Tulum

Tulum is one of the loveliest small Mayan sites on the Yucatán Peninsula and due to its convenient location just off the main highway, it is heavily visited by tourists. The ruins open at 8 am. It is best to go as early as possible to avoid the extremely hot sun and the flood of tour buses that visit the site each day. The ruins are on a lesser scale than in most other areas of the Mayan world, and you will notice that the pyramids are smaller and the buildings somewhat sloppily constructed. However, this is one of Mexico’s most picturesque spots, one captured endlessly on calendars and tourist brochures, and there is an incredible view from the site’s magnificent headland overlooking the Caribbean. Originally Tulum was a port for long-distance trading canoes, and its defensive walls can still be seen along with a fine watchtower looking out to sea. The beach at the foot of the cliffs was once used to pull large seagoing trading canoes from the sea, and if you bring your swimming suit, you can enjoy a swim in the warm, clear, turquoise water. Tulum, and the Island of Cozumel, just across from it, were the first Mayan sites visited by Cortés on his initial voyage to Mexico in 1519. Unlike most pre-Columbian sites, they continued to flourish into the Colonial period.