Potholes Plague Tulum’s Coastal Highway, Sparking Tourist and Local Complaints

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Numerous potholes on Tulum’s coastal highway are generating complaints from tourists, drivers, and workers in the hotel zone, who say the deteriorating road projects a poor image for one of the world’s most visited destinations.

Along the hotel strip, visitors and service providers report that driving on the main road has become difficult due to the pavement’s poor condition. Sinkholes and potholes force drivers to slow down or maneuver around them, a situation that poses risks to vehicles and causes frustration for daily commuters.

Tourists interviewed in the area said they expected better road infrastructure when arriving in Tulum, an internationally recognized destination considered among the most visited globally. However, they noted that the highway’s deterioration creates a negative impression from the moment they travel to hotels, restaurants, or beach clubs.

Local drivers and workers who travel the coastal strip daily agreed the problem has worsened in recent months, even after recent repaving work on some sections.

“Work was recently done on the highway, but in several spots the pavement already has potholes again,” said a driver who provides service in the tourist zone. “That affects both vehicles and the destination’s image,” he added.

Tourism service providers also expressed concern, noting that the road’s condition contrasts with Tulum’s international reputation, which attracts thousands of domestic and foreign visitors each year.

Some workers attribute the road’s deterioration to the quality of work executed by Tulum’s Public Works Department, headed by Cristian Moguel. According to driver testimonies, repaving work in the area may not have had the expected durability, leading to potholes reappearing in various highway sections.

In response to this situation, workers and drivers in the coastal zone have called on Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo to review the conditions under which the work was performed and take measures to improve road infrastructure in one of the municipality’s main tourist corridors. They consider proper highway maintenance essential to preserving Tulum’s image as a world-class destination.