Tulum was a pre-Columbian, walled Mayan city that is located on a cliff on the Yucatán Peninsula overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It was inhabited from the 13th to 15th centuries and played an important role in defense and trade. My husband and I toured the Tulum ruins with a tour guide. The site was walkable, although the weather was very sunny and hot. We saw the structures El Castillo, a castle overlooking the beautiful shore; the Temple of the Frescoes, which has wall murals; the Temple of the Descending God; Casa del Chultun; and many others. The ruins were roped off, so we could see them only from a distance and not touch them, but they still looked impressive and interesting. We also enjoyed seeing wildlife such as iguanas. We have visited other Mayan ruins in Mexico and in Belize, and in comparison, I do recommend visiting Tulum. read more

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Our 2nd time to Tulum Ruins was great! We joined a tour this time and enjoyed it. Our guide was knowledgeable and very accommodating when questioned. We went on a March weekend and was surprised it was not crowded which was great. I would love to come back during sunset next time - the dramatic scenery, combining ancient ruins with a beautiful beach and the ocean view, will definitely be worth it! read more

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Seaside ruins! I think these are probably the third best-known ruins in Mexico. These are the most beautiful setting- seaside along a blue beach, with iguanas lazing in the Mexican sun. There's a whole complex of buildings here, made from the rocks and hauled so they make astrological precision on the equinox, lining up the sun with the temple atop the highest point. Amazing. There's a bit of a cluster to get in. I suggest hiring a guide to get you in if you can pay a few extra pesos. They managed to get us to jump the line and go in through the exit so we didn't have to put up with all that ticket checking at the entrance. There's an electric tram that takes you the trip to the entrance, which is a bit annoying that they have everyone queue up to get in, instead of just piling in and going. The ruins are magnificently reinvigorated and restored bringing them back to life, in some cases. One complaint is that they could have an epic souvenir shop run by the federales, but they only have a tiny bookstore that is severely lacking. Yawn. If you need souvenirs, there's plenty outside the gate. Cinco estrellas! read more

I booked this tour through the Margaritaville Cruise. We were met by Chalo and Lily and their driver Wilbur at the port. Chalo gave us stickers so we could all stick together. We were given tickets for the locations we were visiting during the tour, since there was a place we went after this one. We took a bus to the ruins and went inside. Lily gave us a lot of information. Talking about the different ruin sites. Starting with the High Priest Temple and the blue stones and got it was expensive and the red handprints on the wall representing life. And another site was a high class family's house and private chapel. Lily told us how high class never touched the ground as they believed they were like gods and too good for it. We were shown the arch to the sanctuary area. Then we visited the main square of the ruins and saw an altar and other areas of the ruins. It was a very informative experience. Lily even showed us the Mayan calendar printed on leather. It was definitely a fun time and super educational. I loved learning about this culture and where they came from. read more

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This is one of my favorite places to visit in the Riviera Maya. The ancient city of Tulum with its ritual cliffside ruins has enough structures that have survived the test of time, that if you close your eyes you can almost imagine it at its glory. The line can be long and getting a ticket complicated. We had to stand in multiple lines just to get all the different tickets required to enter the ruins, and they go through your bag multiple times. Once in, you can freely explore unless you're with a guide. The informative plaques were actually pretty good at giving us the information we needed. If the ruins aren't enough for you, enjoy the large population of iguanas that sun themselves or just look out at the extraordinary view. This is definitely worth the hassle if you're going to be close to Tulum. It doesn't cost much to get in, but the lines can be confusing even for native speakers. A tour will be easier but much much more expensive. I did also love the lack of vendors inside the grounds, that really ruined my experience of Chichen Itza. read more

