Tulum Archaeological Site

Information

Tulum is a Maya archaeological site located in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, with the particular feature of being perched on cliffs that border the Caribbean Sea. It lies within a protected area: the Tulum National Park, which preserves both the natural environment and the cultural heritage of the site.

It is situated about 4 km from the center of the city of Tulum. To get there from downtown, you take Route 307 heading toward Playa del Carmen, and after about 3 km there's a turnoff to the right that leads directly to the ruins. Because of the short distance it's possible to go by taxi or bicycle (there are rental stands in town). There are also buses that stop at the entrance to the archaeological zone coming from Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum itself.

To enter you need to pay an admission ticket. It's worth noting that the site is usually very crowded, since after Chichén Itzá it's the most visited archaeological zone in the Yucatán Peninsula. At the entrance, before reaching the ruins, there are several restaurants, craft shops, restrooms and people offering guide services. It's important to remember that bringing food into the ruins area is prohibited.

Tulum was a prominent center of Maya maritime trade, thanks to its strategic location along the coastal route that connected various cities of the Maya world.

The site today preserves several structures in good condition. One of them is El Castillo (The Castle), which stands out as the tallest in the complex at 12 meters high. Also of interest are the palace known as the Casa del Halach Uinik (House of Halach Uinik), the Templo del Dios del Viento (Temple of the God of the Wind) and the Templo de los Frescos (Temple of the Frescoes), which still retains part of its mural paintings. In addition you can see remnants of a wall that partially surrounds the site, where at its northwest end there's a well-preserved watchtower.

In one area there's a staircase that leads down to a small white-sand beach, perfect for resting by the sea after exploring the grounds. There's also an eco-archaeological trail that allows for birdwatching, and in fact it's common to spot a good number of species.