Tulum restaurants shutter amid sargassum influx and low season

The iconic Eufemia restaurant in Tulum, a long‑standing symbol of the Caribbean Mexican tourism brand, announced a permanent closure after repeated damage from massive sargassum (sargazo) blooms made operations unsustainable.

Municipal data show that about 70 other businesses in Tulum and nearby Playa del Carmen have also ceased operations, some temporarily and some permanently, citing the low tourist season, high rent costs, rising utility expenses and the continued presence of sargassum. Director General of Fiscalización Sergio Canto Contreras noted that out of roughly 2,850 registered establishments, most remain open but urged property owners to offer greater rent flexibility. Business owners reported inability to cover rent, electricity, taxes and payroll, highlighting broader economic strains on the locality’s tourism‑dependent sector.