How to visit and what to see in Tulum (Riviera Maya of Mexico): schedules, prices

There are many and very diverse Mayan archaeological remains that you have the option of visiting in your trip to Riviera Maya, In the Yucatan peninsula de Mexico.

The possibility of visiting the remains of some of the ancient mayan cities It is one of the great attractions of a vacation stay in one of the big resorts from this area of ​​the Caribbean.

Therefore, when planning your trip, it is advisable to select which archaeological complex you intend to visit, being Chichén Itzá the most important ancient Mayan city frequented by tourists in Yucatan.

But there are also other interesting alternatives, or even easier to visit.

That is the case of the ancient Mayan city of Tulum, whose archaeological remains we visited during our recent trip to this area of Mexico.

The great advantage that Tulum in front of others archaeological enclaves of Yucatan is that it is very easily accessible since it is located in the heart of coastal area of ​​Riviera Maya, within the state of Quintana Roo.

This allows if, for example, you are staying in a resort In the south of this popular tourist area, you can reach the complex in 10-15 minutes, compared to the long journey of an hour and a half or two hours that you have to make to go, for example, to the aforementioned Chichén Itzá.

And, therefore, this ease of visit has made Tulum in one of the most touristic archaeological enclaves of Yucatán.

Curiosities history of the Mayan city Tulum in Riviera Maya

El origin of the city of Tulum They date back to the year 564 AD, a period from which inscriptions have been found.

But the remains of the buildings that you are going to see now during your visit are from the time of the so-called period post-classical of the Mayan civilization, which extends between 1200 and 1450.

When to Yucatan the Spanish colonizers arrived, there was still a population in Tulum, although it already disappeared at the end of the 16th century.

Tulum It was a center of worship descending god related to Venus, and the organization of the city forming a quadrilateral is due to the great influence that cosmology had among the Mayans, so that the four cardinal points were represented.

What to see when visiting Tulum in the Riviera Maya

If you arrive from Cancun or any of the big ones resorts de Riviera Maya, archaeological area You find it next to the coast in a natural park located before accessing the Tulum city.

Whether you go on an organized excursion or in a rental car, you will arrive at a parking of a shopping center that exists before accessing said archaeological zone, where there is no car park.

Until the archaeological remains of the Mayan city, which are one kilometer away, you will have to walk, although you also have the option of getting on a bus offered by the shuttle service for the price of one dollar each way.

A characteristic of the ancient Mayan city of Tulum is that it is surrounded by a Wall which forms a quadrilateral, one of the sides being the seashore itself.

After passing through the ticket offices, you will reach a very small door, one of the ones that exists in the walled enclosure.

Within walls The upper class resided, a population distinguished by their characteristic bean-shaped heads, the result of the practice of their deformation, and outside the walls, the lower class.

On your walk inside the walls you will see the remains of various buildings, such as a residential one with a royal tomb located above a cenote.

The main building of the city was known as The Castle, which, because it was in a higher location, served as a guide for the Mayan navigators to avoid the coral barrier that extends along the coast.

Another notable building is the Temple of the Frescoes, inside which paintings in gray and blue tones were found.

On your walk through the archaeological remains you will reach the beach located at the foot of a cliff on which the Temple of the Wind.

I tell you that, if you wish, you can bathe on the beach, which you may be surprised to see many visitors to Tulum.

To do this, you can go down some wooden stairs to the beach, and you can use the swimsuit and towel with which you are allowed to enter the archaeological site where, on the other hand, they do not allow you to bring food or large packages.

Tulum visit schedules in Riviera Maya

The Tulum visiting hours They are, throughout the year, from Monday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 17 p.m., with last access half an hour before closing.

El council to be able to walk around Tulum without feeling overwhelmed by the presence of tourists is to go very early in the morning.

Tulum ticket prices

El entrance price to visit the archaeological site of Tulum It is 85 Mexican pesos (3 euros).

Tours and excursions to Tulum in Riviera Maya

If for visit tulum from the resort where you are staying do you prefer sign up for an excursionFrom experience we will tell you that it is best to book it in advance of your trip, versus if you hire it at the hotel in Yucatán.

Since there are various excursion alternatives, you can choose the one most appropriate to your preferences, and at the price that best fits your budget; Waiting to make a reservation in Yucatán may force you to adapt to a much more limited offer.

So, for example, you can sign up for a excursion to Tulum from first thing in the morning, with a very complete visit, or a Tulum sunset excursion It will take you about 4-5 hours

Or to another excursion to Tulum and Cobá, which combines the visit of these two Mayan cities, as well as the possibility of bathing in a cenote, during a 12-hour day.

Map: how to get to Tulum

El archaeological site of Tulum It is 128 kilometers away, an hour and a half by car. south of the city of Cancun, on highway 307, and 62 kilometers and 50 minutes away Playa del Carmen.

Photos Mayan city of Tulum

Here you have more photos of the archaeological zone Of the old Mayan city of Tulum that you can visit in the Yucatan peninsula, south of the tourist area of Riviera Maya in Mexico.