Profeco Shuts Down Tulum Hotels Over Price Gouging

TULUM — The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) suspended four hotels in the coastal area within Jaguar Park on November 21, including Diamante K, owned by actor Roberto Palazuelos, after detecting unjustified price increases, lack of consumer information, and various abusive practices reported by tourists and residents of Tulum.

Through a statement, Profeco announced the results of a special monitoring and verification operation, following several years without presence in the Pueblo Mágico, until complaints were filed by visitors and municipal residents regarding significant price increases in basic products and tourist services.

The agency stated that it conducted price monitoring and collection with the help of the Quién es Quién en los Precios (QQP) program, through visits to 29 establishments, including five self-service stores, five convenience stores, five pharmacies, five hotels, and nine restaurants and cafeterias.

Within Jaguar Park, 22 establishments were visited, including hotels, beach clubs, and restaurants.

Among the findings, it was detected that the average price of a single hotel room is 3,577.50 pesos, with a minimum of 1,200.00 and a maximum of 10,569.00, and in this category, “Hotel Mi amor” recorded the highest price.

The average price found for a double room was 4,771.94 pesos, with a minimum of 2,200.00 and a maximum of 13,860.00, and it was in this category that “Hotel Diamante K” had the highest price.

Prices are significantly high compared to hotels in downtown Tulum, where the price of a single room ranges between 600 and 1,200 pesos and a double room between 700 and 1,400 pesos.

Hotels Diamante K, Pocna Tulum, Villa Pescadores, and Cabañas Playa Condesa Tulum were sealed with suspension orders due to various violations of the Federal Consumer Protection Law (LFPC), as they did not display rates, did not have terms and conditions for service provision, induced payment of tips, or did not have notes or receipts for the lodging service provided, as well as not offering prices on the menu or displaying them in foreign currency and dishes in a language other than Spanish.

Hotels Kore Tulum and Villa Miramar Tulum were found without commercial activity at the time of the visit, and the former reported that since approximately June, they decided to close due to low occupancy.

Profeco staff also conducted monitoring of 11 food and beverage products, detecting the existence of excessive prices, such as in the case of guacamole, for which tourists can pay up to 280 pesos per order, with a minimum of 160 and an average of 226.92 pesos.

The same occurred with a simple hamburger, for which tourists can be charged over 400 pesos, while its lowest price is 270 pesos and the average is 348.18 pesos.

An order of three tacos (grilled meat, pastor, or steak) can also cost up to 400 pesos, 306.31 pesos on average, or 240 pesos minimum.

Three cheese, chicken, or meat quesadillas can cost 120 pesos minimum, 201.25 pesos on average, and 290 pesos maximum.

The Profeco staff deployed in Tulum also conducted eight verifications and seven surveillances, requesting information to find price variations.

Verifications were carried out at Súper San Francisco de Asís, Nueva Wal-Mart de México, Chedraui Tulum, Comercializadora Farmacéutica del Sureste, Farmacon, and Proveedora del Panadero (groceries).

Suspensions were imposed on the establishments, except for Farmacon, mainly for not displaying prices and information regarding warranties and returns.

Surveillance visits were conducted at restaurants Burrito Amor, Batey Mojito and Guarapo Bar, Encanto, Wang Tulum, Restaurante Estrada, Sabor de Mar, and Negro Huitlacoxe.

In all cases, they were recommended to make adjustments to comply with the LFPC, as it was detected that in some cases, they induced payment of tips or did not display prices for some of the products sold.

Prices were also monitored at seven convenience stores: OXXO, GO MART, and 7 Eleven, where data was obtained using the Quién es Quién en los Precios tool for 11 products sold in the three chains.

For most products surveyed at 7 Eleven and OXXO, it was found that prices in Tulum are higher than the national average price, and of the three chains monitored, prices at GO MART are higher than at the other two.

Profeco stated that these actions are carried out in parallel with those of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) and the government of Quintana Roo, and that it remains attentive to guide and defend the rights of consumers in this tourist site and throughout the country, through its 38 Consumer Defense Offices (Odeco), via the Consumer Phone at 55 5568 8722 for Mexico City and the metropolitan area, and 800 962 8000 (toll-free for the rest of the country), and through its social media accounts on X: @AtencionProfeco and @Profeco, and Facebook: ProfecoOficial.