Tulum is the most important archeological site on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. The buildings that are visible on the site date from the Post-Classic period, around 1200 to 1500 A.D., and the city of Tulum was functioning at the time of the arrival of the Spaniards.

Tulum was a major bond in the Maya’s extensive trade network. Both maritime and land routes converged here. Artifacts found in or near the site testify to contacts that ranged from Central Mexico to Central America and every place in between: copper rattles and rings from the Mexican highlands; flint and ceramics from all over the Yucatán; jade and obsidian from Guatemala and more.

Greatest attraction is its location. It stands on a bluff facing the rising sun looking out on views of brilliant turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The archeological site of Tulum is rather small, the number and size of its ruins cannot be compared to other sites in the South of Mexico. The most dominant constructions in the Archeological site is the El Castillo.

Tulum ruins have one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. You can jump in the water at Tulum ruins and swim north to Boca Paila. Without question, some of the biggest powder beaches on the coast are in Tulum.

Tulum Pueblo developed from being a small junction stop into a thriving town supporting an ever growing number of residence and visitors. It is a shopping and restaurant center. There are dozens of mini supers, fruit and vegetable stands, and several hotels. Ranging from Rustic Cabanas to 5 star hotels on pristine beaches, there are several Mexico accommodations available. Tulum beach used to be a destination for backpackers, but the cabana hotels have gone upscale, and the beach now magnetize a well-heeled crowd that seeks to get away from the bustle of the big hotels and resorts.

A vacation in Tulum is all about escaping the Hi-Tech “connected” world, and getting back to nature and the beach is the perfect place to do this, perfect combination of total relaxation, tranquility and seclusion, Tulum is growing in popularity, especially with those who are not attracted to the twenty-four hour a day action and large crowds found in other Mexico destinations.

Tulum is becoming to be a well-liked tourist spots in the globe thus; there are limitless accommodations where a tourist can stay. Tulum hotels are, for the most part, small, low-rise and quite uncomplicated. The electricity around the beach area is limited and it isn’t available twenty four hours a day since power is only supplied by generators Most of them are ecological; electricity comes from the force of the sun and wind, allowing hotels to offer friendly, high-quality services to their guest. Accommodations are more boutiques in character, moderately priced and the area is generally much quieter.

Tulum beach has a great variety of activities accessible including snorkeling, diving and fishing tours. It has an astonishing exquisiteness with white limestone sand and sapphire blue Caribbean waters, with simple and plain atmosphere.

Tulum has gorgeous cenotes, Mother Nature’s own crystalline fresh water pools provided freshwater to the land inhabitants for millennia, and one of the best- conserved coastal Maya sites. Tulum is surrounded by a huge stone wall. The wall also was about 8 meters thick and 400 meters long on the side parallel to the sea. The Tulum ruins which bear the history of the Mayan people have been restored for tourism purposes. The most symbolic structures of this spot are: The El Castillo that with its 12 meter height is the tallest construction in the place. Next is Temple of the Frescos which is filled with murals.

One can also enjoy day tours offered in Tulum. One can get a chance to explore the largest protected of Flora and Fauna area in the Mexican Caribbean. Myriads of birds, small reptiles, crocodiles, mangrove Forests, lagoons and wetlands are some of the prevalent and unique attractions of this resplendent natural treasure.

Exploring the natural wonders of Tulum, lying on a hammock strung between two palm trees on a white, sandy beach in an exotic setting, make you appreciate the simpler things in life. Tulum is one of the best places in the Caribbean where it’s still guaranteed you will have the best of your dream vacation.

Mayan Jungle Zip Line, the longest and fastest zip line in the riviera maya, rappel into the heart of the mayan underworld and snorkel in an underground river. Tulum ruins guided tour. www.aventurasmayas.com.mx

If you want to accustom yourself with Tulum, don’t dive into history books. It’s a place larger than any book can ever characterize or illustrate. To know Tulum well is to roam around the whole place and find the secret pathways to its old soul.

On Friday afternoon, I met a guide and tour organizer. He informed me that Tulúm is a Yucatec Mayan word for fence or wall. These walls surrounding the place allowed Tulum fort to be protected because it serves as a defense against incursion. Tulum was protected on one side by steep limestone sea cliffs and on the landward side by a wall that averaged about three to five meters in height. The wall also was about eight meters thick and 400 meters long on the side parallel to the sea. The part of the wall that ran the width of the site was slightly shorter and only about 170 meters on both sides.

