Tulum Travel Guide

One of the most beautiful coastal Mayan sites in the region, Tulum stands out among the rest as one of the earliest “resort” destinations on the planet, established long before the Victorian era made seaside holidays a world-wide phenomenon back in the 19th century. The Mayans were using this place as a center for relaxation, worship and solitude centuries ago, and the beauty of the area has been well preserved over the years. From the turquoise waters to the sandy beaches and the ruins of the Mayan architecture surrounding, this is easily one of the most relaxing destinations on the plane… read moret.

The first mention of the city was in 1518 in a text written by Juan Diaz, who was part of a Spanish expedition to the region. Since then, it has evolved into what is now the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico, offering a stunning view of the Caribbean and ruins at the same time. And since it's only 80 miles south of Cancun the place is a veritable bee-hive of tourism, year-round.

Tulum is actually broken down into three different regions which all share the same name: Tulum Pueblo, Tulum Playa and Tulum Ruinas. The first is the tourist trap, with the hotels, stores, cafes, banks and otherwise. Playa is where the fancier spa hotels and best restaurants can be found, as well as self-service cabanas that you can rent. Ruinas, on the other hand, is where most of the actual ruins are. Keep in mind that these are not all within easy walking distance of each other, and taxis can be expensive. This is a tourist resort, after all.

Tulum offers access to a wide variety of Caribbean splendor, such as the beaches, the snorkeling, the food and the hospitality. Meanwhile, the ruins themselves offer a unique opportunity coupled with a beach resort experience, which is unlike any other place on Earth. It’s easy to see why the ancient Mayans chose this spot, and you will fall under its spell from the very first moment you set foot in the ruins.