Tulum

Tulum is the most beautifully sited of all the ancient Maya cities, a walled town perched on a low cliff above the turquoise Caribbean, its weathered temples and the landmark Castillo gazing out to sea. Once a thriving port, its dramatic setting above a white-sand beach, where iguanas bask on warm stone, makes it the most photogenic ruin in Mexico, on the popular Riviera Maya coast.

History

The city may once have been called Zama, "city of dawn", as it faces the sunrise, while Tulum is the Yucatec word for a wall. It was a port for Coba and flourished between the 13th and 15th centuries; Juan Díaz of Juan de Grijalva's expedition of 1518 first mentioned it, it was left by the end of the 16th century, and John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood published the first detailed description in 1843 (Wikipedia, Tulum).

The main sights

• El Castillo - the clifftop temple gazing over the Caribbean.
• The sea views - the ruins above the turquoise water.
• The beach below - the white-sand cove beneath the cliff.
• The walled city - the temples and the surviving city wall.

When to go

November to April for cooler, drier weather; go at opening to beat the heat and the crowds bussed in from the resorts. Morning light and a swim on the beach below make the most of it.

Good to know

The ruins themselves are modest compared with the great inland cities; the draw is the spectacular seaside setting. It gets very crowded and hot, so go early. The beach access below can be limited. The modern Tulum town and beach strip beyond have become busy and pricey.

Nearby

The cenotes, the ruins of Coba and the beaches of the Riviera Maya are close; Cancun is up the coast.

Key facts