Tulum Beach - Mexico

Tulum (Yucatec: Tulu'um) is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city serving as a major port for Cobá. The ruins are situated on 12-meter (39 ft) tall cliffs, along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayans; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have been the cause of its demise. One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum is today a popular site for tourists.

Description

The Maya site may formerly have been known by the name Zama, meaning City of Dawn because it faces the sunrise. Tulum stands on a bluff facing east towards the Caribbean Sea. Tulúm is also the Yucatan Mayan word for fence, wall or trench, and the walls surrounding the site allowed the Tulum fort to be defended against invasions. Tulum had access to both land and sea trade routes, making it an important trade hub, especially for obsidian. From numerous depictions in murals and other works around the site, Tulum appears to have been an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending god. Tulum had an estimated population of 1,000 to 1,600 inhabitants.

Tulum was first mentioned by Juan Díaz, a member of Juan de Grijalva's Spanish expedition of 1518, the first Europeans to spot Tulum. The first detailed description of the ruins was published by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood in 1843 in the book Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. As they arrived from the sea, Stephens and Catherwood first saw a tall building that impressed them greatly, most likely the great Castillo of the site. They made accurate maps of the site’s walls, and Catherwood made sketches of the Castillo and several other buildings. Stephens and Catherwood also reported an early classic stele at the site, with an inscribed date of AD 564 which is interpreted to mean that it was most likely built elsewhere and brought to Tulum to be reused.

Work conducted at Tulum continued with that of Sylvanus Morley and George P. Howe, beginning in 1913. They worked to restore and open the public beaches. The work was continued by the Carnegie Institution from 1916 to 1922, Samuel Lothrop in 1924 who also mapped the site, Miguel Ángel Fernández in the late 1930s and early 1940s, William Sanders in 1956, and then later in the 1970s by Arthur G. Miller. Through these investigations done by Sanders and Miller it has been determined that Tulum was occupied during the late Postclassic period around AD 1200. The site continued to be occupied until contact with the Spanish was made in the early 16th century. By the end of the 16th century the site was abandoned completely

Tourism

The Tulum archaeological site is relatively compact compared with many other Maya sites in the vicinity, and is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites. Its proximity to the modern tourism developments along the Mexican Caribbean coastline and its short distance from Cancún and the surrounding "Riviera Maya" has made it a popular Maya tourist site in the Yucatan. Daily tour buses bring a constant stream of visitors to the site. The Tulum ruins are the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico, after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza. It is popular for the picturesque view of the Caribbean and a location just 128 km (80 mi) south of the popular beach resort of Cancún.

A large number of cenotes are located in the Tulum area such as Maya Blue, Naharon, Temple of Doom, Tortuga, Vacaha, Grand Cenote, Abejas, Nohoch Kiin and Carwash cenotes and cave systems.

The tourist destination is now divided into four main areas: the archaeological site, the pueblo (or town), the zona hotelera (or hotel zone) and the biosphere reserve of Sian Ka'an.

In 1995, tourism came to a brief halt as the powerful Hurricane Roxanne pounded into Tulum, packing 115 mph winds. Damage was moderate.

Sunbathers and swimmers indulging in a visit to Tulum Beach's white, limestone sands and crystal blue waters need only look up in wonder at the ancient Mayan ruins -- some from as early as A.D. 250 -- dotting the cliffs above them to grasp the aura of ancient mystery that surrounds the beach.

Part of the gorgeous and increasingly popular Riviera Maya, Tulum sits 80 miles southeast of Cancun. The beach at the Tulum ruins and the beach just to the south, called Boca Paila, have luckily managed to escape the resort development permeating many of the other Riviera Maya beaches. The unspoiled beauty is marred only by the occasional drink stand or cabana, and is so private that clothing is optional.

The name Tulum, derived from the Mayan word for wall, and the ruins hovering over the beach, most notably the giant pyramid-shaped Castillo, have gained notoriety as 1 of the Mayan civilization's only walled cities. In its heyday, Tulum served as a port of call for mariners and traders, and its walls defined the ancient town's defense against invaders from sea and land.

Today, visitors from across the globe who vacation at Tulum experience 1 of Mexico's finest beaches with an added bonus: the chance to admire the architecture of the ruins and feel the awe of this ancient and notoriously advanced civilization.

Getting There
The nearest international airport is in Cancun; shuttle service transports to Tulum can be arranged.

Airport Transportation
From Cancun International Airport the drive to Tulum takes 2 hours; the most convenient means of transportation from the airport to Tulum is via air-conditioned shuttles.

Timing
December through April is considered high season in the Yucatan, and crowds and prices peak during Christmas and spring break. Tulum's tropical climate means more than 240 days of sunshine annually and average high temperatures in the mid-80s with lows in the upper-60s. Though rain is infrequent, September and October are the wettest months because of hurricane season; March and April are the driest.

Lodging
The Tulum ruins are some of the most frequently visited archaeological sites in Mexico, and a number of new hotels have sprung up in recent years to cater to the increase in tourism. Most hotels are located along a strip of beach coined the Hotel Zone. Visitors can choose among typical hotel accommodations and smaller, cabana-style hotels or campsites.

One of Tulum's most unique and impressive lodgings is Azulik Villas, 15 private villas constructed of rich, local hardwoods and featuring carved tree-trunk bathtubs, in-room massages, aromatherapy and waterfront views.

Cuisine
With so many tourists from the United States and abroad, it's little surprise that restaurant choices in Tulum Beach and Tulum Pueblo are gentrified, with an unusually large number of Italian establishments. Of course, it's possible to find typical Mexican cuisine like seafood and tacos at restaurants or loncherias, such as the popular Ana y Jose or the vegetarian spot Maya Tulum.

Travel Tips
Mexico's currency is the peso and exchange offices are easy to find, but US dollars are accepted at many businesses. The closest banks are in Playa del Carmen. Visas are not required, nor are shots or vaccinations. Some tap water is safe, but to be sure, drink bottled water. For the most part Tulum is quite safe (aside from the occasional pickpocketing), but use common sense when out alone or at night. The tourist office is located next to the baseball fields on Avenida Tulum in Tulum Pueblo.

While You're There
A trip to Tulum's beach isn't complete without visiting the ancient Mayan ruins that dot the cliffs above the water. Visitors can explore this ancient walled city and must visit the Castillo, or castle, the largest of the surviving structures. Other interesting structures include the Temple of the Descending God and the Temple of the Frescoes, with its walls of murals. 

Visitors should also check out the cenotes, or freshwater pools, south of Tulum Pueblo. The pools are actually part of an underground network of rivers and caverns that once provided fresh water to the Mayans. It is possible explore the cenotes with a number of dive operators in town who offer snorkeling or scuba trips.

To Fake That You've Been There
Reminisce about the night you had 1 too many margaritas at the locals' favorite hangout, Charlie's Restaurant, and jumped onstage during the flamenco band's nightly performance.

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