Tulum Mayan Ruins – What is there to see and do?
How to get to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum
The Tulum Mayan Ruins are approximately 80 miles south of the Cancun International Airport. As you drive south on Highway 307, just before you reach the town of Tulum, you will see the signs for the Tulum Archaeological Zone and you can’t miss the big pink hotel located on the corner.
The Tulum Mayan Ruins are on the left side of the road next to the Caribbean Sea. When detouring there is a large parking lot, an artisan market and some restaurants. The ruins themselves are just over half a mile up the road. It is worth mentioning that the handicraft market is where you can also see the Mayan Polo Flyers. These men spin from a pole on a rope incredibly high in the air. It really is an impressive sight to see.
Once you have paid the entrance fee you can take a little train or walk to the ruins, it can get quite hot so I recommend the train. Now another thing I would highly recommend is getting a guide. The guides there are great and not very expensive. You can see the entire site in Tulum in about 2 hours. The story behind the Mayan Ruins in Tulum is very interesting and the way the guides tell it is often funny.
The Tulum ruins also overlook a beautiful stretch of beach, in fact, they are the only Mayan ruins on the coast. You can go downstairs and snorkel or swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. It really is an amazing experience. There are plenty of iguanas around also basking in the sun waiting for their photos to be taken.
You can enjoy a full day at the ruins or just a couple of hours if you prefer.
Here are some things worth doing:
Take a tour of the ruins.
snorkeling on the beach
Take a look at the craft market.
Stop at a restaurant to eat something
Look at the boys flying around the pole!
Things to take with you.
snorkel equipment
swimsuit
biodegradable sunscreen
A camera (if the camera looks big and professional, they may not let you in)
shades
A hat
A little bit of money
Comfortable shoes
Much water
a small towel