There are beautiful hidden places we do not know when we take an express tour to Tulum. Normally the tours to the Mayan archeological site of Tulum, limit your time, because they have defined routes and schedules, which barely give you time to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum and then you immediately go back to your hotel. A good alternative to see more, are the excursions to Tulum on your own. It is a way to know a lot more beyond Tulum Mayan pyramids. When it comes to lunchtime, head to Bahia de Punta Soliman, and stop at a delightful one-hundred-percent  family restaurant with a thatched roof and sand floor, called Oscar and Lalo, which serves incredibly versatile cuisine; succulent ceviche, soups and fresh salads, fine seafood, traditional Mexican dishes, regional dishes, grilled, and excellent dishes of the house in an exotic natural environment. You will simply love it!. Here, you can peel your shrimp Jumbo yourself and lick your fingers while eating. All shrimp are the catch of the day and all meals are prepared at the time. Do not miss the mango shrimp cocktail, it is a true delight. The purpose of the Oscar and Lalos menu is to make all customers want to comeback. Here, you can snorkel and enjoy the cayaks in the beautiful beacj of the restaurant.

During the Mexican Holidays from April 30th to May 6th, 2010, the flow of tourists in Tulum Archaeological Site, had a significant increase not only with the presence Europeans, Asians and American but also with domestic tourism.

The occupancy of the 226 thousand rooms in Tulum  hotels is above 80 percent. This increased flow of visitors to Tulum Mayan Ruins is of  tourists  mainly from the U.S. and Europe. However, during this extended period of Mexican holidays which celebrates children’s day, Labor´s Day and the Battle of Puebla Anniversary, many Mexicans took advantage of the different deals to spend a vacation in Tulum, crowding Tulum Archaeological Zone  Ruins and Tulum beach, reaching almost 90% of Tulum Hotels occupancy and marking  so, a decidedly tourism increase registered in the ninth municipality of Quintana Roo, Mexico, which according to some estimates made by Tulum authorities, will remain on average for July and August 2010, which indicates a gradual decline in the economic crisis that affected the tourist industry  in 2009.

The white sandy beach of Tulum delineates the deep blue of the Caribbean Sea, inviting its visitors to discover the wonders of the Riviera Maya.

Immersed into the dense jungle of the Riviera Maya, there are several archaeological sites that bear witness to an amazing ancient civilization, “the Maya.”

Tulum Mayan ruins, solemnly stand on a cliff. Visitors can see the sunset from the top, enjoying a splendid view of the Caribbean and take a plunge in the beach.

In Tulum, Mexico you can also go to pre-Hispanic city’s oldest and largest state east of the Yucatan, “Coba”. From the top of the pyramid Nohoch Mul, one of the highest in the Maya World, you can see the lush jungle and the placid lakes that in the past served to supply water to its inhabitants.

They are also still some Maya Trails called “Sacbes” (the longest, 100 km) which connected to Tulum Ruins to other major cities. In Cobá were found serveral stelae with calendar dates that tell the story of this city founded in 600 AD and occupied until the fifteenth century.

On Tulum area and surroundings in the Riviera Maya, Mexico you can dive or snorkel in more than 30 explored cenotes (sinkholes) and caves, these are activities that attract most tourists who come to spend their vacation in Tulum, since underwater, prevails peace and calming silence together with the solemnity of the stalactites and stalagmites that decorate the caves, leaving its visitors bewildered and giving them moments of reflection.

 At a short distance from Tulum, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico  outstand the theme parks Xcaret and Xel Ha, with a range of fun attractions and environmental activities. Both are a good example of sustainable development that is taking place in the region.

Tulum, south of the Riviera Maya, Mexico  is an exciting adventure for every traveler who wants to enjoy the tranquility of nature and tradiction and the rich history and culture of the country.

At Tulum Beach, there are many surprises that amaze visitors. During the month of October, large colonies of blue crabs from the mangroves cross the sea to breed, creating an unbeatable entertainment for lovers of nature.

During the summer, huge sea turtles come to Tulum beach to spawn. It is advisable not to attend this event to not interrupt the cycle of turtles. During this time, environmentalists monitor Tulum beach to protect nests and hatchlings. The release of thousands of baby turtles is a unique experience that attracts children and adults around the world, year after year.

A few meters from Tulum Beach, there is a mysterious world of coral reefs, home to thousands of underwater species, which can be discovered by scuba diving or snorkeling.

A  Tulum vacation is  ideal  for souls who like bohemian music, dance, or enjoy delicious regional or international food under the stars.

The Maya city of Tulum, on the Riviera Maya,  Southeast coast of the Yucatan peninsula, in the State of Quintana Roo, North of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve,  145 km south of Cancun, on a spectacular 12 meters cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Tulum, Mexico is one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mayan world. Among other important archaeological sites are Coba, 42Km northwest of Tulum Ruins and Chichen Itza, 159Km in the same direction.

