Visiting the Mayan Ruins of Tulum
About The Mayan Ruins of Tulum
When visiting the Cancun area, I highly recommend taking a trip to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum. Tulum was a Mayan city that was built inside city walls that reached between 10 and 15 feet in height. Tulum was one of the last cities built by the Mayans and was occupied between the years 1200 and 1400. The city was abandoned seventy years after the Spanish arrived as a result of deaths caused by disease.
The city of Tulum had many purposes. It was located where a mix of land and water routes converge. As a result, Tulum was a center for trading. In addition to trading, Tulum also had religious purposes. The city faced the rising sun making it a Zuma or “City of Dawn.” Numerous artifacts found throughout the ruins of Tulum show that Tulum was dedicated to the worship of the Diving or Descending God. To learn more about the Descending God, check out this article from HistoricMX. You can read the article by clicking HERE.
Tulum’s restoration began in 1913 and peaked in the early 1960s. During the restoration process, archeologists found a skull in an underwater cave that dated back to around 7,000 BCE. Finding this skull proves that Tulum was home to other groups of people before the Mayans. The work of excavating and restoring Tulum is still on-going today.
Visiting the Mayan Ruins of Tulum - Table of Contents
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Getting to Tulum and Entering the Mayan Ruins of Tulum
The Mayan Ruins of Tulum are 131 km (81 miles) from Cancun. There are many possible ways to reach the ruins. These include public transportation, hiring a car, or taking a tour.
During my trip to Cancun, I tried to cram as many activities as possible into my weeklong visit. As a result of my limited time, I took a day tour of Tulum, choosing the “quick tour” option.
For my tour, I chose the company SAT Mexico. In addition to having good reviews, they were one of the few companies offering a quick tour. The tour bus picked me up outside my hotel at 7:10 am. By 9:00 am, we had arrived at Tulum. The ruins of Tulum would be the first of two stops. Our second stop was at a Mayan Cenote. I chose to cover the Mayan Cenotes on a separate page. You can learn about the Cenotes by clicking HERE.
Bookaway Transportation Options to and from Tulum
For those looking for other transportation options, I would like to introduce you to a new company that I have partnered with. Bookaway was founded by travelers for travelers and offers an easy way to book ground transportation that takes the stress out of traveling. I have linked their transportation options to and from Tulum below.
Please note that I am an affiliate of Bookaway. If you purchase transportation using one of their links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
The entry point to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum required a short walk from the parking lot to the entrance. When we arrived at the entrance, our guide distributed our tickets. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entry procedures took longer than expected. Every visitor had to undergo a temperature check and then have their hands and shoes sanitized. After about 15-minutes in the socially distanced line, our group was inside the grounds of Tulum.
Our first stop was at a tree outside of the City Walls of Tulum. Alejandro, our very knowledgeable guide, told us that this tree was a Ceiba Tree. The tree is hollow inside and was used by the Mayans for building canoes.
From the Ceiba Tree, it was only a short walk to the city walls. Alejandro explained that the Mayans were short, with an average height of around 5’2. He singled me out and said that “this gentleman will have to be careful, so he does not hit his head.”
Prior to entering the city walls, we learned a little about the class system of the Mayans. Only the upper class were allowed to live inside the safety of the city walls. The middle and lower class lived outside the walls and were only permitted to enter the city for specific purposes.
The Mayan Ruins of Tulum - The Residences
Alejandro, our guide, was extremely informative. Unfortunately, due to the limited time, he was unable to tell us everything that I wanted to learn about Tulum. One of my biggest regrets is that I was unable to see all of the buildings and learn the unique story that went with each of the residences.
Alejandro explained that the buildings that did not have a roof were residences. The residences were originally covered with a roof made out of palms and tree limbs.
The people who lived in the residences were the uppermost class. The largest residences, the Palace Building, the Great Palace, the Casa de las Columnas, and the House of the Chultún, each had multiple rooms. The people who lived in these palaces had a life of luxury that the lower classes never experienced.
Alejandro explained that when the archeologists discovered the funeral platform, which was located near the palaces, they learned that the Mayans who lived in the palaces averaged close to six feet tall. The upper-class Mayans were taller than the lower or middle-class Mayans due to their superior diet and calorie intake.
We only spent about 15 to 20 minutes looking at the residences. If I ever return to Tulum, I would want to take the 12-hour tour so I could learn more about these unique structures.
The Mayan Ruins of Tulum - The Temples
The Temples of Tulum are the structures that have stone roofs over them. During our tour, we spent most of our time viewing the Temple of the Frescos and El Castillo. A third temple, the Templo del Dios del Viento (God of Winds Temple), we only saw from a distance.
