Located just south of Akumal along the Caribbean coast, Tulum is the most visited of Mexico’s archeological sites due in part to it’s ideal location on the beach and its close proximity to busy Cancun. Like Playa del Carmen, Tulum has a noticeable international influence that comes from its continued popularity with adventurous European travelers.

The area around Tulum also offers many unique and small resorts, spas and rustic lodgings, restaurants, cantinas and shops. The actual village of Tulum along the main highway has facilities with most of the basic necessities for travelers. There are also Scuba diving shops, and available rentals for cars, mopeds, bicycles and other sporting goods for entertainment. The bus route from Playa del Carmen has regular stops making it an easy getaway for short or extended trips. Direct travel time from Cancun is about 2 and a half hours (130 kilometers).

Tulum is an excellent jumping off point for further exploration of the Yucatan. Favorite destinations include the archeological site of Coba, several nearby cenotes popular with Scuba divers (the Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos), and the Sian Ka’an Bioreserve to the south which encompases the maya site of Muyil.

History
Located directly along the shore overlooking the rough coast, the shores of Tulum are bathed by the clear waters of the turquoise caribbean sea. Here you can appreciate the ruins of what is left of this post classic city. Tulum is recognized as the most beautiful and astonishing archaeological site of the maya civilization because of its amazing location and impressive structures.

There are 60 remaining structures of the whole city protected by 3 large stone walls that keep it together. And that is why after the conquest it was renamed to Tulum, which in mayan means “wall”. The original name was Zama meaning “sunrise” or “dawn”.

Tulum used to be the principal commercial port for the mayan civilization as they had access to the caribbean sea which they also controlled. This port created the access to the trading routes to the north and into central mexico.

Attractions
The archeological site is the major attraction of Tulum, and is the last such site in the region know as the Riviera Maya. Within the site, there are three main pyramids which a visitor should try to see while there:

The Castle is the main building and the best known in the whole site. The Castle is the most impressive one by being on top of the cliff and having a complete oceanic view which is quite dramatic. Its architectural design displays large columns with carved serpents and the descending God figure of a traditional mayan finish.

The temple of the descending God. The mayan had many gods and in tulum they adored the descending god and its figure is included in the entrances and facades of the structures of the pyramides. It is drawn upside down as if descending from the heavens. The temple of the decending God also has depictions in wall painting of various other gods they used to have. The gods of the rain, fish, corn, and sun are those most associated with the mayan civilization

The Temple of the Frescos. This building preserves many of the murals and paintings in the original colors in blue, orange, red, black and white and carved stucco figures used commonly on the many structures of Tulum.

Another attraction near Tulum are the many cenotes. Tulum’s cenotes are easily accesable and safe for you to explore and enjoy. Cenotes where sacred in the mayan civilization. They use to believe that they had healing powers, containing minerals like zinc that are believed to be good for general health. The most famous are the Grand cenote or “white cave”, Dos Ojos or “Two Eyes”, the cenote Calavera, and the Car Wash or “water cave”.

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