The ruins of Tulum were considered to be the most important Mayan city in the state of Quintana Roo. It was one of the largest inhabited centers after the arrival of the Spanish in 1518 (although it soon became a ruin), and today it is undoubtedly the main tourist attraction on the entire east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
It is definitely one of the coolest tours to do in Riviera Maya, and for those who don't know the region it can be a little confusing to get to the ruins, despite the fact that they are well signposted.
So in this guide I'm going to show you how to visit the archaeological zone of Tulum, with practical information and advice. Let's go?
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Do you want to do the tours on your own and Book in 12 installments without paying IOF? Take a look at this list of 5 activities best rated and recommended by Brazilians who travel to Cancun and Riviera Maya.
Chichen Itza and Chichi Kan Cenote Tour
Xcaret Park Entrance Ticket
Transfers in Playa del Carmen
Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour
Ferry to Cozumel
History of the Tulum Ruins
Of the entire Mayan world, this city is one of the most recent, as it reached its peak after the fall of other great cities in the region: Chichén Itzá and Mayapán, between 1250 and 1550. Tulum maintained its population until the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, and it was from then on that its decline began.
Its original name was Zamá (“sunrise”) and is due to its location in front of the beach, being the first place where the sun's rays hit at dawn. This proximity to the sea also allowed it to dominate maritime trade, this being one of its main activities.
The city of Tulum was dedicated to the planet Venus, related to the Descending God, which is why we can see its image on the facades of some buildings, such as the Temple of the Descending God.
It was a modern city, surrounded by a strong wall that protected it and was organized into streets, where buildings of different uses were distributed (residential, religious, civil...). Of all its structures, the most important is the one known as El Castillo, right on the cliff facing the sea.
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Where to park at the Tulum ruins?
There are two places where you can leave your car to visit the Tulum Archaeological Zone: at the new entrance, which is on the road to Cancun e Playa del Carmen, and on the old road, which passes through the beaches and you can reach the hotel zone of Tulum.
In the first one, there is a huge parking lot, and when you arrive, you see many people waving to park, until you reach a roundabout, about 800 meters from the entrance, where you can no longer continue with the car.
Parking prices in Tulum
Parking here ranges from 50 pesos to 180 pesos. So if you don’t want to walk to the entrance of the archaeological site, there is a small train that can take you there for 20 pesos. The parking lot and the train are independent companies from the archaeological site.
So, what I recommend and what I always do is to arrive via the beach road. After Santa Fe beach, there is a guardhouse with a barrier, prohibiting cars from passing.
But just before (between this guardhouse and the turnoff to Playa Santa Fe) on the right bank, you can park your car at no cost. The rest of the way is on foot to the entrance (about 400 meters) and the good thing is that you will end the visit to the Archaeological Zone very close to your car. You save on parking and the train.
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How to visit the Tulum Archaeological Zone
After leaving your car on the beach road, you pass through the southern access gate and continue walking for about 400 meters to the ticket office. There you can buy your ticket (and meet one of the most common inhabitants of this place, the Coati).
Although in other places the ideal is to go directly to the main ruin and enjoy it with fewer people, in Tulum it is more complicated, as the recommended route is in the form of a loop.
This means that if you go to the castle first, you will have to go back to visit other ruins and then retrace your steps, so go with the flow and you will walk less and enjoy more!
The visit begins by walking north, the trail becomes pleasant, always walking in the shade of the trees. Until you find the first fork. I recommend that you continue on the right side to visit Casa del Norte. Then, you can cross the field towards Casa del Cenote or cross the wall again and leave.
Cenote House
The Casa del Cenote is the northernmost point of the archaeological site, and is quite interesting. Then, at one end, you will see a small tower facing the sea, the House of the Wind God.
Now you will have to walk a short path to re-enter the enclosure. You will be on one of the avenues of the old city, where you will see on your right the Grand Palace and the House of Columns, and on your left in the background, next to the castle, the Temple of the Descending Sun, with its peculiar relief.
It's time to go to the main attraction: El Castillo. You can walk around the part that faces the sea to admire it from all sides, although you can't climb up to its ruins, like you can with any of the buildings in this area.
