Mexico
Mayan Ruins & Cenotes
Tulum is all about relaxing days on the beach in combination with exploring the jungle & Mayan Ruins and cooling off in the beautiful, mysterious cenotes.
Tulum Ruins
The Tulum Ruins is a famous archeological area and is one of the highlights to visit in Tulum. It’s located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and will give you a stunning view over the turquoise blue sea. The site is full of temples and stone walk which are well-preserved and were once one of the many great Mayan cities. El Castillo (the castle) is the main pyramid, located high on the cliffs near the ocean. Keep in mind that this is one of the most visited spot in Quintana Roo, so it can be very crowded.
Coba Mayan Ruins
Coba is archeologic site located about 45 minutes from Tulum. Due to Coba’s remote location, the site is not as popular with tourists as other famous Mayan ruins in Mexico, which makes it a total different experience. Explore the ruins along the jungle roads by bike! You can rent a bike at the entrance and start wandering through the forest, with many structures still covered in trees. There are many tall stone carved monuments at the complex, called stelae. The largest pyramid at Coba is called Ixmoja, part of the Nohoch Mul group of buildings. The pyramid is 42 meters (138 feet) tall and was the heart of the city.
Cooling down at Tulum’s Cenotes
Swimming in a cenote is one of the best things to do in Tulum. Gran Cenote is the most popular one in Tulum. It’s perfect for snorkeling as there are many fishes and even small turtles. Gran Cenote is located about 5km from Tulum Pueblo. Cenote Dos Ojos is another water-filled sinkhole that has extremely crystal-clear, bright blue water, which makes the perfect place to go swimming. Also here it’s very nice for snorkling and diving, as there is a maze of underwater caves and tunnels. Cenotes Dos Ojos is located about 20km from Tulum (to the north, direction Playa Del Carmen).