Around the Ruins of Tulum Archaeological Zone, and the small neighboring towns, the Maya people have kept their customs and traditions alive, and most of them live in houses with thatched roofs. The main activity is fishing, building huts, making crafts and furniture, among other activities. 

Tulum, in the Riviera Maya  is home to a system of underground rivers and cenotes connecting with the sea, along the coast, making it an extremely attractive place for tourists. Also, Tulum beach is so beautiful, that  every year thousands of marine turtles arrive to lay their eggs.

Tulum is divided into three different areas, Tulum Hotel Zone, Tulum town and Tulum Archaeological Zone (Ruins). In the zone of  Hotels in Tulum, there are some of the most spectacular beaches, many of them are still pristine and considered among the best beaches in the world.
 
The architecture of the Hotels in Tulum shows a deep respect for the environment and a lovely harmony with the natural beauty of the surroundings.

There is only one avenue with commercial activity; craft shops and supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, bus station, bank and post office in the area of Hotels in Tulum.

For years, Tulum beach has been the mecca for travelers seeking spiritual and physical relaxation, tha is why Tulum, Mexico is certainly the ideal destination for nature lovers, sun, and culture.

Due to the dynamic growth of the Riviera Maya, including Tulum and the great demand of services, the construction of Tulum International Airport will begin on this year, so you can travel directly to Tulum in a very near future instead of arriving at Cancun.

If you want to combine Mayan culture and water activities take one of  Tulum Xel Ha Tours. This tour combines nature, archeology and culture and also is familiar.

The Tulum Xel Ha Tours are available at most hotels in Cancun. However, the best thing you can do, is to book Tulum tours before arriving to Cancun or the Riviera Maya, to save money and time of your precious vacation in Tulum.

With these tours to Tulum you will first stop is at Tulum Mayan ruins, and you will know this major city of the Mayan culture, which faces spectacularly the Mexican Caribbean.

The visit to the ruins at Tulum archeological zone  takes about 2 hours. Then you will visit the largest natural aquarium and most beautiful in the world to enjoy water activities that characterize Xel Ha Natural Park.

Some of the Tulum Mayan ruins that you will see at Tulum Archaeological Zone, in the Riviera Maya are:

• El Castillo Pyramid
• Temple of the Frescos
• Temple of the Initial Series
• Temple of the Descendent god
• Temple of the Wind god
• House of Columns, Halach House and House of the Cenote
• Kukulcan Group

The stay at  Xel Ha is 5 hours. Tulum-Xel Ha tours include round trip transportation from Cancun, bilingual guide, entrance to the ruins of Tulum Archaeological Zone and Xel Ha, food and drinks.

The buses of Tulum Xel Ha tours are luxurious, with special service on board and toilet. It is important to be in the hotel lobby at least 30 minutes before the hour of scheduled transportation.

Bring your own towels, comfortable clothing, and swimsuit, walking shoes and extra money for expenses like, souvenirs, photo, video, tips and other services with additional cost within the locations. Remember to always use biodegradable sun lotion to your skin care and the environment.

Unlike the big chains of Tulum hotels, small ones do not enjoy the boom in occupancy and they rely increasingly on the high season, so far the figures are quite low and they can only hope that the start of the Easter holiday period takes the desired effect, say the hoteliers of Cancun, Riviera Maya and surroundings.

Tulum hotels with less than 15 rooms located on the shores of the Tulum beach, from the ruins of Tulum Archaeological Zone to Sian Ka’an, cover about two thousand 300 rooms, which have not had a good occupancy in the recent weeks, so that hotel enterprisers desperately wait a rebound during the last week of March with the arrival of the Easter vacation in Tulum, from March 28th to April 04th, 2010.

Easter week is a full week in which tourists can visit all the attractions of the Riviera Maya, from Cancun to Tulum Archaeological Zone.

In addition to the lovely Tulum beach, it has one of the most important Mayan archaeological sites in the area and attractions for the whole family.

Tulum hotels suit all budgets. There are large luxury family resorts, romantic hotels for couples,  hotels for singles and rustic cabins on the beach. There is also very simple accommodation for those globetrotters who just want to rest without great pretensions.

Check with your travel agent about Tulum hotels, rates, special Easter promotions, activities, tours and best travel deals.

During his fourth voyage to the New World in 1502, Christopher Columbus came across a heavily laden Mayan trading canoe near the Bay Islands in Honduras. Packed with cotton from the Yucatán, cacao from Belize and a variety of other goods from faraway places, the canoe is testimony to the size and importance of the Mayan trade empire.

The Maya were shrewd merchants who forged trade links with other Mesoamerican cultures in the Mexican highlands such as the Aztecs, and with their Central American neighbors, as far south as Panama.