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Ready for this tour? In verbal words and lots of photos. Here's my experience. I was dropped off from my hotel via bus tour of 12 others. Upon arriving, you're greeted ice cold water and you're asked to digest it asap before entering the grounds. Walking in, you are taken through a strip mall of shops that sell tchotchkes, snacks, to haagen daas and a Starbucks. Now..... It's 80 degrees out and we had a special tour guide by the name of Aide! Aide pronounced (a-day) was such a pleasure. He had a wealth of historical knowledge, was very attentive and extremely clever and amusing. He asked tricky questions throughout the way to keep us engaged. His story telling was great. Aide made sure he walked us through every little point and included tips and tricks to avoid going missing, look for clues and if you see this or that, that ultimately, you're going the wrong way. I give it to this guy for delivering such great service in the humid weather. While 80 doesn't seem hot, it was humid with little breeze, direct sunlight and little water to carry. After about an hour of Aide, we had one hour to roam ourselves before going back to our meeting point; the shops. Things to keep in mind: Bathrooms are only in the front after security. Use it before entering the ruins. It's a walk if you have to circle back. For cleanliness, it seems ok but I never entered seeing how bad it looked from outside. I held it in to avoid the what ifs. Guide will offer you umbrellas. You'll need it even if you think you wouldn't. You cannot carry bottled water or any plastic waste. You will be bag checked after strolling through the strip mall and right before entering the ruin grounds. Don't be afraid. It was a breeze. The grounds are strict than ever before. There's only one exit and one entrance. You cannot exit through the entrance. Follow the orange cones for the exit. Also, watch your step on every step. Steps are steep. Wear comfortable shoes. There's gravel in every walk way. Do not feed the fauns/iguanas. Wear sunscreen and a hat! If you have lost your way, again, follow the orange cones and if you see the Starbucks. Know that this is the only one and you're on the right path to going back to the front entrance. read more

The ruins themselves are great but the whole area basically tries to scam tourists. There's a popup tent before you get anywhere near the entrance; if they try to talk to you, keep walking! They try to sign you up for a package that will cost $100US. If you just pay the park and ruins entrance fees, it's only about $30 US. There was a golf cart that picked up near the park entrance and drove you towards the area with the ruins (it's inside the park so you have to pay park entrance fee and the ruins entrance fees). I went in the afternoon and there was very few people around so I got some great pictures and was able to enjoy my walk through. read more

They had guides along the way that explained everything as well as history. Amazing views and scenery. Bathrooms were clean and sanitary. They have travel shuttles that take you between sites and they are also very friendly and helpful. read more

Fantastic historic place to visit. Super hot with barely any shade but the views and history make it worth it. It gets crowded but it is large enough that it's a wonderful experience. read more

Zona Arqueologica de Tulum, or the Tulum Archaeological Zone, is definitely worth checking out. There's nothing else quite like it. Combined with the absolute natural beauty of the Yucatan Peninsula, this place has to be one of the most beautiful historical sites in the world. It's a sight to behold. The coastal setting makes it extra unique. It's literally ruins in paradise. For the purposes of this review, "Tulum" refers to the archaeological site which contains Mayan ruins of a city believed to have been largely built after 900 AD. Tulum is part of the larger Parque Nacional de Tulum (Tulum National Park), which includes hundreds of acres of jungles, beaches, wetlands, cenotes, and six archaeological zones (this is one of them). You can read more about the park here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/parque-nacional-tulum-tulum To avoid confusion, there's also the modern town of Tulum, which is near the ruins. The town opened a new airport on December 1, 2023 with direct and nonstop flights from the US. It relieves congestion in Cancun and on the highway to and from. It's at least a two-hour hour drive between Tulum and Cancun. Tulum is touristy. We entered in a long line and exited in a long line. Luckily, there was no waiting and the lines moved briskly. There was a very quick and loose security bag check, conducted by Guardia Nacional (the National Guard), before entering. Once inside, the site is so big that you can spread out. The crowding wasn't bad for us during our visit on a Monday morning around 9am. I highly recommend booking a private tour through My Quest Concierge Private Tours: https://www.yelp.com/biz/my-quest-concierge-private-tours-playa-del-carmen My wife and I were picked up by our dedicated guide at our resort, driven and escorted to the ruins, and given an intimate, personal tour. It was just the two of us and our guide. He knew the most efficient route through the ruins, took a bunch of great pictures of us, and timed each stop so we were mostly "alone." It was perfect. The ruins are that of a Mayan city believed to be inhabited between the 12 to 1400s. It was a walled city built upon cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The white sand beaches, lush green vegetation, and the deep blue ocean make for some truly breathtaking views. A lot remains of the city walls and structures, which are made of limestone and stucco. The structures included homes for nobility and priests, various temples, shrines, and altars, and El Castillo, the central pyramid. According to our guide, religious rituals and human sacrifices (!) took place at El Castillo. My favorite is Templo del Dios del Viento (the Temple of the Wind God), which is located on a high point along the sea cliffs. It's picturesque and looks fantastical, but is very much real. read more

