Often overshadowed by nearby Cozumel and Cancun, the historic Mayan city of Tulum is becoming increasingly popular on the travel circuit, due to a wealth of mysterious ruins, picturesque white-limestone beaches with crystal-clear sapphire-blue water, and vibrant but tranquil international culture. Tulum's location at the southern end of the Riviera Maya makes it easy to explore the surrounding area, including its better-known beach town sister, Playa del Carmen, and the iconic Mayan outpost, Chichen Itza.

Situated on a bluff with incredible views of the Caribbean, Tulum, which translates to "wall" in the ancient Mayan language, was one of the few walled cities this highly evolved early society ever built, a formidable point of defense against land and sea invaders. The city dates back to 564 A.D. but experienced its heyday between the 13th and 16th centuries A.D. when it served as a major port of call for maritime commerce that thrived along the coast. Today, Tulum is divided into three distinct zones: Tulum Ruins, Tulum Beach, and Tulum Pueblo.

Tulum is one of the most visited of all Mayan ruins and the only major Mayan ruin found along the Riviera Maya. Artifacts unearthed here indicate the Mayans of Tulum had significant contact with societies stretching from central Mexico to Central America -- copper rattles and rings from the Mexican highlands; flint and ceramics from different parts of the Yucatan; and jade and obsidian from Guatemala. The first Europeans likely gazed upon Tulum in the early 16th century, while Spaniards later conquered the area with the help of diseases they unwittingly brought that wiped out the local population.

When you arrive at Tulum Ruins, you'll encounter what was once the city square, likely used for rituals and ceremonies. Standing on the bluff adjacent to it, the Castle, also referred to as the Lighthouse, is the ruins' tallest and most famous edifice, once serving as a strategic watchtower with sweeping views of the coast and ocean for miles around.

Adorning the facade of the Temple of the Descending God is a sculpted figure with its head down, thought to represent a deity whose cult was centered in Tulum. The façade of the Temple of the Initial Series bears several stucco figures, as well as the oldest identified artifact in the ruins.

Also not to be missed, the palace-like House of the Columns is one of the ruins' most complex structures, with six columns supporting its main room and a roofed sanctuary.

It's also worth noting that one of the most beautiful beaches in the area sits right alongside the ruins.



Along with nearby Boca Paila and Punta Allen, Tulum Beach is a welcomed departure from the relatively crowded beaches north and south of it along the Yucatan coast. If laying on a beach in secluded tranquility sounds enticing, this waterfront area will delight, as the preponderance of all-inclusive resorts found in Cancun, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen is nowhere to be found. In fact, Boca Paila is said to be one of the last bastions of hedonistic culture in the Riviera Maya. As such, the beach at Boca Paila doesn't require clothing.

Tulum is well known for its cenotes (pronounced SAY-no-tes), passageways to underground rivers flowing beneath the ground through submerged caves. Cenotes have provided fresh water to inhabitants of this area for thousands of years, and the best ones can be found south of Tulum Pueblo and along the road to the Mayan ruins of Coba. Local dive shops and adventure tour operators offer cenote tours for both divers and snorkelers.

Tulum Pueblo's international feel has attracted people in search of peace, tranquility, and quiet paradise. The town is small enough to feel intimate but large enough to have an interesting collection of stores, restaurants, and nightlife. In addition to comfortable hotels, rooms for rent, and ethnic restaurants, many people who work in the Yucatan Peninsula's tourism industry call Tulum home, making for a diverse population of everything from construction workers to dive instructors and computer programmers. Several excellent restaurants, some with deluxe beach cabanas, dot the road to Punta Allen. At night, Tulum truly comes alive with a festive atmosphere, indoor and outdoor bars, and street-side bistros selling everything from tacos to tortellini.

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