Any week of the year, somewhere in the world, it’s off-season. Sure, maybe it’s a tad colder or hotter or rainier or maybe even buggier, but I say: So what! The most critical difference is that—usually—it’s cheaper to visit. In the Caribbean, where low season kicks into gear around mid-May, conditions tend not to be too terribly different from high season. A few years ago my partner, Brian, and I went to Tulum the first week of June. We rose early to beat the heat and spent the 90-degree afternoons in the shade of palm trees with a book. Refreshing dips in the surf kept us cool (not to mention insanely happy). Tulum, located on the Caribbean coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula, is an easy 80-mile drive from Cancun (n.b.: it's easier and cheaper to rent a car at the airport than to rely on taxis). The 6-mile strip of beach here is dotted with thatch-roofed cabanas and boutique bungalows—many are close to the surf so you’re always in earshot of gently crashing waves.

 

See my list of Tulum activities, accommodations, and low-season deals below: 

 

 

Aside from a stroll around the famous Tulum Ruins (a must!) here’s a list of some great ways to spend a few hours:

 

Bike around Coba Ruins (pictured below) About a 40-minute drive away, this sprawling Mayan site is best seen on a rented bike. Climb to the top of the 140-feet high Nohoch Mul pyramid for killer views of the surrounding jungle.

Snorkel in a Cenote If it’s really hot out, check out the area's coolest cool-down: a trip to a freshwater cave, called a cenote. Explore the freaky rock formations and tunnels of Gran Cenote, located just a few minutes from the beach.

Explore the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve A breathtaking 1.3-million-acre park filled with lagoons, jungle, pristine beaches and sand dunes. About 10 miles south of Tulum you’ll find the Centro Ecologico Sian Ka’an, an eco-educational center. You can rent a kayak and take a spin around the lagoon, or explore the cool mangrove channels.

 

Places to Stay (with decent low-season rates) Centro Ecologico Sian Ka'an Gorgeous tent cabins start at $65 per night at this spectacular nature preserve. Cabanas la Conchita From $140 (Psst! The best deal here is a 2-bedroom cabana that sleeps four for $170 per night) Cabanas Copal Hotel From $75 night. If you don’t mind roughing it: a sand-floor beach shack (with no bathroom) is $30 per night. Zamas Garden and beachfront cabanas run between $100-$125 per night and sleep 2 or 3 guests. Bonus: the on-site restaurant is fantastic.