Tulum

Likes & Dislikes

Likes

Tulum - Mayan ruins - Krista photo

1. The beaches of Tulum National Park have a beautiful natural backdrop, not highrise buildings.

2. The view of the Maya ruins from the beach next to the El Castillo

3. The the gardens around the Maya ruins are well-kept

4. Playa Paraiso is a postcard-perfect beach.

Krista photo

5. To see the only Mayan ruins built at the seaside.

6. Tulum is safer than Cancún - no problem to walk anywhere in the night

Dislikes

1. Most of the accommodation in the village is far from the beaches.

2. The pueblo (basically the center of Tulum) is more for the backpackers.

3. The beach next to the ruins is not so good for swimming.

4. Maya ruins: 100 pesos (about 5,50 USD) parking fee extra to the 80 pesos (about 4,50 USD) - (January 2021)

5. irritating efforts to squeeze money from the naive foreign visitors - I don't like to be seen as a milking cow.

6. Massages on the beach are overpriced at 40 USD. (8-10 USD in Thailand before COVID)

7. For vacation we find Playa del Carmen better than Tulum.

Opinions

Tulum - David M. photo

,, Tulum is now branded as the trendiest destination on the Riviera Maya. US investors pour a tremendous amount of money into boutique hotel and villa projects. Unlike Cancún, no highrise buildings are constructed, as part of Tulum is supposed to attract a specific clientele. Tulum is labeled eco-chic, and the atmosphere is somewhat posthippie, still pretty expensive. The concept is to give an impression that everything here is organic, green, eco-friendly. On the other hand, the old village part (Pueblo) is still for the backpackers, and surfers, who walk kilometers to reach the best beaches. (aji, 2021)

----------------------------------------

“The only Mayan city that was built on a beach. The site is huge, and you could easily spend 3-4 hours here, walking between the various ruins and along the beach. Parking costs 50 pesos, and admission is 85 pesos per person. At the first entrance, the car is waved down so that you can choose from 2 packages: the first is the basic package for 85 pesos, but you have to walk farther, and you can't see the turtles in the water. On the other hand, by purchasing the more expensive package, you can get closer and also see the turtles. Unfortunately, I don't know how much it costs, because we chose the basic package. After parking, you have to walk quite a bit (almost all the way in the shade, fortunately) until you get to the checkout. At 11 o'clock the line was already very long and only 1 cash register was operating. Surprise, surprise, though, if you pay a surcharge you can get to the front of the line... It is also worth bringing cash with you. In fact, there was a sign saying that everyone should have the exact fee because they cannot give change. After buying the entry ticket, a shorter walk leads to the ruins. Don’t miss the beach either – getting there means a slightly longer walk, but it's very nice to walk along the beach in the heat.” (2022)

Practicals

Shopping

Tulum - eco-friendly ATM - Anna K-K. photo

Fun

Yucatan - Tulum - beach performance - Anna K-K photo

Tulum - Laguna Kaan Luum - anna k.k. photo

Tulum - What is exactly the primary subject of this photo? - Krista photo

Background

Tulum - Mayan ruins - Krista photo

Destination in brief

Tulum is one of the top tourist attractions of the Yucatan Peninsula, mainly due to its coastal Mayan ruins. Tulum consists of three parts:
A monumental area of Mayan ruins (Ruinas)
A township (Pueblo)
An increasingly upscale vacation-beach area (Playa)

Permanent population (in 2021): 25,500

History

Between 1100 AD and the Spanish conquest (until 1511), Tulum served as a commercial center and was presumably under the control of a wealthy Mayan stratum. In 1511, near the steep rock wall, Spanish explorers suffered shipwrecks and found fabulous, colorful buildings. The two Spanish sailors stayed here and befriended the Indians. One of them married a Mayan woman, and their child became the first Mestizo (a mixture of Indian and Spanish) on the peninsula in 1517. In the same year, that Spanish sailor helped the Mayans repel the Spaniards. But finally, the conquerors won, and the area became a ghost town. Since then, the ruined city has undergone several restorations.

People

Tulum - Mayan ruins - visitors - Krista photo

Attractions

Maya Ruins

Tulum was probably one of the longest-inhabited Mayan city-states from the end of the late classical era. Mayan civilization declined by this time, so the elegance - typical of other famous Mayan remnants - is lacking. Tulum was possibly a port and a commercial city, with its (now intact) city walls. A tropical beach - as a spectacular background - makes the atmosphere of the ruins genuinely unique.