Tulum is known across the world for its pristine beaches, trendy cafes, and its bohemian hipster vibes situated in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. But before the beach clubs and $3,000/night beachfront villas arrived, Tulum was a major Mayan port city.
Because of its location, it was important for land and sea trade routes. Trade was conducted with areas all around Central America and Central Mexico. Tulum was fortified with its walls and cliffs along the coast. There’s much more to Tulum than meets the eye. Here is what you should know before visiting the Tulum ruins.
The Tulum ruins are easy to get to
If you are up for it, you can even walk there from the town of Tulum (aka “El pueblo”).
- Walk – 45 mins / 2.3 miles from Tulum Centro
- Bicycle/Motorbike – You can rent these in town and cruise at your own speed
- Colectivo – costs about 10-20 pesos ($0.50-$1 USD) to get between Tulum Centro and the Tulum ruins. You can usually flag one down on the road.
- Taxi – Roughly a 10-minute drive that will set you back between 120-200 pesos ($6-$10 USD)
It takes about 1-2 hours to see the Tulum ruins
The Tulum Archaeological Zone is really not too expansive. You can see the entire Tulum ruins in about 1-2 hours.
- El Castillo
- Templo del Dios Descendente
- Casa de las Columnas
- El Palacio
- Templo del los Frescos
- Templo del Dios Viento
- Casa del Noroeste
- Playa Ruinas
Try to avoid the crowds
This is probably the most important thing you should know before visiting the Tulum ruins. Come early to beat the crowds or go later in the afternoon once they all leave. Tulum is one of the most popular destinations in the world these days, and that means a lot of tourists, even in COVID times. Not to mention, the ruins are the 3rd most visited archaeological site in Mexico behind just Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza.
Besides the tourists staying in Tulum, buses are being shuttled in for day trips from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The site is open from 8 am-5 pm daily. We recommend getting here as soon as it opens or around 3 pm.
It’s right on the beach!
The ruins of Tulum sit along the coast of white sand beaches and turquoise waters. This makes visiting these ruins a pretty special experience. There is a beach that is even accessible on the site, although it is sometimes closed if the surf is too rough (this was the case when we visited, unfortunately).
In any event, even if you miss out on the beach at the Tulum ruins, Playa Pescadores and Playa Paraiso are just a 10-20 minute walk away!
Show some respect
It’s crazy that this even needs to be said, but sadly it does. There are structures throughout the ruins of Tulum roped off, and they are roped off for a reason. To preserve them and this amazing history. Don’t be a jackass and climb over the ropes so you can selfishly flex on Instagram. We saw a few people do this.
Also, don’t trash the site. This city was flourishing between the 13th and 15th centuries and we are lucky to still be able to admire it. Let’s not throw our plastic water bottles and face masks on the ground. In addition, it’s right along the beach, so a lot of this trash will end up in the sea. Show some respect!
Reptiles run these ruins
Iguanas, lizards, and all sorts of reptiles are the groundskeepers at the ruins of Tulum. They are pretty easy to spot, basking out in the sun along with the centuries-old structures. We couldn’t help but wonder if these guys hold some old Mayan secrets lost in time.
How much does it cost?
The entrance fee to the ruins of Tulum is 80 pesos (about $4 USD). Make sure you have cash and try to be prepared with exact change. Many tourists come with large 500 peso bills and they simply can’t accommodate everyone with change. We saw quite a few people asking around for smaller bills, stuck at the front gates.
As far as a guide, the Bros like to pick and choose our spots for a guided tour. This one didn’t seem worth it to us. We supplemented our visit it by reading all the informative plaques throughout the site and doing some research online before and after visiting.
How impressive are the ruins?
We’ve walked away from all of the ruins we’ve seen in Mexico pretty awestruck. The ruins of Tulum are definitely impressive, but it is the backdrop of the palm trees, beach and sea that really makes these ruins special. As far as the actual ruins are concerned here’s where we rank ’em:
- Chichen Itza
- Uxmal
- Dzibilchaltun
- Tulum
What’s the story with the Tulum Ruins?
Tulum was previously known as Zama, the city of Dawn, probably due to the beautiful sunrises it witnesses each morning. Obsidian, copper, jade, flint, ceramics, gold, salt, textiles, feathers and much more all ran through this important hub. Traders by sea would hug the coast in canoes all the way from present-day Guatemala and Honduras.
Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Mayans. The city of Tulum survived for about 70 years after the Spanish occupation of Mexico began, until disease took hold and disrupted society, leading the city to be abandoned.
What should you bring?
This is pretty standard for a hot day in the strong sun with little shade.
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Bathing suit
- Cash (small bills)
- A snack (don’t leave any trash)
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Traveling to Mexico or Latin America? Check out our posts on:
- 5 Reasons Mérida, Mexico Is A Great Digital Nomad Destination
- The Best Tacos in Mérida
- How to Visit the Yellow City of Izamal for $5
- An Unexpected Mayan Spiritual Experience in Uxmal
- How to Get from Mérida to Chichén Itzá
- Visiting the Mayan Ruins of Dzibilchaltún
- What You Can Get for $10 in Mercado Lucas de Galvez
READY TO VISIT THE TULUM RUINS?
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