The tour guide also added that there are five narrow gateways in the wall with two each on the north and south sides and one on the west. Entrance is via one of the original five tunnels through the wall. The chief structure of Tulum, El Castillo sits on a high point of the site, facing the ocean. It is hypothesized that one of the purposes of El Castillo was to act as a lighthouse and guidance system for boats. On the Northwest and Southwest corners, there are small structures that have been identified as watch towers presenting again how well defended the city would have been. Therefore, Tulum served as a point of defense against invaders from both the land and sea.

The next day, we headed to the south of Tulum Pueblo where the famous cenotes can be found. Cenotes are sinkhole with exposed rocky edges containing groundwater which have provided freshwater to the land inhabitants. Cenotes, particularly in Quintana Roo often provide access to extensive underwater cave systems. With this, scuba divers were curiously interested to explore the said caves.

Moreover, both landscapes and seawaters seen in Tulum are extremely varied and frequently very beautiful. The highlands are sunny, warm by day but pleasantly cool and invigorating at night. Tulum’s white limestone beaches and sapphire blue Caribbean waters are perfect for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling.

The Tulum ruins carry the history of the Mayan people and most structures were actually constructed during the Post-Classic Era between 1200 and 1450. Today, parts of the Mayan ruins of Tulum have been restored for tourism purposes. Businesses in Tulum are improving with the increase number of tourist that visited everyday.

Finally, if you’re seeking for an adventure, I recommend Tulum as part of your travel destination and stay in one of eco-chic Tulum hotels. You will discover the affluent history of Mayan civilization and explore the natural beauty of Tulum.

Thinking of a vacation to Mexico but want to go somewhere different off the beaten path? Here are some ideas for destinations in Mexico that will take you beyond Cancun or Puerto Vallarta.

Isla Mujeres, located only eight miles across the bay from Cancun, is a tiny island only five miles long and about a half mile wide. Translated, Isla Mujeres means the “Island of Women”. No, it is not a hidden commune filled with females but it is a charming and tranquil fishing village. It has shops, restaurants and about a dozen or so small hotels where you can rest your head.

With a downtown area consisting of only four or five blocks, this makes Isla Mujeres everything that the big tourist areas in Mexico are not. Surrounded by white sand beaches on all sides, snorkeling and scuba diving are popular in the crystal clear turquoise waters. Kayaks, snorkeling gear, and other water toys can be rented on the beach and fishing, sailing and even swimming with dolphins is available here. Isla Mujeres has something for every one of all ages and is a great place to explore the natural wonders of Mexico.

Another great Mexico vacation spot that is often overlooked is Cabo San Lucas. Its location at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula, gives it an ideal climate of about 78 degrees year round. Once a tranquil fishing village, Cabo has evolved into a wonderful spot for vacationers but remains small and charming. Small however does not mean boring, there are many things to do in Cabo.

Deserted beaches, on both the Pacific coast and along the shoreline of the Sea of Cortez, make Cabo San Lucas an awesome beach vacation. If you enjoy water sports, boating, marlin fishing, horseback riding and golf, you will enjoy Cabo. Golf has become very popular in the area and there are five championship golf courses already here and more on the way.

Cabo San Lucas is a perfect vacation spot for those looking for something different. It can be quiet and relaxing for a romantic getaway or it can be a place where you will keep going till you drop with the whole family.

Another one of Mexico’s jewels is Tulum. You will find Tulum about an hours drive south of Playa Del Carmen on the Mayan Coast. Tulum is best known for its Mayan ruins. Small but impressive, the ruins are perched high on top of limestone cliffs that offer a breathtaking view below of the sparkling Caribbean and a romantic coastline.

The little town of Tulum is slowly expanding and there are several very good local restaurants and a few on the beach in the smattering of hotels in the area. Accommodations range from five star boutique hotels to rustic cabanas.

Tulum offers the perfect mixture of tranquility, relaxation and seclusion but still gives you the option of exciting nearby attractions. Day trips in the area are always a good choice and the Eco-tourism experiences are limitless.

It is a much slower paced vacation and a combination of 3-4 days in Playa Del Carmen and 2-3 days in Tulum is a great way to combine the best of both worlds in these treasured spots.

Akumal Mexico is a quiet, Mexican Caribbean beachside village located between Playa de Carmen Real Estate and Tulum Real Estate. Akumal has a rich history and a local mix of residents mainly from Mexico, United States, and from Canada. The people choose to buy property here in Akumal mainly because of its amazing beaches. These Properties of Mexico Real Estate are probably some of the finest in the entire country. When people first arrive in Akumal, they will notice a statue of the Mayan warrior, Gonzalo Guerrero and his family.