If you go to the back, you will have a splendid viewpoint of the Wind God's House, the small cove and the sea.
The Castle
Then there are some stairs that go down to the famous beach, where you can take a relaxing bath and enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Riviera Maya. Once again at the top, if you follow the path that runs along the coast towards the south, there are several points from where you can get the best views of the castle by the sea.
Leaving the castle behind, it’s time to head towards the exit. But first, you need to stop to take some beautiful photos in front of the Templo de los Frescos and admire its decorated walls.
From here, if you still have energy, you can walk along the grand avenue to the north again (you will see the other facade of the Grand Palace and the House of Columns). Or head towards the exit, along a path that crosses a small jungle that takes you to the access road to the south.
What to visit in the Tulum ruins?
These are the most important buildings in Tulum:
Cenote House
It is a building built under a cave connected to a cenote. We already know the ritual importance that these natural water deposits had in Mayan culture. Apparently, it was also used as a tomb.
Temple of the Windy God
The Wind God was worshipped in many places in Mesoamerica. In Mayan culture, he is related to Kukulkan, and this temple was dedicated to him.
Its main feature is its circular base, on which this small temple was built. In addition to its location, together with the castle, it is the most famous postcard of Tulum.
Palace of the Great Lord
It was the place where the most important inhabitants of the community lived, among them obviously the Great Lord, or “Halach Uinik” and his family. Several rooms and columns can be seen.
House of Columns
It is one of the largest structures in the enclosure, built on an L-shaped base. At the main entrance, the columns that give it its name are still preserved. It was a palace where trade agreements were signed.
Temple of the Descending God
This small temple is one of the most beautiful in Tulum. Its name comes from the sculpture of a winged figure descending from the sky. We see the representation of this God with a headdress, legs spread and arms down, holding an object in his hands.
The construction of the temple presents a curious asymmetry and, at the time, it was completely decorated with paintings on the walls, which unfortunately were lost.
The Castle
It is the tallest structure in Tulum and the most important. It was built on a rock overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It has a large central staircase, on the sides of which there are two small temples where offerings used to be made. The upper structure was the place where religious rituals were performed.
It is an impressive building that served as a guide for ships approaching the coast. Mexico has the second largest coral reef in the world and many ships have sunk trying to avoid it.
The castle functioned as a lighthouse (at night it was lit with torches) to indicate to boats where they should turn to take the channel that opened in the reef.
Temple of the Frescoes
On its interior walls, a series of paintings representing supernatural beings from the underworld are preserved. They are one of the most important examples of Mayan painting. The exterior of the temple is decorated with masks of the god Itzamná.
How much does entry to the Tulum ruins cost?
The entrance fee to the Tulum ruins is 75 pesos. Many visitors wonder why the price for Tulum is so much lower than the entrance fee for Chichén Itzá.
The price of Chichén Itzá is higher because it is in the state of Yucatán, which in addition to the entrance fee to the archaeological site also charges a state tax.
Tulum is in the state of Quintana Roo, which only charges the amount for INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History).
Tips for visiting the Tulum ruins
Here are some recommendations to make the most of your visit to Tulum:
- I always recommend arriving at archaeological sites as early as possible! These ruins are one of the main stops on tours in Playa del Carmen, so there will come a time when all the buses will start to invade the site and it will be packed with people (it can be unbearable). Also, if you want to park as close as possible, arriving early gives you more options!
- The hours are from 08:00 to 17:00, I arrived at the south access at 07:45 and there were only 3 cars parked (and they were workers). When I left, around 10:00, there were about 10 cars. The best thing is that during the visit there were no more than 50 people. So, get up early!
- What to bring? It is best to wear light and comfortable clothes (it is extremely hot), you do not need to wear closed shoes (the area is flat and you walk on trails).
- Very important: sunscreen and plenty of water. You can also wear a swimsuit and bring a towel, as swimming is allowed on the beach.
- If you don't have a means of transportation or want to make one Tulum Ruins Tour, there are several that include transportation, a Spanish-speaking guide, entrance fees, and in some cases, food.
- Don't forget the repellent, as there are a lot of mosquitoes in some areas.
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