Tourists Slam Tulum’s Forced Fees and Bundled Tickets

Tulum, Mexico — National and international tourists have raised complaints against what they describe as abusive and excessive fees required to enter Tulum’s Jaguar Park and archaeological zone. Visitors allege that Grupo Mundo Maya, a company operated by GAFSACOMM, forces them to purchase a bundled package that includes access to the Jaguar Park and beaches, even if they only wish to visit the historical site.

Misinformation and Forced Payments

Tourists also criticized the lack of clear information at the Tren Maya station, where they were reportedly told that children under 13 would not be charged admission. However, upon arrival in Tulum, fees were applied universally, disregarding exemptions.

“What they told us there has nothing to do with what they charged us here. They mislead us with false information,” visitors claimed.

Javier, a tourist from Veracruz, recounted that poor coordination between Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the Jaguar Park administration results in visitors paying more than advertised.

“They say it includes everything, but in the end, we end up paying twice. In my case, it was 250 pesos plus an additional 100 for the archaeological zone—350 pesos per person. It’s neither fair nor affordable,” he said.

Families Forced to Pay for Unwanted Services

María, a visitor from Mérida, Yucatán, stated that her family had to pay twice, including fees for minors. She compared the situation to Uxmal’s archaeological site, where only a single payment is required:

“Here, it’s chaos. There’s no clarity, and worst of all, they charge children. That doesn’t happen at other sites in the country,” she said.

Antonio Bárcenas, a tourist from Asturias, Spain, reported that his family of eight, including minors, was required to pay for the full package despite only wanting to visit the archaeological zone.

“We didn’t want parks or viewpoints, just the archaeological site, but they told us paying for everything was mandatory. It’s a blatant abuse,” he said.

Risk to Tulum’s Tourism Reputation

Tourists agreed that these practices not only cause frustration but also jeopardize Tulum’s reputation as a premier travel destination.

“With these actions, you think twice before coming back. It wastes time, money, and trust,” they emphasized.

The discontent highlights growing dissatisfaction with how the company linked to Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) manages access to one of the Mexican Caribbean’s top attractions. What should be a cultural encounter with historical heritage has become, according to critics, an experience marred by disproportionate fees and institutional disorganization.