Tulum

Introduction

Tulum ruins

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Tulum is located about an hour's drive south of Playa del Carmen, in the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. The tourist destination is now divided into three main areas: the archaeological site, the pueblo (or town), and the zona hotelera (or hotel zone).

The archaeological site is relatively compact (compared with many other Maya sites in the vicinity), and is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites. Because it's located close to the Mexican Caribbean coastline (the so-called "Riviera Maya" surrounding Cancun) it's a popular destination for tourists. Daily tour buses bring a constant stream of visitors to the site throughout the day. The Tulum ruins are the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico, after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza. It is popular for the picturesque view of the Caribbean and it's great to jump in the sea after exploring the ruins.

The town is fairly small. You won't find much nightlife or souvenir shops, except for the main road that runs just behind the beach. Accommodation in Tulum is sparse; hotels are relatively expensive and often fully booked which makes your stay in Tulum somewhat exclusive. But Tulum does offer something special; idyllic white beaches and the warm Caribbean sea just outside your door.

A large number of cenotes are located in the Tulum area such as Maya Blue, Naharon, Temple of Doom, Tortuga, Vacaha, Gand Cenote, Abejas, Nohoch Kiin and Carwash cenotes and cave systems. If you're into to (cave) diving this is a must, but go with a certified guide. Also snorkelling or just going for a refreshing swim is very nice.

Sights and Activities

• Tulum Ruins are an amazing set of coastal Mayan Ruins, some of the best in Mexico.

Events and Festivals

Day of the Dead

Although the Day of the Dead is also celebrated in many Latin American countries except Mexico (and also in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa), the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is most intensily celebrated in Mexciowhere where it is equal to a National Holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. Although it is about the Dead, it is also a celebration where eating and partying both are common as well.

Weather

Tulum has a tropical climate with generally hot and humid weather. June to November is the rainy season when there is a chance of hurricanes as well. This is also the hottest season. December to April is slightly cooler and is the dry and sunny season. There are more crowds however during these months. Probably May and November are good months for a visit, with mostly fine weather and less people.

Sleep

Budget

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafe's are widely available and you generally can find one in the direct vicinity. Sometimes photocopy stores or photo processing stores will double as an internet cafe with a couple of computers. Look for signs reading "Acceso a Internet" or "Cibernautica" or "Cibercafe". Charges range from approx. US$1 an hour to US$3 an hour, depending on the location.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Phone cards can be purchased anywhere and are needed for the majority of public phones. To call any number outside your region you have to dial 01 then followed by the area code. If calling a cellphone from a normal phone start with with 044. If calling cellphone to cellphone just dial the 10-digit number. To make an international call dial 00 followed by the country code then the local number. To call to Mexico, also dial 00 (most of the times) followed by the national code 52.

Post

The Mexican postal service is operated by Correos de México. The post service in Mexico is pretty good although not very cheap. It is reliable regarding the sending of postcards, but it takes at least a week to send it to other countries (US/Canada), more so if you send it to Europe or Australia. For packages it is better to use international services like FedEx or UPS. If you are sending a package internationally with the Mexican postal service, take the package OPEN to the post office, they may want to inspect it. Seal it up at the post office. Post offices typically open from 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am to 1:00pm Saturday. You will find post offices (Oficina de Correos) is almost any town or city in Mexico. To buy stamps it is best to go to the post office, although you can also get them at stamp machines, located outside the post offices, at bus stations, airports and some commercial establishments.