Description
Tulum, Quintana Roo (Downtown and Hotel Zone)
The Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Tulum is a must-see and the best example of Mayan charm thanks to its ruins located on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. It's also the only archaeological site that sits on the edge of a cliff, beneath which lies Playa del Paraíso, one of the best and most beautiful beaches in the Riviera Maya and quite possibly the most photographed.
Ministry of Tourism | September 4, 2019
Tulum, Quintana Roo. Aerial view of the archaeological site of Tulum, Quintana Roo.
The ancient walled port of Tulum was inhabited until shortly before the arrival of the Spanish and was one of the most dynamic ports in the Mayan world approximately 1,500 years ago.
Tulum is the gateway to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. It is one of the most exuberant ecosystems on the planet that includes beaches, coral reefs, an abundant tropical rainforest, dunes, and cenotes.
If you are an adventure lover, you can explore and have fun exploring the caves and underground rivers in the Aktun Chen park, or enjoy the natural landscape from a zip line. Another option is the Gran Cenote de Tulum, a majestic place that can be explored by diving and exploring its caverns. It is a site teeming with marine life, and diving excursions to the famous Mesoamerican Barrier Reef are organized from this location.
Characteristics:
Tulum, which means "wall" in Mayan, was originally named Zamá, meaning "dawn." It was an important Mayan port between the 13th and 16th centuries; its main buildings date from the late Post-Classic period. Surrounding it are abundant mangroves and swamps. The area is rich in fine hardwood trees, such as mahogany, cedar, and chicle. The main crops are sapote, papaya, guava, and coconut palm. The climate is warm and sub-humid with summer rains. The average temperature is 26°C, typical of the mid- and low-lying jungles.
The most representative dishes of this Mayan region are made with fish and seafood, with the most notable being Tikin-xic, a fish baked underground or grilled, seasoned with achiote; You can also enjoy delicious shrimp in garlic sauce, ceviche, or a typical balché, a fermented juice made from the bark of the tree of the same name.
It joined the Pueblo Mágicos Program in 2015.
Attractions:
- Aktun Chen
- Diving
- Cenote Cristal
- Cenote Escondido
- Cenote el Calavera
- El Castillo, Kukulcán, the Temple of the Frescoes, and the Temple of the Descending God.
- Snorkeling
- Gran Cenote de Tulum
- Tulum Reefs Underwater Natural Museum
- Tulum National Park
- Beach Paradise
- Cobá Archaeological Site
- Tulum Archaeological Site
Festivities:
- Festival of the Talking Cross, July.
- Sea Turtle Festival, October 15-17.
Location:
It is located 1 hour from Playa del Carmen; 1:30 hours from Valladolid; 2 hours from Cancún; and 3 hours from Mérida.
It is bordered to the north by Lázaro Cárdenas and Solidaridad; to the east by Solidaridad, Cozumel, and the Caribbean Sea; to the south by the Caribbean Sea and Felipe Carrillo Puerto; and to the west with Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Lázaro Cárdenas, and the Interstate Zone of Quintana Roo, Yucatán.