Tulum Ruins Tour
Image by @blreak14
Have you ever wondered what the name “Tulum” means?
This ancient Mayan city - the first ever to be discovered by the Spanish, in 1517 - wasn’t always called this way. In fact, its original name was “Zamá”, Mayan word for morning, sunrise. Its current name was given to this unique place in more recent times, when the city was already abandoned and in ruins.
“Tulum” means “wall”, or “fence”, alluding to the 784 meters wall that enclosed the site and that’s still in part preserved here. It was precisely this wall that made Tulum so rare and special. In fact, it was one of the very few walled Mayan cities, as well as being the only one built on the coast, perched on the edge of a 12-meter limestone cliff.
Location, Access and Tips.
Tulum’s Archeological Site is located at km 230 of the federal road Chetumal-Cancún, 128 kilometers south of Cancun and only a few minutes driving from Tulum’s town center. The site can be reached by bus, car, or even biking - if you’re already staying in Tulum. If you choose to go by car, you can easily find a parking space right at the entrance, which will cost you around 180 Pesos.
You can buy your tickets at the park entrance, for about 85 Pesos. Here, you can also hire a tour guide. Prices for the tour guides depend on language, availability, and the number of people in your group, but they generally start at 600 Pesos (approximately 30 USD). If it’s your first time visiting, we highly recommend getting a guide. Tulum Ruins are rich with history, interesting facts, mystery, and curious legends.
The visit can take from 30 minutes up to one hour, and the site is open daily from 9:00 am to 16:15 pm.
Our advice, of course, is to arrive early in the morning. Not only will it be less crowded, but there will also be less heat. Keep in mind, there is hardly some shade in the park, and the sun at noon can become very strong. So don’t forget your sunscreen and a bottle of water!
Sundays are usually the busiest days because the entrance is free for nationals on this day. For a less crowded visit, we recommend going on a weekday.
Tulum Ruins are famous for the breathtaking cliff and the white sandy beach below it. The beach is not very big, but it’s definitely worth climbing down and taking a dip in the blue Caribbean ocean. Once inside, you won’t find any place to change, so make sure you already have your bathing suit on!
The restrooms can only be found at the entrance.
The beach is an amazing place to take photos. You can bring your phone or a regular camera but, to use professional cameras, you will need special permission. Drones are generally not permitted.
Tulum Ruins by Boat.
Imagine hopping on a boat and approaching Tulum Ruins directly from the sea! A stunning cliff reveals in front of you, and an ancient Mayan fortress ready to be discovered perched on top of it.
This is only one of the many tours and adventures offered at the Adventure Shack, at our Jashita Hotel, in Soliman Bay. The TULUM RUINS AND SIGHTSEEING tour is available from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm or from 13:00 pm to 16:00 pm (2 1/2 hour tour). An expert captain will guide you to two different snorkeling spots. First, you will snorkel among sea turtles and beautiful stingrays, exploring the coral reef in Tulum's National Park. Then, you will adventure to the reef barrier in our beautiful Soliman Bay on the way back.
Once the adventure is over, you’ll enjoy some well-deserved refreshing beverages - on the house!
– DISCOVER MORE ON THE BLOG
