A Blog Voyage

Protected by 12 meter sea cliffs on the ocean side and a 784 meter wall complete with watch towers, one can quickly conclude that Tulum was very important to the Mayas.  A major trade hub and the only Mayan city built on the coast, Tulum served as the seaport for the empire, trading mainly in turquoise, obsidian and jade.

With an estimated population of 1,000 to 1,600 inhabitants, Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayans prior to the conquest – Surviving a full seventy years after the Spanish started their brutal occupation of the country

Nowadays Tulum is one of the only archaeological ruins that begs you to take off your clothes and jump into the same shining sea that it was built to protect against!  So don’t forget to bring your bathing suit for the tiny beach behind el Castillo.  The water is beautiful and incredibly refreshing after touring in the hot sun.  The experience of swimming in the ocean and at the same time viewing the site is truly unique.  Be sure to bring a water resistant bag, to put in your camera and personal belongings if you decide to go for a swim.  Just place the bag on top of one of the tall rocks to keep it away from the splashing waves and to have an eye on it.

The best way to get there, is via catamaran (from Papaya Playa Project) or a rental car – that way you are on your own schedule.  Like most of the Mayan ruins, the earlier the arrival time, the better.  An ideal Itinerary is Tulum ruins early in the morning and from there to the Cenote Dos Ojos for a dive.

Tulum Ruins

Quintana Roo, Tulum, Mexico
Coordinates: 20.21510633674273,-87.43128061294556