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Amazing history, hubby and I enjoyed our tour here with the rich history of the mayans. How intellectually advanced to place the pyramids/Templo so that when the summer solstice came can shine through the templos that lights up the carved image. Also can guide them away from the reef when the sun comes from the other way. The average age of the Mayans was 35 due to the high mineral content in the water they were drinking caused them to get gallstones. The grounds is very large so be prepared to walk wear a sun hat it gets very hot. Also, bring plenty of water in your own container any other plastic containers or bags will be taken away by security. We booked this tour through our resort. Well worth the personal tour to educate us of their culture. Before I forget bring money!! There are people are walking around with animals to pet or in costumes. As soon as you pet the monkey or stand with the people in costume you pay them money. We arrived in the morning there was no line. I think with everything it's more of a hit and miss on the days you go to visit the ruins. read more

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Soooooo this is just my opinion, but I hoped for more at Tulum. I think a large issue was our tour guide who didn't give a lot of useful knowledge in addition to our frustration with the heat and the rain. The sea view is amazing and hearing about the culture is as well, but for a 2+ hour drive, I kinda expected more. Again this is just my opinion and not something to be held against Tulum. read more

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This area is stunning with breath-taking views. Be warned, there is quite a bit of walking to get to the site, which is painful when it's especially hot and mosquito-heavy. I did this as the second part of a tour with Rio Secreto. So the Rio Serety was incredible. By the time I got to the ruins, it was hot and we were wiped from the heat so I'd suggest starting your day there when you're more fresh, take water (altho no plastic is allowed so take cans or cash to buy drinks there). Maybe also take a portable fan with you and water to splash all over your head :P You can't walk to the beach any longer, only take photos with views behind you. That said, the views really are worth seeing once! Not a place I'd go back to but certainly worth seeing once. read more

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Amazing site of royal ruins, situated by the most white sands I've seen on this trip. Nice that they have a shuttle up to the main area. A really neat place to visit. read more

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We arrived on a Thursday in November at around 11 am (after having left our resort at 7 a.m.) There was a long line to get into the archaeological complex and once inside it was packed with people. There were several excursions from cruise ships as well as masses of people from the Cancun area resorts. All the people made it difficult to walk around, there were too many people taking selfies making it hard to keep moving to see the ruins in our limited time. There is some signage but most is in poor condition. I had visited Tulum almost 30 years ago. It was not over-loved then. My pictures from that visit show barely any people and we had plenty of time to see everything. A lot of construction work is going on inside and outside the complex so the noise from equipment added to the general stress of our visit. We regret taking the tour through our resort. I don't know if there is a good time to arrive for a visit. It's just too popular. read more

Zona Arqueológica de Tulum - Yucatan Jay, not concerned by the crowds of people. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Tulum, ROO

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Tulum was beautiful but hot, so definitely would recommend you bring plenty of water and perhaps back an umbrella for walking out and exploring the grounds. If you have enough time bring your swimming clothes or wear them underneath so you can check out the beach area too. Went as part of a tour group experience, so we were on a timetable of a couple hours, so be mindful of that there's at least a 10-15 minutes walk (each way) from the "admission checkpoint) to get to either the beach or ruins areas. Also note that depending on how your visit is arranged you may still have to pay an additional cost to actually get into the archaeological zone for the ruins. The details for our particular tour (we booked through TripAdvisor) mentioned admission being included, but what was not clear is that they were actually TWO admissions you need to have to enter the Tulum Mayan Ruins. One is to get to the actual city/town, and the other covers the entirety of the grounds, which includes the beach access. We still needed a wristband to actually get entered into the overall site. Our tickets only covered the archaeological ruins. This lead to confusion and frustration for me and the others on the tour, as we still had to make another purchase that we were not expecting. So be prepared to have some additional pesos to cover this expense (if this is your situation) The total entrance cost is 90 pesos (About $5.25 USD) so a pretty low cost of entry to a truly beautiful site with such rich history. If you don't booked a personal tour guide or it's not included with your package, I would at least recommend buying a cheap self-guided audio tour, which my partner and I did, which was more than sufficient. The two that we had were: Voicemap and Action Tour Guides. Both were less than $10 each. read more

