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Guide To Tulum Archaeological Park
About Tulum
Read an Introduction to Tulum
Key Attractions
Highlights to be discovered
Getting There & Around
Getting there and around effectively
Practical Information
Useful Facts, Local Resources & Facilities
Nearby Places & Attractions
Nearby towns & cities; local places of interest
Local Climate / Live Weather
What to expect from local weather
About Tulum
About 80 miles south of Cancún is the small town of Tulum, best known for its ruins, which overlook turquoise colored waters and soft sandy beaches on the Caribbean coast.
Stay Overnight at a Hotel in Tulum
Spend a night or two in the area at one of the nearby hotels in Tulum. Besides the experience of staying at a good hotel, you'll be able to enjoy Tulum outside of the peak hours, arriving early at the park, long before the day-tripper buses arrive and before the heat of midday sun.
Tulum was built during the dying days of the Mayan empire, and was actually a fort. It's quite tame in comparison to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, but it does have one overwhelming attraction: its location next to the sea.
There are no resorts or fancy hotels nearby - you can come here for a day, enjoy the ruins and then walk down to the great beaches and crystal-clear water for sunbathing, paddling, swimming or snorkeling.
Just 15 minutes' away from Tulum is the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, a UNESCO listed and federally protected area which is more than 2,000 square miles in size. You can find out more about this in the section below about the Riviera Maya, of which Tulum is part.
Tulum is easily accessible by road from Cancún or Playa del Carmen and if you like archaeology, should be included as a fun trip, with the chance to see some delightful scenery and have a refreshing swim.
There are a number of accommodation options in the town of Tulum itself (inland from the ruins) as well as along the Riviera Maya (see Key Attractions and Practical Information below).
Key Attractions
Archaeological Areas
El Castillo (The Castle) is the largest of the buildings, and it overlooks the coast on the cliff edge.
Templo del Dios Descendente - (Temple of the Descending God) depicts a diving figure, (looks like a bee) and is the same figure you can see depicted at other Mayan sites, including Cobá.
Templo de los Frescos - Temple of Frescoes dates back to the mid 1400s, and is a two-story building with colorful murals on the inner wall. It is thought to have been one of the last structures built by the Maya before the arrival of Hernan Cortez.
Guidebooks
For further details about the attractions at this archaeological site, consult one of the mainstream Guidebooks, available via the Mexperience Bookshelf, or consult the local tourist office (see Practical Information below).
Tulum is Part of The Riviera Maya
The 125-km stretch of coastline that runs from the southern edge of the resort town of Cancún, through Playa del Carmen and the Mayan ruins of Tulum, finishing at the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, is known as the Riviera Maya.
About The Riviera Maya
A number of small towns and villages, nature parks, resorts and the Mayan Ruins of Tulum lie along this coast. Besides the well known and developed areas of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, the coast's four other main points of interest are:
Puerto Morelos - as yet an undeveloped quiet village, perfect for a break away from the crowds and commercialism surrounding Cancún.
Akumal - one of the least commercialized areas of this coastline, Akumal offers the perfect place to relax away from the hype and bustle of Cancún and other commercially developed areas. The location has a high number of holiday houses for rent, making it a popular place for families and couples who want to enjoy the experience and economy of a self-catering rental holiday.
Sian Ka'an Biosphere is located between Tulum and Akumal and is a federally protected reserve that features freshwater canals, tropical forests, mangrove wetlands, lagoons, prairies and a 70-mile long barrier reef - the second largest barrier reef in the world.
Costa Maya - the area south of the Sia Ka'an Biosphere to the coast off Belize. The area holds attractions for SCUBA divers and sports fishing, although the beaches themselves are not as attractive as the ones further up the coast if you're looking for swimming, bathing and strolling opportunities.
Health Spas: The Riviera Maya is host to some good resort spas. For more information about health spas, and how to benefit from a magnificent health spa experience in Mexico, connect to the Mexperience guide to Spas.
Getting There & Around
Tulum is located about 80 miles south of Cancún and just a short car or bus ride away from Playa del Carmen.
By Air - The closest airport is Cancún.
By Car - Take Highway 180 South along the coast to Tulum. Also see additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.
By Bus - Regular buses make the trip from Cancún and Playa del Carmen to Tulum and the Ruins.
Organized Tours to Tulum are also available from Cancún and Playa del Carmen. Some include transport only, others also include food and a guided tour. Some tours also take in nearby Xel-Ha water park - Also see the In Mexico Diary - Playa del Carmen / Tulum & Xel-Ha for further information and local knowledge about traveling in this area.
Practical Information
Opening Days & Times: Open 7 Days between 8 am to 5 pm. Admission used to be free for everybody on Sundays, but this rule was changed in February 2003; now only Mexican Citizens and foreign residents (with proof of residency) can enter free. All children under 13 and those over 60 can still enter free of charge.
This is a big tour-bus destination. If you want to miss the crowds, then you'll need to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Photography & Video: A permit is required if you want to use a tripod to take photographs at the archaeological site. A small fee is made for the use of hand-held photographic and video equipment. Read the section on Mexperience Travel Essentials about Video & Photography at archaeological sites in Mexico.
Ideal Clothing & Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes with a non-slip sole. Take your swimming gear and snorkeling equipment if you want to enjoy the refreshing waters off the beach at Tulum, next to the ruins.
Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.
Accommodation: There are accommodation options in the town of Tulum (inland from the ruins) and ample accommodation along the whole stretch of the Riviera Maya coastline. Find Hotels in Tulum
Tourist Information Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.
Nearby Places & Attractions
Major Cities:Mexico City (closest)
Colonial Cities:Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz
Nearest Beaches/ Resorts: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres. Also nearby: Xel-Ha Water Park - See the In Mexico Diary - Playa del Carmen / Tulum & Xel-Ha for further information and local knowledge about traveling in this area.
Other Archaeological Sites: Chichen Itza, Coba, Uxmal
Local Climate
The local Climate is the same as it is for nearby Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
This region is Hot - and humid, but the humidity is not as drenching as it can be in some other places in Mexico. August through October is hurricane season in this part of the world - and the weather becomes more changeable and less predictable during these months. The rainy season is May through October. November through February is the high season here, and quite hot, although evenings can be cooler, so a wool pullover may be a useful item to pack with you during these months.
Dress with light clothes that enable your skin to breathe. Bring sun cream, insect repellent and a hat. Carry plenty of water and stay well hydrated at all times.