When I first started with BeachThursday, people were sharing beach photos and someone shared a photo of a Mayan ruin at the beach. This was at Tulum in Mexico and I remember thinking: “What a sight, history so close to that turquoise water.” I always wanted to see it for myself and a few weeks ago, I got lucky enough to see this beautiful sight with my own eyes.
Tulum is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city serving as a major port for Cobá. The ruins are situated on 12 meter (39 ft) tall cliffs, along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea.
It is one of the port cities that has a wall around it, for controlling and securing social life. Defense composed of a rampart with watchtowers, with strategic access to land and sea. Its ancient inhabitants built in on the highest point of the region, with an amazing level of planning and design. The most important buildings are completely surrounded by a wall and they can only be reached by four narrow paths by land and one by sea: the cove.
Likewise, a smaller wall defines, and restricts access to the central space, the place where magical and religious rituals are held.
After paying a fee you can walk around and admire the sights of the Tulum Ruins. These ruins are a popular tourist attraction because of the proximity to Cancun and the beautiful setting next to the aquamarine colored sea. So be aware, you`re not alone here.
The ruins are next to the beach, white powder sand and blue-green water greet you. The different shades of blue remind me of the gorgeous colors I saw in Bermuda.
Practical info
Admission fee: $57.00 Mexican Peso
Opening hours: 8 am till 4.30 pm daily
Not sure when the best times are, but I`ve read somewhere that early in the morning you can avoid the crowds. I was there around 11 am and it was already filled with tourists. However I still enjoyed seeing the sight.
This trip to Tulum was part of my stay at the Viceroy Riviera Maya. They offer a package trip from the hotel to Tulum and back in a regular service car for 400 US per one or two people + 11% tax. As always the opinions in this post are my own. BA flies three times a week from London Gatwick to Cancun. I stayed the night before my early flight out of London at the Kensington House Hotel. The hotel has charming rooms and is close to Victoria Station where you can take the Gatwick Express to the airport.
It’s mad, the pictures look so serene, kind of hard to imagine with loads of tourists milling about.
Thanks! I tried my best to show the ruins and not the tourists 😉
You definitely did good! It looks fab. And of course the beach looks GORGEOUS!
The beach at Tulum was amongst the most beautiful water I have ever seen! I just had to walk down the stairs to dip my toes in 🙂
Sigh, sounds blissful.
Tulum is one of the most beautiful and magical places on earth. I visited there a few years ago. I’m fascinated by the similarities between this Pre-Columbian town and the fortified towns of Europe, especially the fortresses overlooking the seas. You are right about never being alone in Tulum. Even with the absence of people, you’re surrounded by some incredible, sun-worshipping iguanas! They are amazing and blend so well into the grey stonework of the ruins and the seaside cliffs.
Beautiful!!! I am excited just by reading this… I am planning to stop by Tulum when I am visiting the center of Mexico!