Tulum
Tulum, Riviera Maya, Mexico … a truly enchanting place to relax.
Take a Tour to the Mayan Ruins of Tulum.
We have a wonderful certified private guide that can take small or large groups to the any of the Archeological sites. He speaks, English, Spanish and Italian. Let us know if you would like a personalized tour for your group!
Tulum is 63 kilometers South of Playa del Carmen
Tulum is 131 kilometers South of Cancun
Our Personal Thoughts: We, the authors of this site, live in Playa Del Carmen. When we want to get away for a night or weekend, I think we would almost always choose to go to Tulum. It is where we can relax and enjoy peace and quiet. It is beautiful and quaint. (of course the Tulum ruins are there too.) We recommend staying in one of the beachfront cabanas…but if you are on more of a budget travel, stay in town and explore the beaches and the ruins during the day. The actual town of Tulum is not situated on the beach but is about 3km, a 40 peso (approx. $4 US) cab ride away. In town offers you more restaurants, handicrafts, grocery, fresh fruit and vegetable markets, Bital bank etc…small little town but can provide necessities.
I think we would always recommend making reservations before arriving but maybe if you are more of a free spirit, you could show up, grab anything for the first night then explore the amazing small beach hotels and find what you want. We have personally stayed in 4 of the hotels we recommend. Many places have hammocks right outside your room, very addicting. Some of the beach hotels operate with solar power, the nights are lit with candles and oil lamps, the lack of ambient light creates a heavenly feeling. It is a wonderfully romantic place but you do not have to be with a significant other to enjoy it.
Many of the beachfront hotels also have a restaurant on their grounds. For example, Zamas hotel & restaurant has excellent food…the kind of place we stop even if we are just in Tulum for the day. This restaurant also has a beautiful view on the beach, day or night. Another “must see”, visit Gran Cenote which is approx 6 km from the beach of Tulum.
As for the Tulum Ruins…we do recommend going, but go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It gets bus loads of people from about 11am on. It is still a beautiful historical stop. If interested in the history, we suggest paying a tour guide (most languages) to show you the site. They are available around the entrance of the Ruins. Could cost a couple to tour the site approximately $45 US dollars with a guide. If you do not want to get there on your own in taxi or rental car, we have a simple bus tour that can take care of all the details for you. Sit back and let our guide take you there.
Tulum Ruins Swelled with pride on a cliff by the turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean you can find the amazing vestiges of the most important archeological site of the Quintana Roo coast. It was built during the Postclassical Period of the Mayan Culture; it was the most important port of these coasts. More than sixty buildings surrounded by three huge walls with five sensational doors protected the city of Tulum. Inside the Maya forest, two km from the archeological zone, there is a small town called Tulum. Inhabited by local natives of the region, this town has been growing during the last years together with the evolution of the tourist zone. In a totally casual atmosphere you can also find small restaurants, stores and hotels all along the road, which is the town main street too. Here and there, in the town or at the beach, you can find hotels, restaurants and different alternatives for all kind of budgets. The most incredible and adventured tours by bike, boat, jeep or horse, in the forest, along the deserted beaches or the wonderful natural wells (underground rivers). Diving and snorkeling on the open sea are two unforgettable experiences: the Great Mayan Reef, the second biggest reef in the world, not more than a hundred meters far from the beach. Diving through the caverns, for the ones who like extreme sports, will give them a new vision of this silent world in an underwater flight through a world formed underground during the glacial period. The ruins are open from 8am-5:30pm and have free entry on Sundays. With a more developed ecological and cultural conscience than in Playa del Carmen, the citizens of Tulum try to keep the essence of their town and invite you to share it.
As you enter Tulum going South on highway 317 you will see this sign as you enter into Tulum. Turn left toward Boca Paila to go to the Tulum beach road where many beautiful hotels and cabanas await you.
Our Tulum Hotels:
Zamas
Beachfront/Great Restaurant
Azulik
Adults only/ Romantic
Copal
Beachbar/Variety of Rooms
Zahra
Beachfront/Variety of Rooms
Thank you to Michael Hall for the use of some of his amazing photographs!
Link Reiseportal für die Halbinsel Yucatan in Mexiko, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum und die Riviera Maya