Where: Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico When: January Happenings: Explore ancient ruins or stay in a cabana hut Remember to bring: Mosquito net Tulum is located on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, close to Cancun and Isla Mujeres. Golden sands and clear blue waters of the Caribbean make it a perfect spot for pleasure seeking beach lovers. The beach is also a stunning backdrop for the ruins of the ancient city of Tulum, built by the Mayans between the 11th and 15th centuries. Climate The best time to visit the Yucatan Coast is between November and March, when average high temperatures range from 82 and 89 ºF. The rainy season is from August to October. Things to See and Do Explore the ancient Mayan ruins Tulum means 'wall', a name given to the site relatively recently because there is a wall surrounding it. In ancient times it was known as Zama, meaning the City of the Dawn. The Mayan civilisation was already in decline when the city was founded, yet it remained inhabited until after the Spanish conquest. The ruins, which include a watch tower looking out over the Caribbean, several elaborate temples and a Great Palace, are open daily. Stay in a cabana on the beach Rent a cabana, and let the Caribbean waves lull you to sleep. Some cabanas are very comfortable, some ramshackle. Cabanas Don Armandos is a 10 minute walk from the ruins and a has a distinctly rustic feel. Alternatively, hang your hammock in the open air, though a mosquito net is advisable.
Tourists from around the globe are discovering Tulum Mexico as a destination for adventure. Tulum'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. Even farther south on the beach road (road to Punta Allen) will lead to the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve and more deserted beaches. The Amigos de Sian Kaan and Centro Ecologico de Akumal can both arrange biology tours of the waterways and Mayan canal systems inside the Reserve. "Sian Kaan" means "where the sky is born" and is a habitat for thousands of birds as well as all the terrestrial and aquatic animals to be found in the coastal area.
Tulum is also famous for its cenotes; Mother Nature's own crystalline fresh water pools. These cenotes are actually windows to the vast underground rivers that flow beneath the ground through submerged caves. The cenotes have provided fresh water to the land inhabitants for millennia. In the Tulum area the best cenotes are located south of the Tulum Pueblo and along the road to the Mayan ruins of Coba. Tours to these cenotes are offered to both snorkelers and divers by dive shops and adventure tour operators from Tulum to Cancun. Qualified scuba divers interested in cavern diving in a cenote should always check the qualifications of their guide to insure a safe tour will be offered. Businesses in the Tulum Pueblo are improving with the increase in tourism.
Restaurants like Charlie's and Toni y Simone's in the Tulum Pueblo have great character and serve tasty meals. Gift stores like Mixik, next to Charlie's, has out of the ordinary items from all over Mexico. For those who like the beach, several excellent restaurants with deluxe beach cabanas are located along the road to Punta Allen. One of our favorites is Zamas which is less than a mile south of the intersection of the Coba road and the beach road to Punta Allen.
There is a lot to do and see in TULUM. Regardless of where you choose to stay in the "Riviera Maya", you should plan a day to take an adventure to Tulum and experience some of its mystery and beauty.