In the past, Tulum has tried to address the noise issue by enacting rules in response to the wishes of both inhabitants and visitors. Just last month, Tulum passed legislation requiring all bars and clubs to stop playing loud music by midnight.
This week, the city will step up enforcement with a new set of regulations.
The most important of these was a rule requiring that noise levels be kept at or below 65 decibels (dB) starting at one in the morning.
Travelers who have been up all night due to loud noises will now be able to enjoy a full night’s rest with no loud noises to keep them awake. For comparison, an average conversation is thought to be 60 dB, while the sound of a hair dryer is 70 dB.
The Tulum City Council made other amendments as well. The sale of food and drink will be restricted starting at 1 a.m., and businesses must completely close and turn off their lights by 1:30 a.m., reducing the possibility of partygoers continuing to party in secret or pouring out onto the streets.
While most people will welcome these adjustments, vacationers who like to choose Tulum as their top party destination are out of luck and may need to discover alternative destinations.
Each of these adjustments applies only to the coastal zone of the municipality of Tulum, which means that celebrations in other parts of the city may continue into the night. Both new laws are scheduled to take effect Tuesday, Nov. 1, just in time for what is expected to be a sold-out season in the Mexican Caribbean.
While tourism officials hope the decision will bolster Tulum’s reputation as a premier destination and possibly help attract a new breed of travelers to the coast, there will surely be many tourists disappointed that the region will lose one of its most exciting destinations. However, Tulum still has a lot to offer its visitors and does not seem to be losing any of its appeal anytime soon.