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I am not sure why other reviews say go first thing in the morning--- I went Monday 16 July 2024 at 9am ((they open at 8am)) and the lines were insane Come 2pm, the entire place was empty!!! There were SO many people first thing in the morning Again, around 2pm, the entire place was empty.... Definitely go later in the day!!!!!!!! The heat doesn't really change from 10am to 1pm ... it'll be hot all day and you will be dripping wet regardless of what time you arrive The heat should not be the deciding factor--- if you want no crowds, go later in the day!! There is SO much trash at the beach!!!!!!! Shame on the workers for not cleaning it up!!!!!!!!!! They are so strict about the environment (as you will see per the numerous government signs and bag checkpoints), but in reality, they don't even clean up the trash ((I would have cleaned up the beach FULL of plastic trash to prevent it from going back to the ocean/ the nearby coral reef, but the beach// trash is behind a white rope where ordinary people can't cross- only workers can access the beach area) You can see the turtle prints go through the mounds of trash..... it is really REALLY devastating When you park (150 Pesos), you walk through an insane about of tourist shops.... then you pay 61 pesos per person to enter the park, then another 95 pesos per person to enter the ruins...... the ruins are probably 3/4 mile X 3/4 mile--- they do not cover a large area at all. Walking from the parking lot to the ruins is bigger than the ruin area itself After you park, you walk through the initial tourists shops as mentioned above, and there are workers holding monkeys on chain leashes. It is appalling!! And animal cruelty at its definition Again, for a government to be so strict to tourists about environmental rules (no plastic bottles...), they need to crack down on this unethical treatment of (baby) animals!!! You will see workers holding (baby) Monkeys, iguanas, parrots/ macaws... and try to get tourists to give money for pictures The ruins are not even worth it........ I am a history buff, and was so unimpressed with the entire area Spent about 5 hours there The best part is the breeze from the ocean There is good signage- not sure what other reviews are saying when they mention lack of signage There are signs that tell you what you are looking at // the historical importance of each specific ruin Overall: -insane amount of tourists / tour groups -insane amount of trash -you can barely see the carvings of the ruins (only able to see 2 descending gods clearly throughout the entire park) -you cannot see the murals on the ruins at all Considering the amount of money that flows through here, they could do SO MUCH better read more

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My only take away from this experience is to sell all tickets at one location. This was a great day and hanging out at santa fe beach was perfect read more

Tulum was the last great city constructed and inhabited by the Mayan people between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. It was a site of worship to the Great Descending God whose image adorns the temples within the site. Tulum was also of great importance for sea trade, most specifically for the trading of obsidian. Tribes from all over Mexico and other Central American countries would travel here for commerce. It's said that the great wall around the city was erected to protect it from envious traders and pirates who wanted to steal the prime location for themselves. These walls are located on only three sides of the settlement as the ocean protects the eastern borders. We hired a private tour guide who took us around and learned so much which made us appreciate the Mayans even more! It's a actually massive and worth a day's trip! The ruins are situated on 12-meter (39 ft) cliffs along the Caribbean Tulum had an estimated population of 1,000 to 1,600 inhabitants. The wall around Tulum is three to 5 meters (16 ft) in height, 8 m (26 ft) thick and 400 m (1,300 ft) long on western wall parallel to the sea. The Castillo (main pyramid/castle) is 7.5 m (25 ft) tall and appears to have built-in stages. Tulum was a major crossroads of trade from both land and sea managing trade from Central and South America into the Yucatan. Tulum honored the "diving god" or "descending god" and "the god of the bee", an important insect for the Maya even today. Our tour guide purchased tickets, taking us around and explains the various structure. Go and check it out! read more

