocked by the chain of hotels sitting next to the sand.

There's no doubt that Cancun was a huge success. And the government wanted to repeat that success. So they turned their sights to the coast running south of Cancun to Tulum. They dubbed this 80-mile section of coast the Riviera Maya.

Their next stop: Playa del Carmen.

The Fastest-Growing Community in the World

Playa del Carmen was a rustic fishing village, with sandy streets, simple homes and lots of vacant land. But it boasted the same crescents of powder sand, and the same shimmering seas as Cancun.

The Cancun pattern repeated itself. In 2005 and 2006, Playa was the fastest-growing community in the world. The pace of change outstripped that of Cancun. It's now a chic beach town with cobble streets, trendy restaurants and organic cafes.

Back in the day, only 15-16 years ago, lots in the center of Playa changed hands for $10,000. Today, you'd pay up to $20,000 just to rent a ground-floor retail unit on that same lot. And a small beachfront condo can set you back $600,000.

Its work done in Playa, the government looked to Tulum. Their development plan for Tulum would follow the pattern of success in Cancun and Playa. But with some subtle differences.

Cancun was developed for mass-market tourism. It attracts crowds of spring breakers and thousands of tourists on package vacations. It lacks charm or soul or authenticity.

Playa managed to avoid that. It's bustling, but in a different way. It brings in a more sophisticated traveler who wants to stay in boutique hotels, eat gourmet food and buy expensive hand-thrown pottery.

The government's plan for Tulum aims to triple the number of tourists in the area. It calls for an international airport and investment in infrastructure. Tulum will welcome more tourists - sophisticated, well-heeled travelers. Tulum doesn't want to become another Cancun. And a lack of land should keep it from doing so.

From Thatched-Roof Hostels to High-End Chic

Tulum's appeal is unique. It boasts the best beaches in Mexico. They're simply stunning. Confectioner-sugar sand and palm trees run for miles, lapped by turquoise seas. Everyone that sees these beaches wants to spend time here. They can't believe that Tulum isn't better-known.

Views don't get much better than this...

Tulum's tourism story started with backpackers, staying in thatched huts on the sand. Mainstream travelers came to Tulum on day trips to see the Mayan temple on the beach. Some liked what they found, and decided to set up homes and businesses here.

In 1986, Tulum had around 600 residents. Today, there are 20,000 or so. And more people are tuning in to the town's potential. We can see the signs of progress already.

When I visited Tulum five years ago, the town was a sorry-looking straggle of dusty homes and a single supermarket. Now, it's got two supermarkets, new gas stations and three banks. You'll see small new condo projects, guesthouses and little cafes. A cycle path now connects the town with the beach.

Down on the beach, you'll find boutique hotels, pizzerias, rustic restaurants and cafes. Spas offer hot stone massages and pampering facials. You can try yoga, a detox retreat or bikini boot camp.

Tulum's a beautiful, fashionable, and very desirable location right now. And its desirability will increase with the rise in tourist numbers. To cater to those tourists, we'll see more hotels, more residential communities, and more restaurants and cafes. They all need one ingredient: land.

And there's hardly any land available for development.

Hemmed in by the Caribbean Sea on one side, and more than two million acres of protected land on the other, Tulum has a lack of developable land. Much of the beachfront property is communally-owned.

The little beach bars, hotels and restaurants are off-grid. Strict planning laws limit building heights and density. You won't see a string of high-rise towers blocking the sand on Tulum's beaches anytime soon.

So, property is relatively scarce right now. With increased demand, it will command premium prices.

Getting Ahead of the Game

Remember, the Mexican government transformed Cancun from a coconut farm to a tourist Mecca. They changed the face of Playa from a scrubby fishing village to a chic beach town. These guys know how to run a development plan. And now they have their sights on Tulum.

Industry giants like Conde Nast, Tripadvisor and the New York Times rave about Tulum's beauty. But few seem to realize that you can still own in this location without draining your bank balance. We're ahead of the game on this one...

We've already scouted this coastline - and uncovered the best properties. We've ditched the mediocre, and selected the top properties for investment.

Don't worry. It's not too late for you to stake your claim here. Plus, I'll give you full details of how you can check out Tulum for only $180 per person in a moment...

But first, the deal. Our top pick for Tulum is in a five-star beach and golf resort. The owner opened up parcels of land to residential developers. We like this opportunity not only because of its prime location. It comes from a developer with a proven track record in delivering quality builds. And the main resort infrastructure is finished, with more than $100 million invested by the resort developer.

The resort amenities include a world-class golf course

The resort offers world-class amenities. Its natural attractions are obvious: coral-sand beach, and the Caribbean Sea. But this resort gives you much more. Swimming pools, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping, a gym and spa, and a 27-hole golf course.

Homes in the resort carry multi-million dollar price tags. But you can own here for much, much less...yet still get the same luxury feel as those expensive houses.

A luxury feel - without the luxury price tag

The Tao community is set alongside the golf course. The Tao Center, the focal point for the community, is nearing completion. You can swim in lap pools, work out in the gym, or join classes in salsa, cookery or the ancient Maya in the Tao Center. A short shuttle ride takes you to the beach and main resort facilities. As an owner, you can access these at a reduced rate.

In 2010, some of our readers bought penthouses in this resort, built by the same developer, for $199,000. Ten months later, similar units listed for $249,000.

Today, you can buy units in the newly-released phase of Tao for $182,000. A 5% discount for Pathfinder readers cuts that to $172,900. And developer finance allows you to spread your payments.

A $5,000 deposit holds your unit. Once you sign the contract, you'll make a manageable down payment, followed by monthly payments of as little as $999 per month (plus some balloon payments).

This is a strong opportunity and one you shouldn't miss.

Explore Tulum's Potential for $180

It all sounds tempting: Gorgeous beaches, an established resort with five-star amenities, and luxury condos from $999 a month. So why not come and check it out in person?

You can, for only $180. That gets you three nights' accommodation in the resort, all-inclusive, and an airport transfer from Cancun airport.

You'll explore the resort and the opportunity at Tao. You'll see the developer's first project, which he delivered with a higher level of finish than he'd originally promised. It's now a successful condo hotel, operated by the resort owners.

You'll see the Tao Center, and find out why it promises to become a leader in health and wellness therapy in the area.

But that's not all. You'll spend time in Tulum on that incredible beach...and see the potential of this place with your own eyes.

And you'll enjoy a mini vacation. Swim in the clear waters, swing in a hammock under the shade of palm trees, and indulge yourself in a Caribbean lifestyle for a few days - for only $180.

These trips sell out fast. And the prices on these newly released Tao units won't last long, either. I strongly urge you to reserve your spot now.

The next trip runs March 8th-11th. Click here to get a full information package on Tao, and details of how to reserve your spot.

This Caribbean outpost is quietly transforming itself into the Next Big Thing. There's a window of opportunity open for now. Don't miss your chance to profit.

Click here now to get more details.

Margaret Summerfield