A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tulum vs. Grand-Bourg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tulum or Grand-Bourg?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Grand-Bourg can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Tulum or Grand-Bourg?

Tulum

When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.

Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.

This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.

Grand-Bourg

Marie-Galante is an island of the Guadeloupe archipelago, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. Sometimes called the "Big Pancake" for its circular shape and flat terrain, the island is a prime location for sugar fields which provide the ingredients for Marie Galante's famous cane juice rum. The island is also known for its many windmills, beaches, and historic plantations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Grand-Bourg, we can see that Grand-Bourg is more expensive. And not only is Tulum much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Grand-Bourg is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Tulum would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tulum and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Grand-Bourg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand-Bourg than you might in Tulum.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Grand-Bourg Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Tulum or Grand-Bourg?

Tulum has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of Grand-Bourg. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Grand-Bourg, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Tulum or Grand-Bourg?

Tulum has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Grand-Bourg experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or Grand-Bourg in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tulum and Grand-Bourg. The summer months attract visitors to Tulum because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Grand-Bourg attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Tulum is around the same temperature as Grand-Bourg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tulum in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Grand-Bourg averages at about 27°C (81°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grand-Bourg this time of the year. In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tulum usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Grand-Bourg during summer. Tulum gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Grand-Bourg receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.

Grand-Bourg receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tulum gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Tulum usually receives around the same amount of rain as Grand-Bourg. Tulum gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Grand-Bourg receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Tulum or Grand-Bourg in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Tulum as well as Grand-Bourg. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Tulum this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand-Bourg throughout the year.

In October, Tulum is generally around the same temperature as Grand-Bourg. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 27°C (81°F), and Grand-Bourg fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grand-Bourg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In the autumn, Tulum often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Grand-Bourg. Tulum gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Grand-Bourg receives 217 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Grand-Bourg. Tulum receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tulum usually gets less rain in October than Grand-Bourg. Tulum gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while Grand-Bourg receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to April in Tulum is the dry season. June to October in Tulum is the rainy season. Also, June to October in Tulum is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Tulum or Grand-Bourg in the Winter?

Both Grand-Bourg and Tulum are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Tulum for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Grand-Bourg because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Tulum is around the same temperature as Grand-Bourg in the winter. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Grand-Bourg fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

It's quite sunny in Grand-Bourg. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually receives less sunshine than Grand-Bourg during winter. Tulum gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Grand-Bourg receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Tulum usually receives less rain than Grand-Bourg. Tulum gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Grand-Bourg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Tulum or Grand-Bourg in the Spring?

Both Grand-Bourg and Tulum during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Tulum in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand-Bourg year-round.

In the spring, Tulum is around the same temperature as Grand-Bourg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tulum in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Grand-Bourg averages at about 26°C (78°F).

In Grand-Bourg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tulum. In the spring, Tulum often gets more sunshine than Grand-Bourg. Tulum gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Grand-Bourg receives 240 hours of full sun.

Grand-Bourg gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tulum usually gets less rain in April than Grand-Bourg. Tulum gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Grand-Bourg receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year. November to April is the dry season in Tulum. June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. Also, the hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.

Typical Weather for Grand-Bourg and Tulum