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Tulum, Cancún
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Tulum, Cancún

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Tulum: A world class beach
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  • gipper84
  • By gipper84 on June 28, 2005
  • Cancún Page by gipper84
  • Tulum - Cancún
    by gipper84
    Tulum is the ancient Mayan city overlooking the fabulous blue waters of the Caribbean, with a fantastic beach, beautiful views and fascinating history. Tulum is an easy half day trip that you must see. It is also probably a good idea to join this trip with a stop at Xel Ha. David's dad rented a car for the week so we did a day trip to Tulum and Xel Ha. Tulum was built in the Early Classic period (AD250-600) and developed into an important city in the years AD1200-1530. Tulum is quite a small site and unlike Chichen Itza has a beach that is just an amazing sight. The beach is also good for a dip to cool yourself down in the heat. Tulum is one of the most visited of all Mayan ruins, and it's also the only major Mayan ruin to be found along Mexico's Caribbean coastline on the "Riviera Maya". It would be a shame to miss it. Tulum is surrounded by three walls and with the ocean forming the fourth boundary the city was designed to be defensive. A warning and danger tip would have to be the many Iguanas found all over the place. The best part about Tulum is that it is never too crowded. One of the big spectacles at Tulum is the voladores, or flyers located close to the entrance. They dress in brilliantly colored traditional costumes, climb up a 150 foot pole, tie their ankles to ropes wound around the pole and then jump off. They fly gracefully around and around as the ropes unwind until they reach the ground. As the voladores "fly," another performer balances at the top of the pole and plays haunting tunes on his wooden flute. Overall we all loved Tulum and would recommend it to anyone who visits Cancun.

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    Tulum: Tulum - Not Just Ruins
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  • Kaspian
  • Updated By Kaspian on July 22, 2005
  • Cancún Page by Kaspian
  • Tulum - Ruins (2004) - Cancún
    Tulum - Ruins (2004)
    by Kaspian, 4 more photos
    Do not book a tour agency visit to Tulum. If you do, you'll be missing out on two of the best parts of this charming area: one of the greatest beaches in the world and a nifty little downtown. Tulum is very easy and inexpensive to get to from Cancun. Plan to take a taxi to the Cancun bus station and from there take the bus to the ruins... and bring your bathing suit!
    Tulum is located 131km (81 miles) south of Cancun, about a 1˝ hour drive. Taking the bus may require you to transfer in Playa Del Carmen, but it's a very simple thing to do. Bus fare from Cancun is cheap, only about $10 - 15 USD per person.
    I do not suggest travelers do the Tulum/Coba day trip combination offered by the companies. It makes for a very long day with little time to enjoy the sites. (Less than 30 minutes at Tulum.) Everybody who visits through an agency complains later that they didn't have enough time to go for a good swim or see the downtown.
    The Mayan ruins at Tulum date from 564 AD. They comprise of a walled-in fortress perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. This is the picturesque site that you see used in many of the Mexico travel brochures. A complete tour of the ruins doesn't take very long (about 3 hours) and the cost of admission is inexpensive (38 pesos in 2004).
    You can access the real Tulum beach (not that small one at the ruins) by walking or taking a taxi about 1km down the coastal road beside the ruins. This is a must-see while in Tulum. The beach is breathtaking. The water is crystal clear, clean, and that fantastic neon-blue colour. On the beach you can find some restaurants and if the urge takes you, book a cabana for an overnight stay.
    Tulum's downtown was once kind of ugly, but they've done a lot of work and it is now quite pretty and also well worth a visit. There are bus stations both downtown and at the ruins, so getting back to Cancun is easier than ever.
    See my Tulum Travel Page for more information about Tulum.

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  • Directions: 1˝ hours south of Cancun on the Cancun-Tulum Highway (#307).
  • Website: http://www.tulum.com
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    Tulum: Easy day trip
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  • hartmany
  • Updated By hartmany on August 31, 2005
  • Cancún Page by hartmany
  • Tulum - Cancún
    by hartmany
    Get there early and expect an hour (plus swim time) for site seeing. The massive waves of tour buses start coming around 10am - 11am and then you'll have no chance of getting a picture without wandering tourist everywhere.

    There's a small (sometimes no) entrance fee, and for a couple bucks, you can get a tour guide to walk around and give you the long history of the ruins and surrounding area.

    There are hundreds of iguanas wondering around posing for a great picture - if you dare to get close.

    Bring a swimsuit as there is a small, but impressive beach to enjoy.