The Temple of the Frescos was one of my favorite sights that I saw at Tulum. While the Temple is much smaller than El Castillo, I was able to get a close-up view of the carvings. Although it is almost 1,000 years old, there is still a small amount of red coloring on the center carving of the Descending God.
Inside the Temple of the Frescos are murals that have been reconstructed. Visitors are not allowed inside the Temple, so I had to take our guide at his word that they are inside the temple.
In front of the Temple of the Frescoes is a calendar that dates back to the year 1263.
El Castillos is the largest structure located inside the City Walls of Tulum. El Castillo was originally used as an ancient lighthouse to help merchants navigate the rocky coast. If the captain sailed towards the light coming through the windows, he could avoid the beautiful but deadly reefs.
Visitors are no longer allowed to climb the stairs of El Castillo, which provides a spectacular view of the ruins and the Caribbean shore. To experience a similar view, visitors should walk behind El Castillo. Although the vantage point is not as high, it is still a stunning view.
The most picturesque view at the Ruins of Tulum is of the Templo del Dios del Viento (God of Winds Temple.) This temple, which is dedicated to Huracán, a one-legged Mayan God of wind, overlooks the Caribbean Sea high on a bluff. During my visit, we were unable to see the temple up close due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Mayan Ruins of Tulum - The Iguanas
When visiting Tulum, be on the lookout for iguanas. You will find them sunning on rocks overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The iguanas of Tulum are huge, and while sunning will stay quite still. Bring a good zoom lens, and you will be able to get some spectacular photos.
The Mayan Ruins of Tulum - The Beach
The Mayan City of Tulum was built up against the Caribbean Sea. Having access to the sea was important for the Mayans as Tulum was on a major land trade route. The land trade route connected to the sea trade route made Tulum a major trading city.
Today, visitors to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum can walk down the stairs to the sandy beaches of the Caribbean Sea. For those who want to swim, tourists are allowed to go into the water.
During my visit, our time was so limited, that I didn’t get to walk down to the beach. Instead, I decided to follow the path inside the city walls to get a picture of the God of Winds Temple, which overlooks the Caribbean Sea. Be sure to walk to the end of the path as the view is one of the top five views I’ve ever experienced. The photograph below is featured on a canvas photograph inside my house.
Tulum Tours and Packages
The best way to visit Tulum is with a tour. Below are various tour options. Each tour has unique features. As an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
If you prefer to book the exact tour I took, you can do so by visiting SAT Mexico’s website by clicking HERE. I will not receive a commission if you book using SAT Mexico’s website.
Prices are accurate as of May 2023.
 Tulum Half Day by Bus - $71.80 Discover the ancient Mayan City |
 Tulum Coba cenote swim and Playa del Carmen Adventure - 49.00 Visit two of the most important Maya archaeological sites on this full-day tour: Coba and Tulum. Admire the backdrop of the Caribbean Sea while exploring the temples and pyramids of Tulum with a certified guide, then head to Coba to climb to the top of Nohoch Muul—the tallest pyramid on the Yucatán Peninsula. In the afternoon, take a swim in a 'cenote' (underground cave), sit down for a traditional Mexican lunch, and explore the city of Playa del Carmen. Round-trip transport is included. |
 4x1 Tour (Tulum, Coba, Playa del Carmen, Cenote ) - $120.00 The tour offers a unique experience of getting to knowing two archaeological sites full of traditions and folktales passed down from hundreds of years ago, one is located in tulum the other one is Coba their both magical in their own way. the beautiful Cenote Tankach ha in which your allowed to take swim in before heading over to visit the city of Playa del Carmen. Then after shopping and exploring the lit up city we´ll head back to your hotel in the comfort of the van. |
 Tulum Xpress visit guided - $55.00 Discover the magic of the Riviera Maya in this guided tour to the Mayan ruins of Tulum with free time at the Tulum ruins beach to take a swim |
 Day Trip: Tulum Ruins and Swimming with Turtles in Akumal - $84.15 Visit the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum with an expert guide and snorkel with sea turtles in the Bay of Akumal in this express Playa del Carmen tour! |
 Tulum Bike Tour Tulum Maya Ruins Cenote Swimming Pueblo History Art Tacos Lunch - $118.31 A slice of everything Tulum has to offer, providing a great overview of the area and lots of local history, information & tips. |
 Tulum and Cenote - $101.34 This is a great tour for you if you only want to be out on a tour for half the day. Also if you are interested in visiting Tulum with a guide and swimming in an amazing cente. |
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