Visiting the Mayan Ruins of Tulum: Useful Tips

You’ve probably heard of the Mayan ruins of Tulum in Mexico, right?

Perhaps you’ve even seen travel photos of Tulum’s iconic Temple of the Wind?

Easy to visit and relatively compact in scope, Tulum is one of the best ancient Mayan cities you can explore in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

Mexico is like our second home because we travel there so often, and we’ve explored Tulum several times.

Here’s our guide to these impressive ruins, along with some history about the site and useful tips for visiting them.

Mayan ruins of Tulum: Introduction

Poised atop a 39-foot-high rugged limestone cliff, Tulum overlooks the turquoise Caribbean Sea – it’s the only Mayan city ever built by the sea.

With that intro out of the way, let’s learn about and tour these ancient ruins in detail.

Tulum ruins history

The Mayans started building the city around 580 A.D., during the Classic Period. (The Classic Period or “golden age” of the Maya civilization was between 250 A.D. to 900 A.D.)

It was one of the last cities built by the Mayans.

Tulum was constructed as a city fortress, with limestone walls (up to 16 feet high and 26 feet thick) on three sides and the fourth side open to the Caribbean Sea.

On one private tour of Tulum, our guide explained that only royalty and the higher classes (about 300 people) lived within the city walls, in limestone houses.

The ordinary folk (some 20,000 Mayans) lived in thatched huts outside the walls.

Tulum was also a trading port for the Mayan world. Cacao beans, corn, copper, turquoise, jade, salt, gold and textiles were all traded here.

As Tulum was built opposite a channel cutting through the Palancar Reef (the second largest coral reef in the world), the Mayans could trade by sea – paddling their canoes through the channel when transporting trade goods in and out of the city.

Tulum reached the height of its glory between 1200 to 1500 A.D.

But after the Spanish arrived, the diseases they brought with them decimated the local population. The Mayan city of Tulum was completely abandoned by the end of the 16th century.

Some 250 years later, explorers Frederick Catherwood and John Lloyd Stephens discovered the ruins of the ancient city in 1841. They gave it the name of “Tulum.”

Exploring the Mayan Tulum ruins today

The present archaeological site is a far cry from the crumbling Tulum ruins we first traipsed about years ago.

Tulum has since been extensively restored.

Now gravel paths, lined by coral rocks, wind through manicured lawns. The monuments and buildings, many restored, are roped off.

No more climbing up or trying to peek inside – preservation comes first!

Here and there, a few trees also provide some shade, where you and fellow pink-skinned visitors may huddle around your tour guide (recommended, to fully appreciate this fascinating cultural marvel).

But apart from these shady patches, the site is open to the blazing sun.

No wonder the iguanas love it!

There’s a parking lot with shopping stalls too at the entrance.

You can even take a little open-air train from the parking lot to the ruins! (Or, like us, you can just walk the relatively short distance).

All of this means that the Mayan ruins of Tulum are much easier to navigate today.

And with English signboards, you can even understand what you’re seeing without having to refer to your dog-eared Moon travel guide on Tulum :-).

We admit, though, that we missed the haunting wildness of the lonely ruins we experienced years ago (a little, anyway). Then, we felt like true explorers who had just stumbled upon mysterious ancient structures in a jungle clearing.

But of course, with better accessibility comes a much better understanding of the ancient Mayan culture…

Main Tulum pyramids and important structures

Pyramid el Castillo

The Castillo (or castle) is the building that really gets you gawking.

Tulum’s main pyramid, it’s the largest and tallest building (25 feet high) and the one closest to the sea. When Catherwood and Stephens arrived by sea, El Castillo is probably the building they first saw.

Temple of Frescoes

The Templo de los Frescos (Temple of the Frescoes or Paintings) is also noteworthy.

You can’t enter the inner temple to see the colored decorative murals inside (visitors are no longer allowed in).

Temple of the Descending God

The Temple of the Descending God is a small one-room building, with a relief of the falling upside-down male god above the door. It’s found to the left of El Castillo, as you face the sea.

No one really knows what the Descending God or Diving God represents.

One theory is that he’s the god of rain, descending head-first from the heavens, bringing welcome rain for agricultural fields.

Another theory is that he’s the Maya god of bees, called Ah Muu Zen Caab. Yes, bees!

Stingless bees were considered a link to the spirit world, and Maya priests harvested honey in religious ceremonies. Bees also played an important role in Tulum’s trade. Honey, candles, wax seals and other bee by-products were all coveted trade items.

Temple of the Wind (Temple of the God of the Wind)

Because of its prime perch above the turquoise sea, the Temple of the Wind is one of the most photographed buildings in Tulum.

It’s part of the Kukulkan Group (found a little north of El Castillo), which are considered minor structures.

Standing alone on the edge of the cliff, this particular Tulum temple has a round base (offering less resistance to the wind).

Tips for visiting the Tulum ruins

Getting to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum

From the parking lot at the archaeological site entrance, you have to walk about a third of a mile (no more than a 10-minute walk) to reach the ticket booth.

Or you can hop on the tram that shuttles back and forth all day. (It’s only a few dollars.)

Beware the sun!

It’s hot and humid year-round at this ancient Mayan city, and the sun is intense.

Bring water, and wear sun screen, a wide-brimmed hat and comfy walking shoes or sandals (flip-flops not recommended).

No facilities

There are no biffies or change rooms at the ruins. So if you plan to swim at the beach, you’ll probably want to wear your bathing suit under your clothes.

Time needed

Two hours for your visit (sans swim) is plenty to take in the site. You’ll be looking to retreat from the heat after two hours anyway.

Guided Tulum tour

For the best experience, we recommend going on a guided tour of the Tulum Mayan ruins. You’ll get so much more out of your visit, as your guide can bring the place to life for you.

See this top-notch private tour of Tulum, with hotel transfers.

Tulum ruins, Mexico: Exact location

The entrance to the Tulum archeological zone is closer to the town of Tulum than the Tulum Beach area. See its location.

Where to stay

So you’re planning to hang around Tulum and stay for a while? Lucky you! Tulum is one of the chicest Mexican beach towns!

Last words on visiting the Tulum archeological site

Tulum’s ancient ruins beckon travelers with their intriguing history and breathtaking ocean views. The well-preserved Mayan temples and walls offer a tangible connection to a civilization that thrived over 700 years ago.

When vacationing in Tulum, Playa del Carmen or elsewhere on the Mayan Riviera, these Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico, are an attraction you absolutely must see!

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Photo credits: 3, 7 to 9, 11 to 13 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase

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