Tulum’s beach clubs are often great places for a party, but you’ll normally have to cough up an entrance fee or agree to a minimum spend if you want to sit somewhere comfortable.
Tulumania, on the other hand, breaks that rule. There’s nothing to pay upfront and no need to commit to spending a small fortune anyway.
That sounded good to us, so our team went to find out if it translates as a good thing in person or whether there’s a catch, and this is what they learned at Tulumania Beach Club in Tulum, Mexico.
Introduction – Getting To Tulumania
Where Is Tulumania? Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila km 7.5, Tulum Beach, Zona Hotelera, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., México
Online: Tulumania
Opening Hours: 10 a.m – 7 p.m.
What’s Available At Tulumania?
Tulumania offers its guests access to a central swimming pool along with some lovely oceanfront daybeds. There’s an on-site restaurant with an international-Caribbean blended menu along with a cocktail bar.
You’ll also find live DJ sets (usually of house and/or Afro-house sets) and a sports bar if you want to catch up on the latest action from around the world.
There is also a spa, salon, boutique clothing store, and a cigar shop available.
Our Detailed Review Of Tulumania
Every beach club is reviewed using our standard procedure. This helps us evaluate the owners, managers, and staff fairly and keeps all reviews in a uniform format that simplifies comparisons.
Here is how the process works:
- A team is given the task of assessing the venue.
- Each member visits the club independently and on different days if possible.
- Reviewers fill out a scorecard on site, scoring categories from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) and noting what they saw.
- The team then meets to share their thoughts and finalise the scores for each category.
- One person writes the full review, which is then posted on our website.
Reservation and Booking Process
We suppose that it’s fair that if a beach club isn’t charging for entrance or demanding a minimum spend, they have the most basic booking system possible.
And you do need to book at Tulumania because it’s super popular and often packed out during peak periods and on weekends.
But this booking system is ridiculous; you fill in and submit a form on their website, and then you cross your fingers and hope for the best.
We’d rather just pay a deposit, and even agree to a minimum spend and be able to pick our seats and be certain that everything is done, than deal with some opaque process.
No, this isn’t the worst booking system in Tulum, but it’s still far below the basic standard expected from the internet age.
Ambience and Atmosphere
During the day, you’ll find that the vibe in Tulumania is pretty laidback; it’s not horizontal, there’s curated music throughout the venue, but it’s more of a backdrop than the main event.
As the evening arrives, things heat up a bit and from Thursday through to Sunday there’s a DJ performance every night.
It’s high-energy, but things remain friendly and enjoyable rather than becoming stressful.
Location And Accessibility
Tulum is easy enough to reach from most of the Americas, though you may need to change flights a few times and travel a long distance. It’s less accessible from the rest of the world.
Tulumania is on the main hotel strip outside of town, and it’s strongly recommended that you have transportation to the club and home again. It’s not safe to walk around this neighbourhood at night, particularly on your own.
Aesthetic And Design
There’s an almost standard beach club uniform in Tulum, and Tulumania doesn’t break the mould. It’s all raw wood, local stone and textiles. The colours are designed to blend with the beach and the jungle.
It looks great on Instagram, and we like the art installations at this beach club, which at least add a touch of unique identity, but overall, if you’ve seen one beach club in Tulum, you’ve pretty much seen them all.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
The staff at this beach club are excellent, and we found them to be friendly and professional as you would hope them to be at these prices.
Yet, it’s not because they’re motivated by tips, as there’s a fixed service charge on the bill here. It’s because this venue clearly takes customer service seriously.
Service Speed and Efficiency
We also found that the staff were extremely quick and efficient, with bedside service being absolutely first rate.
However, there can be a minor drift off in service level when it comes to the busy times of day or when they’re hosting a major event. This is fairly understandable, and we didn’t find that they lost any orders or took so long that it became painful to wait.
Food Quality and Variety
They’re all about simple comfort done well at Tulumania, and it’s nice to be able to report that, for once, in Tulum, the prices are reasonable too.
No, their burgers, tacos, etc. won’t win any culinary awards or compete with fine dining, but that’s not really what we expect at a beach club in Mexico, anyway. We’d be happy to come back here to eat again and again.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
We loved their emphasis on tequila and mezcal-based cocktails; it feels authentic, particularly when combined with local juices and herbs.
Our team also felt that they were being treated to some excellent deals given the absence of minimum spend or day pass fee; slightly higher drinks prices seem very reasonable against that backdrop.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
Mostly, the staff do a good job of keeping up with clearing the beach of seaweed during the 8 months of the year when it’s a problem, but sometimes they just can’t.
Otherwise, the seating, bar zones, toilets, changing rooms, etc. are kept spick and span given the high demand placed upon them in busy times of the day.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
Given that they don’t levy a charge for using the daybeds, they’re very good, and we found them comfortable enough that you could easily occupy them all day long and into the party.
They’re not quite the best we’ve ever used and they could, perhaps if we’re picky, use a little more maintenance but for free? You really can’t complain.
Music and Entertainment
They’re all about the high-energy vibe, and the music tends to be a mix of deep house, tropical house and some more melodic techno. They have both resident and guest DJs appearing, which ensures a fresh approach every day.
It’s very danceable, and we can see why it’s a popular party spot. However, there’s not much in the way of entertainment, particularly when compared to somewhere like FINNS in Bali.