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This place is not as big as Chichén Itzá so it won't take hours and hours to walk, a good 2 hrs to see it all. Talum is on a sea side cliff and is so beautiful. Talum is a must see when you visit. 1st things 1st When you get to the street to go to Talum don't don't don't stop! There are ppl trying to stop you and offer you a bunch of lies. They even look legit with their uniforms and all. They have no connection to Talum. Keep driving and not far up is parking on right and left side. We did get a tour guide so we could have a history lesson and not just look at the temples. The information was mind blowing. Such powerful intelligent people. The way these building were made was pure genius for the time period. read more

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My wife and I were vacationing in Cancun and decided to visit the Mayan ruins. Our hotel has a tour package via Lomas Transportation and booked an express trip to Tatum. We were picked up at 9:20 am in a van and after picking up more passengers from another hotel, we were guided to the Mayan Ruins. We have a guide and all entrance fees were paid for in advance. The guide took us straight to the gate and gave us a wristband. She was very nice and toured us around the ruins. She explained that Mayan is a walled city way back where people lived. We have a lot of pictures taken for souvenirs. It's a hot day and I suggest you wear comfortable shoes, shorts, a shirt, and a nice hat. There's a lot of history behind these ruins and our guide explained to us how it was. This is a nice place to visit to learn about the history of the Mayans. There's a marketplace outside where you can grab a cold drink or food. They also have a souvenir shop. If you have time, try to visit this place. It will amaze you read more

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We came here on a bus tour and I believe buses have to park a bit farther away than cars do. Anyway you walk through a whole bunch of touristy shops on your way to the ruins. Lots of food available and restrooms that you should probably use before you get to the ruins. It's about a 400m walk and I believe they are putting in a sidewalk to make it easier otherwise you're sharing the walk with cars. Looks like they were doing a lot of construction at the entrance to the ruins so maybe they're trying to make it easier to organize all the people that are coming. Even on a weekday there were a ton of people! The ruins were great to visit. Lots of good excavation and most of the signs were in Spanish and English. Great place to explore! Lots of iguanas around as well. Just really fun. I really wish we could have spent longer there. Really the only reason I gave it four stars is because it was a bit of a petulous walk from the bus to the ruins. Looks like they are trying to improve it though in the future. read more

You can't visit Tulum and not go see the ruins. It's a big piece of history that still runs its course in the town, and a big reason why Tulum has become such a popular tourist destination. Make sure to get here early, because it gets busy and lines get long. We had to wait about 30-40 minutes in the ticket line, but once we got through everything else was a breeze. It's also a lot of walking, especially to the ticket gates, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes! Getting to see the ruins up in person was truly amazing. There were so many different temples, each which had their own architecture and stories. What made it even better was that the ocean was right behind it all at the bottom of the cliff. You can also take as much time as you want on the grounds, there is no limit. The area it is in has a lot surrounding it, too. Playa Sante Fe was within walking distance, and is a free beach to hang out at. There's also a little central spot towards the entrance with restaurants and shops. Make sure this place is high on your list when you visit Tulum - you won't regret it! read more

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Really not worth a 3 hour drive and walking around in the hot sun .....but you should do it at least once if you are staying at cancun or closer like riviera maya(google it) Its a small town on a hill of mayan ruins When you enter the grounds the locals are rrally aggressive on the parking hussle, start lying to you about officcial park and cost and whatever ...there is a parking lot up ahead where the shops are that cost 100 pesos ...then up there they try and upsell tours and tickets, do not fall for their ish ...you buy tickets from a kiosk at trail entrance about 10 min walk ahead Hike up to the ruins and hike up to see the ocean view at the backside ...then hike back down(in the heat) take as much photos to make this worth it. Lol read more

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Most certainly an experience to cherish with the family. We hired a guide to take us around. He escorted us through the ticketing area gave us a speel and left. It was really really hot day we were so tired that we ended up@ the Ceynote after to cool off. read more

