It's easy for backpackers to get their feelings hurt in a place like Cancun or the "Mayan Riviera". And I don't mean backpackers in the "Outside Magazine" sense here: I mean bookbaggers, hippies, eurotrash, reggaeroamers--people who travel light and sleep cheap. You could feel a little slighted in an area that is turning itself out for rich folks. And I don't mean "rich" like Forbes magazine does: I mean upper middle class working drones who can afford to pay a thousand bucks for a ticket to go somewhere and spend a thousand bucks a day enjoying themselves. The beaches are chopped up into preserves for those people, access is denied those in need of a haircut or shave (or having idiotic tattoos peeled off), the wonders of nature have been turned into theme parks that charge a daily admission fee about equivalent to what you could live on for a week in Guatemala or Thailand. The phone books don't even list the hotels you're looking for. You could start feeling left out.
Imagine, then, your feelings at getting off the bus at Tulum and looking across the street to see a sign that says "The Weary Traveler: Backpacker Info Center". Now that's more like it.
It's hard to describe exactly what this place is. But a good start would be to say that it is air-conditioned. That's about as much atmosphere as the bus-weary tropical traveler needs for the first five minutes. As we say in my country: "Whew!"
At which point you might want a fruit smoothie or iced coffee, which are also available. A little more air-conditioning, hanging loose in one of the hammock chairs, and you might even go for an espresso or cappuccino.
With that out of the way, you notice that they have BOOKS! In ENGLISH! And other languages, even. Sale of swap. Real books. Yow.
They sell discount phone cards and allow you to make phone calls without charging you just to call. Send or receive faxes. They have a very fast internet connection (you can contact igougo and read up on Tulum! oops, wait a minute...you already are doing that, aren't you?) and don't even charge for use of less than five minutes.
The rent bicycles. But mostly they provide information. Where is the nearest bank, the cheapest room, the best Italian food, the diving, the shopping? What is the deal in Guatemala or Belize or further into Mexico? They tell you. For free. God knows how they make any money.
The Weary Traveler is run by backpackers, and they are a very sweet bunch of folks. You feel better just sitting there. They'll even give you a cool map of Tulum and let you use a bathroom that actually still has the seat on the toilet.
They're on Hiway 307, right across from the bus station, next door to Hotel Maya. Call 52-987-12-461. Email at travelin@everycontinent.com and even a website.