Seasonality
This is Tulum, and that means it’s tropical, but there are still two seasons where you might not want to come on holiday.
The first is the brief hurricane season, which might be dangerous if you’re unlucky, but can be quite pleasant.
The second is the much longer seaweed season, and even if Tulumania keeps its beach clean, not everywhere else does, and it can end up pretty stinky.
Pricing and Value for Money
We think Tulumania represents excellent value for money for a beach club in Tulum (all the clubs are very pricey compared to the background level in the area).
With no door fee or minimum spend, you’re free to keep your own counsel when it comes to outlay, and we can’t argue with that.
Beach Access and Quality
The beach at Tulum, when it’s not buried under seaweed, is quite lovely with soft, white, powdery sand that goes on forever.
You also get free access to the beach at Tulumania, which is a big deal given that the local government now charges $22 a day for beach access… per person!
Sustainability Practices
While a signatory to the local Tulum eco-pledge, there is almost zero information about their actual sustainability efforts at Tulumania, which is a real shame.
They get so many things right at this beach club, but eco-creds are becoming ever more important to beach club goers who don’t want to support greenwashing.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
With no door fee and no minimum spend, we think providing a daybed, towel and locker with shower facilities is very generous for a beach club.
It might be the standard for Tulum, but everyone else is charging for it. So, good work Tulumania. Though the club is still missing out on the opportunity to charge a premium for a better level of service.
Safety and Security
The security team at Tulumania appears to be first-rate. People are comfortable leaving their phones, bags, wallets, etc. on their daybeds while they swim and party, which is a big difference compared to some of the other party hotspots.
We wouldn’t recommend wandering around alone outside the club grounds though; the streets of Tulum aren’t very safe, particularly at night.
Event Hosting Capabilities
There is a private events capacity at Tulumania, but it’s pretty clear that it’s something of an afterthought in their offering rather than a primary concern.
We’d be happy to host a birthday party or something similar here, but we prefer a more dedicated and professional approach for anything more important.
Consistency of Experience
Our team felt that the experience was consistent at Tulumania over a number of visits; they confirmed this with conversations with regular guests and by poring over online reviews.
We do feel they could be working a bit harder to elevate the experience even further, but overall, we can’t argue.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
Tulumania has fewer facilities than many other beach clubs, which means that if you want something that they don’t have, you will almost certainly have to travel for it.
Summary
Tulumania is definitely among the best options in Tulum. We really liked how accessible it was, the level of service and the overall focus on providing a great time rather than trying to nickel and dime the whole experience.
We would definitely recommend spending some time here if you enjoy a party, and there’s no doubt we’ll return someday.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At Tulumania?
Yes, you can swim at Tulumania. There is a central pool feature; however, it can get very busy at peak times of day, and if swimming in a pool is important to you, it’s best to get there early.
At most beach clubs, the pool is really a place for guests to cool down between (or even during) drinks.
It’s also possible to swim in the sea at this beach club, which offers direct beach access. However, Tulum has a very long seaweed season during which it’s quite unpleasant to swim in the water as you quickly get covered in seaweed.
What Is There To Do At Tulumania?
You can swim, eat, drink, and lounge around during the day at Tulumania. The beach club also has spa facilities, a sports bar (for watching sports), salon services and other facilities for their guests.
There is no need to purchase a day pass or agree to a minimum spend at Tulumania, but most activities require payment if you want to take part.
Is Tulumania A Child-Friendly Venue?
Not really. While Tulumania doesn’t appear to have any age restrictions for entry (though the legal drinking age in Mexico is 18, so entry doesn’t mean that someone can drink), this is a very adult-party-oriented beach club.
It’s a place where heavy drinking, lots of fun and the things associated with those activities take place, and we would strongly recommend taking your children elsewhere.
In the evenings, when the beach club offers late-night parties (with a separate admission structure), they strongly enforce an age-checking policy for serving alcohol.
Who Is The Owner Of Tulumania?
The owner of Tulumania is not on the public record. This is also true of the Akiin Beach Club (which was what Tulumania used to be called).
We believe that the owner is a local businessman, but can’t offer any hard evidence to substantiate this.
Where Do Celebrities Go In Tulum?
As with most parts of the world, celebrities in Tulum generally don’t rub shoulders with the hoi-polloi, and you’re unlikely to catch them partying at the beach clubs.
They tend to stay in exclusive upmarket wellness resorts like Amansala and stay out of the spotlight while they recharge and get some sun.
What To Be Careful Of In Tulum?
Tulum during the day is generally safe and enjoyable, though petty theft is always a possibility and you should keep a close eye on your possessions and surroundings.
However, after dark, you should never consider walking alone in the Tulum area, including in the hotel strip along the beach.
Make sure that when you leave a beach club (or any other venue) at night that you are either in a decent-sized group or better still, that you have safe transport arranged to take you on to your destination.
Violence is not all that common in Tulum, but when it does happen, it can be extreme and instant.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of Tulumania
Tulumania takes a very different approach to running a party-focused beach club compared to most other clubs in the area and it’s a breath of fresh air.
It’s also safe, welcoming and fun, and that makes it an easy choice for our best beach clubs iN Tulum list. We’d be happy to recommend going if you think you might be interested in Tulumania.