One of their principal trade routes was the maritime route that skirted the Yucatán Peninsula and extended south into the Caribbean. Merchants used a network of overland routes and rivers to transport their cargo from the coast to cities far inland. During the Post-Classic period (A.D. 1200-1521), ports on the Mexican Caribbean coast including Tulum, Xaman-Há, Polé, Xel-Há, Muyil and Cozumel controlled the traffic of goods to and from the area.

Archaeologists have identified at least 75 trade goods, including honey, beeswax, salt, cotton, cacao, henequen, stingray spines, cinnabar, natural dyes, shells, jade, quetzal feathers, animal hides and ceramics. Mayan traders obtained obsidian and basalt, used to make knives and grinding stones, from central Mexico; turquoise came from the far north and gold was introduced to the area from Costa Rica and western Panama.

The Mayan deity associated with trade, cacao cultivation and war is Ek Chuah.

Archaeological Sites in Quintana Roo

Admission Fees

Source: INAH, subject to change without prior notice.

When you go on vacaction to Tulum, take a day to drive on the coast road south of the Zone of  Hotels in Tulum that leads to the entrance of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Straddling northern and central Quintana Roo, this UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises 1.3 million acres of jungle, marsh, mangrove forest, Caribbean beaches and a 110-kilometer-stretch of coral reef, all of which are rich in flora and fauna. The biosphere reserve was established by government decree in 1986 to protect these incredibly fragile ecosystems.
Sian Ka’an, which means “where the sky is born in Maya,” is home to 103 different mammals and over 350 resident and migratory species of birds, including herons, ibis, roseate spoonbills, wood storks and frigate birds. This reserve in the Riviera Maya, Mexico also has a large breeding population of ospreys and protects a tiny colony of the rare jabiru stork, the largest bird in the Americas.
Include a day trip to Sian Ka’an in your Tulum Vacation Itinerary, this will  give you the opportunity to know more than Tulum Beach and ruins only in the Riviera Maya. Visit at least two of the reserve’s 23 archaeological sites, Muyil and Xlapak. You’ll also get an overview of the reserve’s jungle and wetland ecosystems and take a boat ride through the lagoons to see the birds.

A 20-minute drive to the south of Tulum ruins lies Muyil, also known as Chunyaxche, an archaeological site in the forest on the shores of a lagoon that shares the same name. The largest archaeological site found to date in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Muyil was an ancient trade enclave with links to cities in the Yucatán and Central America. Over 1,000 years ago, Mayan traders were shipping goods to and from the coast by means of a natural canal in the mangroves that they dredged and widened.
Many of the buildings at Muyil are still covered by jungle creepers but the principal temple known as El Castillo has been restored. Wildlife is abundant in the surrounding forest and gleaming blue morph butterflies, the agouti or tepescuintle, a rodent the size of a small dog and flocks of parrots are often spotted. Visitors can follow a nature trail through the trees to the mangroves at the water’s edge and climb a wooden observation tower for spectacular views of the forest canopy and the wetlands.
Getting there: Take Highway 307 to the south, the entrance to Muyil is clearly marked. Local fishermen from the Muyil cooperative also offer boat trips through the lagoons and mangroves of Sian Ka’an to the coast. If you are spending your vacaction in Tulum, this is an incredible day to see more than Tulum beatiful beach and nature.

During your Tulum vacation, embark on your own jungle adventure! Forty-two kilometers inland from Tulum beach, an hour from Playa del Carmen and a 90-minute drive from Cancún, Cobá is one of the Maya World’s largest archaeological sites and has an extension of around 70 square kilometers. The city is clustered around five shallow lakes, which would have provided fresh water in ancient times, and its name in Maya means “waters ruffled by the wind.”
The city reached its peak during the Mayan Classic period, A.D. 250-900, when it was a regional capital inhabited by up to 70,000 people. An important trade center, it also distributed goods to and from the eastern seaboard, Central America and cities in the Yucatán.
Archaeologists believe that Cobá had links with the Guatemalan city of Tikal, pointing to certain architectural similarities in the earliest buildings at the site, for example, pyramids, false arches, lintels, huge, roughly cut blocks and a coating of red stucco plaster. Some later structures at the site also resemble Tulum Mayan ruins.
The most famous building at Cobá is the Nohoch Mul pyramid. Standing 42 meters high, it is the tallest pyramid in the northern Yucatán. Other clusters of buildings at the site are the Cobá group, the oldest in the city, La Iglesia, another 24-meter-high pyramid crowned by a temple, the Ball Court, Las Pinturas, Xaibé or the Crossroads Pyramid and the Macanxoc group which has nine circular altars and eight stelae.
Cobá is also famous for the sacbes or Mayan causeways that radiate from the heart of the city. To date, 45 of these roads have been detected at the site including the longest sacbe in the Maya World, which links it to Yaxuná, a lesser city in the Chichén Itzá hinterland, 101 kilometers away.
Getting there: Take the turnoff marked “Coba” in the Zone of  Hotels in Tulum.