Tulum Archaeological Site

The Tulum Archaeological Site sits on a limestone cliff above the Caribbean Sea along Highway 307 in Quintana Roo, Mexico, about 130 kilometres south of Cancun. Tulum was a walled Maya port city occupied mainly between the 13th and 15th centuries and was still active when Spanish ships first sighted it. Visitors enter through the western wall and walk shaded paths between low stone structures. The principal building is El Castillo, a stepped pyramid that served as a lookout and beacon beside the sea. Close by are the Temple of the Frescoes, which holds remnants of painted murals, and the Temple of the Descending God, named for the diving figure carved above its doorway. The cliff-edge setting gives the site its fame: turquoise water frames the ruins from almost every angle, and a small beach below El Castillo can be reached by a staircase, where swimming is usually permitted when conditions are safe. Iguanas wander freely over the stones, and climbing the structures is not allowed. A typical visit takes about two to three hours including the walk from the parking area, which is a kilometre or so from the entrance, with a shuttle or train available for a small fee. The site opens early, usually at 8:00 AM, and arriving at opening gives the best light and the thinnest crowds. By late morning tour buses from Cancun and Playa del Carmen fill the paths and the heat becomes strong with little shade. Entry is charged in Mexican pesos, with a separate fee for the car park, and nearby Tulum town offers restaurants and cenotes for combining a day. Visitors should bring water, sun protection and reef-safe sunscreen if swimming. The site closes in the late afternoon, so the final entry time is earlier than the official closing hour, and rainy conditions can make the stone surfaces slippery.