Zona Arqueológica de Tulum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Tulum, ROO

Incredible history and amazing sights by the ocean! Just be ready for super hot weather, long walks with no shade and get a guide. Totally worth it if you are into archeology or history. read more

Bring your own water bottle's on this trip! The famous 'Tulum Ruins' was about an hour away from our hotel in Playa De Carmen. My girlfriend and I decided to take our rental car to save us on having to spend money on an excursion. For excursions, I suggest going on viator.com for the best deals. It was an very interesting drive to get to where we needed to get to, military had the places guarded up. After passing law enforcement, there were even more hotels and restaurants. We parked our car near the trees alongside other cars. We were lucky to go there on a day that wasn't busy because the place doesn't really have a parking lot, it's what ever spot you can find. My friend and I got lost while trying to get to the ruins, we ended up hiking through the forest, it was scary but fun because adrenaline hit, who knows what could happen? Raped? Killed? Kidnapped? Get bit by a snake? Who knows? but once we finally saw civilization and other tourist taking the actual path to the ruins that we had no idea existed, the being scared $hitless feeling in our gut was worth it. It was humid and we sweated our butts off. The ruins were beautiful! One of the most beautiful, sacred things I have seen in my life. We walked the place for about 45 minutes. We never did the guided tours because we will look up videos on YouTube later..I mean we gotta tip everyone, ya know? In Mexico, tipping isn't mandatory but they are good at getting tips from you, on top of an already 30% tipped that was charged to us on booking the boat excursion, we tipped. Our boating and snorkeling guides were great, but be wary of other people out there who are too nice, they'll play nice, then they'll have something in common with you, make you laugh, that's how they keep your attention. After our trip to the ruins, we grabbed a quick drink and snack at the place called 'Snack Bar' they took forever to get our nachos out, we tried to cancel because it was time for our boat trip and snorkeling excursion but the server said that they "couldn't cancel because it would come out of his pay check" funny, how that word came up a lot on our trip. Mexico isn't like America and my work place, where our guest will try to get something waived from their bill, no lady, you aren't leaving until you pay. So be prepared to pay and tip, only cash is accepted in most places, but preferably cash. Any who, the speed boat ride was a blast even though the I was the only one who kept getting salt water in my eyes, the tour guy showed us 2 more ruin structure's that were just found 20 years ago that we couldn't have seen by walking on foot, we got our scenic pictures taken in front the ruins on the boat then we went onto snorkeling. I was surprised to swim with turtles and sting rays; as advertised. The men really did work hard to throw bait and call us to tell us "lady, turtle!" (Look at the f@kin turtle! Cute right?) it was a kool once in a lifetime experience. So when you get the chance, go to the ruins!. read more

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This was by far worth the weight of the multiple long lines to get tickets to each entry point. It was definitely one of the more expensive archaeological sites that we had paid for but definitely worth the hour. Wait to get inside to Tulum. Pictures definitely do not give justice, but it was an overcast day, but it was still so beautiful beyond beautiful. If you're in the area and are able to make this trip, I highly recommend it. read more

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Amazing history, I recommend getting a tour guide they are knowledgeable as they take this very serious! Such an amazing place! Would recommend to anyone on this side of the world! read more

Zona Arqueológica de Tulum - Temple - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Tulum, ROO

Beautiful place. I have been to other Mayan ruins ...but never near the ocean. That made it even more unique. The site is smaller than larger ruins like Tikal and Monte Alban. But, there are a number of well preserved buildings and structures. Very interesting history too. If you visit this part of Mexico, Tulum is worth a stop. Keep in mind that, with it being smaller, this is probably 1-2 hours at most. Great place for pictures. read more

