So you’ve decided to go to Tulum. You’ve seen the Instagram photos—the swings over the water, the eco-chic boutique hotels, the magical cenotes—and you're sold. But then you opened a hotel map and realized the reality is a bit more complicated. Tulum is a town with a split personality, and choosing between its two distinct worlds is the most important decision you'll make when planning your trip. To help you figure out exactly what’s right for you, let's talk about each area,

If Playa del Carmen is the energetic, beating heart of the Riviera Maya, Tulum is its wild, boho-chic sister. It just has a different frequency. It’s where the jungle crashes into the sea most dramatically, and the whole atmosphere feels a bit more spiritual, a bit more grounded (and, let's be honest, a lot  more photogenic). But Tulum isn't just expensive boutique hotels and that one famous Instagram sculpture (though we'll get to that). At its core, Tulum is about powerful