The Founder of Akumal was Gonzalo Guerrero (also known as Gonzalo Marinero, Gonzalo de Aroca and Gonzalo de Aroza), a sailor from Palos, Spain who had shipwrecked along the Yucatan Peninsula and was enslaved by the local Mayans. Luckily, the Mayan chief of his captors had a daughter so intrigued by this strange prisoner she chose to marry Guerrero rather than sacrifice him to the gods. The daughter of the Mayan chief became Guerrero’s wife and the mother of today’s modern Mayan. Their children were the first mingling of Spanish and Mayan blood.

With no roads leading to this primitive area, it was virtually undisturbed by man. This worldly traveler was so taken with the beautiful bay that he purchased it from a coconut plantation owner and founded a city consisting of a small resort catering to scuba divers.

Don Pablo Bush was also a pioneer in underwater exploration. He united with other distinguished divers and formed CEDAM (Club of Exploration and Water Sports of Mexico). In 1972, Akumal was established as the world headquarters for CEDAM International and CEDAM of Mexico.

Although CEDAM’s headquarters has relocated to the United States, the diving exploration organization left behind an innovative underwater museum that is in Akumal bay today. The museum consists of cannons and anchors that once adorned doomed ships of the past.

Akumal…an Example of Ecological Sustainability

Today Akumal is the home of CEAKUMAL an organization concerned in the preservation of regional ecosystems and culture. Directed by Paul Sanchez Navarro, the CEAKUMAL contributes in the harmonic development of the area and promotes the conservation of the ecology sustainability by promoting among developers the usage of wetland systems to prevent waste water to contaminate the underground water systems that make the Yucatan Peninsula the Mecca for cave diving and a unique place in the world.

The Urban Development Plan for the city of Akumal was approved last year. Akumal developers and investors are aware and conscious of the great responsibility that rests with those attempting to preserve and protect the natural resources on and around these properties. Promoting eco – friendly developments should be a major concern and respecting densities and zoning allotments a common practice.

My husband and I had planned before our wedding was, that we scheduled it in a summer time to enjoy the first summer vacation as a newly wed couple and celebrate our honeymoon at the beach. That’s the reason why we searched for a place for a summer escapade at the same time a honeymoon on a beach resort since we both loved scuba diving as a hobby. Tulum was the best placed suited for us, as an adventurous couple.

Tulum was like walking backward in time, while offering you services such as telephone and internet, it maintains that old world feel that makes it so popular. It also offers you great restaurants and spacious comfortable rooms on one of the Tulum hotels which are inexpensive, which offers you many great amenities. It is a sweet slice of beach paradise offering camping, hostels, budget hotels and cabanas as well as ritzy ecolodges. Most are in the Tulum “Hotel Zone” - one mile east of town on a road running parallel to the beach. Tulum ruins are at the north end of the Hotel Zone.

Tulum is basically divided into three parts: The small town of Tulum; Tulum Beach with its powder white sand and turquoise blue water, with its many hotels, cabanas and casitas; and of course the Mayan Ruins, the only archeological site on this stretch of Mexico’s Coastline. They are all in very close proximity to each other and have their own special charm. It’s white limestone beaches and sapphire blue Caribbean waters are perfect for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling. Follow the Coba road east, toward the beach, to get to spectacular beaches south of the Tulum Ruins.

As we travel the placed, we’ve been to Quintana Roo where the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest reef in the world located. Here you can find many renowned and specialized diving centers for open sea and cenote diving. All come with qualified service guides, professional equipment, boats, transportation, and accessories. To dive in caverns you are required to have an approved certification. A special introduction course for cave and cavern diving is available. We’ve seen the coral barrier covers the zone from Cabo Catoche in Quintana Roo, Mexico to Rotoan, Honduras passing also through Beliz. The clear and clean waters create a unique vision for a beautifully colored spectacle that was the unforgettable diving underwater we’ve experienced both.

This was the unforgettable summer vacation and honeymoon for our new life and a perfect experienced as a couple.

Barhal

Un rincón de la selva, zonas arqueológicas mayas y cenotes, Tulum es uno de los últimos rincones del caribe donde todavía se disfruta de una exuberante naturaleza, así como de anchas playas de arena blanca.

Tulum es un espacio ideal para el contacto con la naturaleza, el relajamiento y la exploración, en un ambiente bohémico y rustico, se respira el espíritu del Caribe Mexicano. Por ello se dice que Tulum y Ecologia son llevados a la par en este destino turístico.