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Tulum is amazing place to visit. It is a 2 hour drive by rental car from Cancun. I prefer to drive my self and not pay for the all day tour. Before the trip: This is the best advice I can give you if you are taking a trip to Tulum, Make sure you have Mexican pesos. Make sure you have small bills like 20, 50, 100 because many places don't have change for a 500 pesos Mexican bill. There aren't places to exchange Dollars in to Pesos. Get there early. The Sun and Heat at noon is not too pleasant to deal with. When in Tulum: My advice to you is to get the ticket at the gate and don't buy from the local vendor this would save you over $600 pesos. Exploring Tulum took me approximately 1hr and 30 minutes. I took some beautiful pictures and videos. After I finish the tour I enjoyed some local food and cocktails. Try the coco loco cocktail, but just drink one if you want to make back to your Hotel..Lol. Coco loco is a mix of Coconut water, Tequila, Blue curaçao, Rum, Vodka, Of course it may change depending on your bartender. Parking is $180 pesos. If you only have a $500 you will not get change back. Tulum has a nice beach area few minutes from the Landmark. The beach offers boat rides to see Tulum from the water and snorkeling. Keep in mind that you will encounter some ladies topples or smoking the good stuff. If this will bother you or if you have small children you, My advice to you is to drive back to Cancun and avoid Tulum beach altogether. read more

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This is a very nice place to visit especially on vacation. It's beautiful and just overall exciting to see history. I do recommend to be prepared for the sun. Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen for sure is necessary because there are no shade spots. Go to the restroom before you start your sightseeing. Also good walking shoes are needed and a bottle of water. You will totally enjoy it. Make sure your camera is ready it's beautiful read more

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Best to arrive when it opens to beat the heat and the crowds. Search for Ruina Tulum Parking on Google; it's the closest parking lot and costs 100 pesos per vehicle. Ignore scammers at the intersection charging 200 pesos for parking. Prior to entering, purchase a ticket for almost 61 pesos in the white building on the right side of the entrance; make sure you have the exact amount bc the sign says exact exchanges. This provides access to the area, including public beaches. After entering the first gate, buy another ticket (~90 pesos) for ruins access at the white trailer next to the tent for hiring guides. Before leaving the ruins, explore the eco trail near the exit for a different view of the cliffside ruins. Plan at least an hour here as it's a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the ruins. read more

Zona Arqueológica de Tulum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Tulum, ROO

This was a nice little half-day excursion. Unfortunately the beach was closed on our visit but it was still beautiful to see. Our tour guide was Freddy and he had great energy and lots of knowledge. The first 40-45 minutes or so was introducing us to the plaza and then entering into the ruins where he did a brief overview of areas of interest and a quick rundown on the history of several of the ruins. The last hour is free-time for you to explore and move about at your pace. We enjoyed wandering and viewing the different ruins and reading the informational signs. Then we headed back to the plaza and ate at a great little restaurant and did a little tequila tasting before getting back on bus/van to head back to Cancun. It was a very nice tour, I just wish the beach was open (but we could clearly see the waves all the way up to the edges of the rocks, so it wouldn't have been safe). read more

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Takes your breath away, sexy, spectacular... but quite high in temperature and there is definite humidity! Locals had advised us to get there upon opening in order to avoid the large amount of crowds. We arrived at 0800 hours and were quite frankly the first ones there. We had chosen to do without a tour guide and ascended upon a quite adventurous journey on our own. How did we do? Let me tell you, we did quite well. There is a sufficient amount of signage in Spanish and English so you can get around to areas you are interested in going to. We had visited in the month of September and it was largely HIGH TEMPERATURE and there was DEFINITE HUMIDITY! I had chosen to bring several wintercoats with us in case it snowed, but luckily this was not the case! Walking through this place was not that difficult, and you can capture some spectacular photographs. This place is a definitive stop when you are in Tulum! The scenes will take rob you of your breath! read more

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Tulum was everything we wanted it to be. We did not do the paid tour but we were able to listen in on enough talks that we were able to walk away more educated. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes! There are a lot of uneven terrain and some people were struggling because of their inappropriate footwear choice! Be sure to pack plenty of water! There are shady spots to take a break, get a drink and maybe a snack, and then continue. The walk to Tulum is a nice stroll; unless you have some issues, walk! We parked by the Starbucks so we grabbed our favorite cold drink before we jumped in our rental car to head back to Cancun and our condo. This is a MUST SEE destination - if you enjoy Mayan Ruins! Most Sincerely! read more