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  • Directions: 1.5 hours from Cancun. Get there early and go to Xcaret on the way back.
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    Tulum: TULUM: Amazing
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  • IIGUANA
  • By IIGUANA on November 10, 2003
  • Cancún Page by IIGUANA
  • Tulum - Cancún
    by IIGUANA
    Tulum is great. It's close to Playa del Carmen and it's the only piramid by the sea. It's quite amazing how these mayan guys built all these, and the landscape is great. If you're going to Tulum, BRING ON YOUR SWIMSUIT. There's an AMAZING beach right next to it. Impossible not to get in the water. You'll thank me afterwards.

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    Tulum: Enjoy the drive to Tulum as well
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  • divegurl
  • Updated By divegurl on December 1, 2004
  • Cancún Page by divegurl
  • Tulum - Cancún
    by divegurl
    From the resort row, it'll be worth it to rent a car and take a pleasant 3 hr. drive to the ancient Mayan temple complex of Tulum where you can soak in the historical sight as well as the amazing view of the sea!

    Yup this temple sits at a cliff overlooking the carribbean sea! If you feel like taking a dip, a small beach by the alcove can be host to your 40degree heat break.

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    Tulum: Tulum
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  • Amareyui
  • Updated By Amareyui on June 3, 2004
  • Cancún Page by Amareyui
  • Tulum - Cancún
    Tulum
    by Amareyui
    Tulum was around 130km south of Cancůn, making it another prime location for a day trip.

    The ruins of Tulum (Mayan for "walls"), though well preserved, would hardly merit rave reviews if it weren't for their setting; the Carribean Sea was at its side.

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    Tulum: TULUM
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  • Gipp
  • By Gipp on July 27, 2003
  • Cancún Page by Gipp
  • Tulum - Cancún
    Tulum
    by Gipp
    Tulum is quite near to Cancun and can be reached as a day trip. Tulum is a fairly minor Mayan outpost which was mysteriously abandoned in about 1000AD. What makes it spectacular is that it is situated on a cliff top looking out towards the sea. It's a beautiful, slightly wild place with a great beach

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    Tulum: Mayan ruins by the sea
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  • spartan
  • Updated By spartan on November 22, 2002
  • Cancún Page by spartan
  • Me and my buddy Kristen from Boston - Cancún
    Me and my buddy Kristen from
    Boston
    by spartan
    I had a great time getting to Tulum. Tulum lies approximately 80 miles south of Cancun--an easy and popular day trip (often in combination with Xel-Ha). The site, Quintana Roo's most famous and well-restored, is the only Mayan port city ever discovered. Tulum flourished from 1200 to 1500, and was still occupied when the Spaniards conquered the area in 1544. While not as extensive as Chichen Itza, Tulum's breathtaking location on a 40 foot bluff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean gives it a special magical quality.

    Once you have entered Tulum through a small archway in a stone wall, it is just a short walk to El Castillo, from which you can see most of the ruins and the beautiful coastline. Other notable structures include the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God. A small, but beautiful beach lies between the Castillo (Castle) and the Templo del Dios del Viento (Temple of the God of the Wind). It is a fun place for swimming or snorkeling if you have the time.

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  • Directions: There is a small fee for parking (around a dollar) and for admission (approximately $2.50 per person). It is a good walk to the entrance, or you can take a tram for about a dollar round trip.
  • Website: http://playaguide.com/tulum.html
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    Tulum: Ruins of Tu-Lum
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  • JustinRose
  • Updated By JustinRose on February 27, 2003
  • Cancún Page by JustinRose
  • Ruins of Tu-Lum - Cancún
    Ruins of Tu-Lum
    by JustinRose
    One of the ancient Maya Indians cities... or naturally ruins of it. Maybe not so impressive than some other ruined cities but a landmark of very old civilization. If you go to Cancun, I think you should also visit one day, or half of it in Tu-Lum. Actually we did Xel-Ha and Tu-Lum in one day and I think it was quite okay schedule for that.

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  • Address: About one hour by bus from Cancun
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    Tulum: Tulum is very interesting
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  • rachel_sun
  • Updated By rachel_sun on October 6, 2002
  • Cancún Page by rachel_sun
  • TULUM IS VERY EXCITING TO SEE - Cancún
    TULUM IS VERY EXCITING TO SEE
    by rachel_sun
    The beach at Tulum is the best ive ever seen.I only wish that i had time to go swimming here.If you go,go for the day and go swimming as most people do not as they have limited time.There are snack bars and shops at the entrance and toilets too.
    I took my video camera in and was charged for doing so,3$,but it was worth it.It costs 3$ to get in also.If you hire a car,which i will do when i go back,you can get to all these sites and parks and save alot of money and spend as much time as you wish at them.

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