Tulum - An Historical Monument
September 25, 2011
Charles R and his family visited Tulum while vacationing at the Grand Mayan at Riviera Maya. They are the second family to send us photos of the historical monument.Here is what we found about Tulum on about.com:
Tulúm Ruins:
Tulum is a Mayan archaeological site on Mexico's Riviera Maya. The buildings that are visible on the site date from the Post-Classic period, around 1200 to 1500 A.D., and the city of Tulum was functioning at the time of the arrival of the Spaniards.
The most spectacular aspect of Tulum is its location on a cliff overlooking the brilliant turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The ruins themselves are not as impressive as those you will find at other Mayan archaeological sites, such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal.
The name Tulum (pronounced "too-LOOM") means wall, referring to the fact that Tulum was a walled city, protected on one side by steep cliffs facing the sea and on the other by a wall of about 12 feet in height. Tulum served as a trading port.
Highlights:
Tulum Location:
The Tulum ruins are located 81 miles (130 km) south of Cancun. The town of Tulum is located 4 km south of the ruins. There are many options for accommodation here, from luxury boutique hotels to rustic cabanas.
Getting To the Tulum Ruins:
Tulum can easily be visited as a day trip from Cancun. Many people visit the Tulum ruins as part of a tour that also takes them to Xel-Ha. This is a good option, but if you would like to get the most out of your visit to the ruins, you should visit them earlier in the day, before the tour buses arrive. The parking lot is located at a distance of 1 km (about half a mile) from the archeological site. There is a tram that you can take to the ruins from the parking lot for a small fee.
Hours:
''The Tulum Archaeological Zone is open to the public daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
Admission: Admission is 38 pesos for adults, free for children under 13. If you would like to use a video camera inside the site there is a 30 peso charge.''
Guides:
There are local tour guides available on site to give you a tour of the ruins. Only hire officially licensed tour guides - they wear an identification issued by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism.
Visiting the Tulum Ruins:
The Tulum ruins are some of the most visited ruins in Mexico, since it is a relatively small site this means that it can get very crowded. Your best bet is to arrive as early as possible. Since the ruins are small, a couple of hours is sufficient to tour the site. Bring along a bathing suit for a refreshing swim at the Tulum beach after visiting the ruins.
More Mayan Ruins
Suggested Reading
Tulum is a Mayan archaeological site on Mexico's Riviera Maya. The buildings that are visible on the site date from the Post-Classic period, around 1200 to 1500 A.D., and the city of Tulum was functioning at the time of the arrival of the Spaniards.
The most spectacular aspect of Tulum is its location on a cliff overlooking the brilliant turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The ruins themselves are not as impressive as those you will find at other Mayan archaeological sites, such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal.
The name Tulum (pronounced "too-LOOM") means wall, referring to the fact that Tulum was a walled city, protected on one side by steep cliffs facing the sea and on the other by a wall of about 12 feet in height. Tulum served as a trading port.
Highlights:
- Temple of the Frescoes
The interior of this building has original Mayan frescoes, in blue-green and outlined in black, depicting Mayan gods and religious motifs. - El Castillo - The Castle
This is the tallest building of the archaeological site. It may have functioned as a navigational aid, directing Mayan craft through the break in the reef to the beach. - The beach
The beach at the Tulum ruins definitely merits a mention, because it's one of the most beautiful beaches along the Mayan Riviera, and perfect for taking a swim after visiting the ruins. Read more about the beach at Tulum.
Tulum Location:
The Tulum ruins are located 81 miles (130 km) south of Cancun. The town of Tulum is located 4 km south of the ruins. There are many options for accommodation here, from luxury boutique hotels to rustic cabanas.
Getting To the Tulum Ruins:
Tulum can easily be visited as a day trip from Cancun. Many people visit the Tulum ruins as part of a tour that also takes them to Xel-Ha. This is a good option, but if you would like to get the most out of your visit to the ruins, you should visit them earlier in the day, before the tour buses arrive. The parking lot is located at a distance of 1 km (about half a mile) from the archeological site. There is a tram that you can take to the ruins from the parking lot for a small fee.
Hours:
''The Tulum Archaeological Zone is open to the public daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
Admission: Admission is 38 pesos for adults, free for children under 13. If you would like to use a video camera inside the site there is a 30 peso charge.''
Guides:
There are local tour guides available on site to give you a tour of the ruins. Only hire officially licensed tour guides - they wear an identification issued by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism.
Visiting the Tulum Ruins:
The Tulum ruins are some of the most visited ruins in Mexico, since it is a relatively small site this means that it can get very crowded. Your best bet is to arrive as early as possible. Since the ruins are small, a couple of hours is sufficient to tour the site. Bring along a bathing suit for a refreshing swim at the Tulum beach after visiting the ruins.
More Mayan Ruins
Suggested Reading