Zona Arqueológica de Tulum - Tulum is an amazing place to tour! Do not miss it! Tulum is a MUST SEE! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Tulum, ROO

A note for first-time visitors: You will inevitably get hassled into trying to pay for something like a tour or transportation to the front gate. On our last trip, our resort driver drove us straight into a lot where his buddy said it cost both 40 bucks to get in and the wait was 2 hours. Neither of these things were true. Unless you can't walk the half mile to the entrance, avoid paying for anything but the entry fee at the gate which is about $6. ------------ I've visited Tulum twice now on two different trips to the region and twice I've been blown away by this ancient man-made wonder. It's hard not to be floored when you walk through the well-maintained ruins of an ancient civilization and one of the most priceless beachfront properties one could imagine. While some restoration has been needed over time, most of the ruins look exactly as they have for hundreds of years. The Mexican park service does a good job of creating pathways and restricting access to the most sensitive areas. Most people respect this, although there were some annoying tourists who stepped off the beaten path just to snag their Instagram photos. the tour guides are also informative if you choose to take a tour. I especially liked all the wildlife we saw as well - beautiful birds, lizards and numerous iguanas. It all was transportative. read more

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Before embarking on a tour of Zona Arqueológica de Tulum one must do some planning, because like many tourist attractions in Mexico the locals are more than happy to make a quick buck via predatory practices. About 10 minutes in by foot from paid parking, 200 pesos and cash only, visitors are offered the opportunity to pay for a quick train ride - easily skipped and separate from admission despite what the salesperson will tell you. Once past this, plus plenty of tourist stands, the 13th-century Mayan archaeological site inside Tulum National Park opens up with beautiful clifftop views, preserved ruins such as Templo de las Pinturas, plus plenty of jungle complete with wildlife. Typically crowded, with tour guides available to those who wish to dig deeper, do bring sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes plus good tolerance for heat and humidity. read more

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Allow me to start with a warning...Tulum has not proven to be the safest place as of late, so avoid any dodgy fly by night operations. I would recommend to go through a tour company (we used Ocean Tours and they were fabulous!) to avoid any sticky situations. However, try to make it through the warring cartels to see this because it must be seen. When else do you get the opportunity to glimpse into a life so far away in both time and culture. The preservation of the ruins is so good that stories can still be ascertained as to what building was used for what, etc. And close to Tulum was the most breathtakingly beautiful beach I've ever laid eyes on. Cancun may be more well known for its party exploits as opposed to cultural ones, but please take a day of your trip and check this out for a little perspective if nothing else! read more

Zona Arqueológica de Tulum - Tulum castle peering over the stunning beach. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Tulum, ROO

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This was an absolutely beautiful place to go. Hubby and I drove our rental car from Cancun to Tulum. It took about 2 hrs to get there; but it was well worth it. Tomorrow we plan on going to Chichén Itzá. After we went to Tulum, we realized that going in the hotter part of the day wasn't exactly the best idea. Many had umbrellas (which I wish we had one but we had big straw hats), and that truly helped them stay much cooler than we did. Imagining the people who once lived there and lived off the land?!? To me, that is absolutely breath-taking. I am an American who loves historical things that I have a chance to read about (as long as there is no test). The only real downside that we saw, was that the beach water was a bit more muddy than in the other places that we saw. Not enough for me to downgrade it to a 4 star, because the historical area and the architecture was just so beautiful and breathtaking. The drive wasn't too bad and we were glad we didn't go with a tour. We got to stay a significant amount of time and we were able to walk and leave when we were done. We brought our own bottles of water which did save us from having to purchase theirs. If you do decide to buy anything from the vendors, buy it after the tour; because then otherwise you will have to carry it around. It's just too hot to carry anything around besides what you need to carry around. And wear comfortable tennis shoes, you will be glad you did. There are many vendors that want you to buy things; but that is just about anywhere in Mexico. The families here are much poorer than those that come to visit Mexico. My husband and I just thought to ourselves, what a good way to buy Christmas presents for friends and family, while supporting the local culture. If we ever come back to this area, this is one of those sites that I would definitely come back to. read more