Zona Arqueológica

La zona arqueológica de Tulum se dio a conoce al mundo en el libro de viajes de John Stephens y Frederick Catherwood, publicado en 1843.

Es la mejor expresión de la arquitectura maya de toda la costa e la península de Yucatán, y es representativa del posclásico, por datar entre 900 y 1524 D.C.

Tulum fue una de las pocas ciudades mayas ubicadas en la costa y fue sin duda un centro de comercio muy importante que unía el centro y golfo de México con el golfo de Honduras hasta Panamá. Entre sus construcciones más representativas esta:

El castillo con 12 metros de altura es la edificación más alta del sitio. El templo del dios descendiente al Norte del recinto interior , es llamado asi por la curiosa escultura que corona la puerta del acceso El templo del viento, es el único edificio que planta circular en la zona arqueológica que remite al dios del viento (Ehecati-Quetzalcoatl) ya que por la ausencia de esquinas favorece su libre circulación.

Reserva de Sian Ka’an

Nombre que en maya significa “Donde nace el cielo” fue declarada desde hace 22 años Patrimonio Histórico del la Humanidad por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y Cultura (UNESCO).

Visitar esta reserva es adentrarse en uno de los mas cuidados secretos de los mayas; exuberante vegetación endémica, con playas vírgenes y poco exploradas de color azul turquesa para luego dar con la “laguna de Kaapechen”, de color verde esmeralda que cambia de tonalidad a cada momento en cuyo centro hay un cenote de agua dulce que la alimenta.

En los Alrededores

Es importante visitar el cenote “Cristal” y el cenote “Escondido”, a unos cincos kilómetros al sur de Tulum, rumbo a Chetumal. El Gran Cenote o en “Cenote Calavera”, que estan a unos 3.5 kilómetros del crucero del pueblo en dirección a Coba.

Descubre “Xcacel” que es la zona de mayor anidación de tortuga marina Caguama (Carretta Carretta) y Blanca (Chelonia mydas mydas) de la región.

Entre las zonas arqueológicas mayas mas importantes y bellas esta coba a 42 kilómetros de Tulum, en donde se encuentra una pirámide de mayor altura de la península de Yucatán.

La zona Arqueológica de Muyil como a 15 kilómetros hacia el sur de Tulum, cuenta con tres edificios restaurados y un sendero representativo de 500 metros que va através de la selva llegando hasta la laguna de Muyil, que se presume es donde comienza la ruta del comercio maya.

The word Tulúm is said to be a Yucatec (Mayan language spoken in the Yucatán Peninsula) Mayan word meaning fence or wall. The wall was about eight meters thick and 400 meters long on the side parallel to the sea. Though it is believed that’s its old name is Zama, meaning a city of dawn. Tulum really have a beautiful sunrise which is worth getting up early in the morning. This walled city gained its greatest importance during the 13th-15th century. Also became a major site in the Maya’s extensive trade network for the Post classic Mayans. Salt and textiles were just a few of the goods brought to Tulum by sea that would then be strewn inland. Exported goods include feathers and copper objects. Tradespersons could come ashore with their seafaring canoes. These canoes were up to 50 feet which were also carved from tropical hardwoods. El Castillo, the most impressive building in Tulum now, served as a lighthouse to make navigation easier. The castle is 7.5 meters tall and has a small shrine.

Tulum sits on the edge of a limestone cliff facing looking out over the vast turquoise ocean. Mayan ruins are one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites and have a number of interesting structures from the ancient Mayan world. It is also the most visited archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula. One can choose to ride a collectivo, which is a public transportation white colored van. Tour bus package prices vary widely, depending upon what is included. Just be early when you’re planning to visit the site. The view is really breathtaking. The pristine beach is so beautiful it is almost unreal. Some visitors bring their swimsuits and grab the chance of a refreshing swim. Don’t forget to bring you’re sunglasses, and a bottle of water which you can also buy at the entrance. Wear your sunscreen and hats.

You can find beachfront cabanas which is more expensive, but if your budget tight or looking for a bargain try those tulum hotels in town. Tulum accommodations, for the most part, are rustic and simple. Electricity around the beach area is limited. You won’t find air conditioners but most hotels have ceiling fans inside the rooms. This place is not for those people who are looking for luxury and updated facilities. This is the place for those who wanted to escape the busy modern world and searching for a serious and quiet relaxation.