Other Tourist Scams in Tulum, Mexico
Timeshares, fake police, charity fraud, and miscellaneous scams targeting visitors. Below are the other scams scams reported in Tulum — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Las Vegas, Miami, and Boston.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Other Scams Scams
11
Total in Tulum
How it works
Local police stop tourists driving rental cars or scooters on minor or fabricated traffic violations and request an informal cash payment (mordida) to avoid being taken to the station. This is particularly common on roads between Tulum town and the beach zone.
How it works
On the unpaved road running south from Tulum town toward the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve (Carretera Tulum–Boca Paila), individuals posing as official parking attendants collect cash fees from visitors parking near cenotes, beaches, and eco-lodges. There is no official parking authority on this road, and the collected money goes entirely to the individual. Some attendants become intimidating if payment is refused, and a few have been reported damaging vehicles of visitors who did not pay.
See all scams in Tulum
11 total warnings across all categories