Centro Tulum, the City's First Shopping Mall

When we first reported on Centro Tulum in January, the city's first shopping mall was still in its planning phase, with an opening penciled in for mid-2026 and few firm details. Six months on, the picture is much clearer. The project now has a full tenant list, a confirmed location and scale, and a clearer sense of when it will open.

According to Melitón González Pérez, the city council's director general of Economic Development, Centro Tulum is now expected to open between September and October 2026. He described it as one of the most advanced commercial projects currently underway in the municipality.

The mixed-use complex will hold around 60 retail spaces alongside office areas and an entertainment zone. It sits on Federal Highway 307, the Cancún to Chetumal road, roughly two and a half kilometres from the town centre, in the growing Región 11. Figures from the developer put the total site at just under 55,600 square metres, with about 29,100 square metres of leasable space and close to 1,200 parking spaces.

The tenant list, undisclosed at the start of the year, has now been confirmed. Anchors include a Chedraui supermarket and Cinépolis, which will be the first cinema in Tulum. The lineup also features Starbucks, Smart Fit, Coppel, Suburbia, Promoda, Toks, Domino's, and iShop, with Bancomer and Mumuso listed as possible additions. "It's a mixed-use commercial centre that will generate a lot of employment for our municipality," González Pérez said.

The opening date has shifted more than once. Earlier estimates pointed to the first half of the year, and the current September to October window reflects the latest guidance from the city. Tulum Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo toured the site in March and called the project a reflection of the growth and investment the municipality is attracting.

Until now, residents and long-stay visitors have travelled to Playa del Carmen or Cancún for a full shopping-centre experience, from supermarkets to cinemas. Centro Tulum brings those everyday services into the town itself. González Pérez said the development is expected to generate significant employment both during construction and once it is operating, and the city said an exact opening date will be confirmed once finalised.

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