Travel Guide > North America > Mexico > Yucatan Peninsula > Quintana Roo > Tulum
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.
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.
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Del Sol Mexico | No. 815 Polar Pte. Entre (between) Saturno Y Luna Nte | Guesthouse | 70 |
| Hostal Casa | Avda Tulum entre Crucero Coba y Calle Escorpion | Hostel | 78 |
| Lobo Inn | Km 269, 5 Carretera Fedel Chedtuaml | Hostel | 67 |
| Maria Sabina & Happy Gecko Eco-Hostel | Carretera Tulum- Boca Paila 100 mts antes de la en Tulum Q. Roo | Hostel | 74 |
| Mayan Hostel | Carr Coba - Boca Paila | Hostel | 67 |
| Palapas Tulum | Retorno Polar 64 | Guesthouse | - |
| Papaya Playa Tulum | KM 4 - 5 CARR. TULUM - BOCA PAILA TULUM, Q. ROO, MEXICO | Hotel | 64 |
| Posada los Mapaches | Carretera Federal cancun Chetumal Frente entrada de las Ruinas Tulum | Guesthouse | 94 |
This is version 7. Last edited at 20:52 on Aug 14, 09 by Utrecht (+165). 5 articles link to this page.

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