Tulum Archaeological Site: Discover Tulum Mayan Ruins in 2024

In the 16th century, Tulum was known as “Zama” in the Mayan language, which means “dawn”. It symbolizes the sunrise that appears over the horizon of the Caribbean Sea. Like Chichen Itza, Tulum was a place for commerce. Specifically, this Mayan City was a port where Maya people traded goods with neighboring lands throughout land and sea.

They also construct temples and a “castillo” on the edge of the cliff facing the Caribbean Sea. We now call it the Maya ruins of the Tulum archaeological site, and they are standing strong to this day after all those years. It rests on the eastern coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula, Riviera Maya, Mexico. Gated by stone walls, this small town was populated only by higher-status citizens. The Maya people also used it as a ceremonial center to provide offerings to their god. For example, you can see many stone depictions of The Descending god carved in The Temple of Frescoes.

Furthermore, you will later see the largest temple ruin on site, and that is “El Castillo“. Unlike in Chichen Itza, this temple in Tulum is used as a lighthouse to guide ships to arrive safely at the beach.

The rules are translated from Spanish and you will find them on the big board by the entrance. The Mexican Cultural Heritage Conservation Council must put some rules in every ruin sites in order to preserve the immense heritage, so try to understand them and enjoy the site.

1. It cost 85 pesos to enter and 50 pesos to capture the scenery. The second fee may be a bummer for you. But the rule states “The use of electronic devices for the production of non-professional videos (video cameras, go pro, cell phones and/or tablets) has a cost of $50”.
2. No drones or any professional photography equipment allowed – “The entry of professional photography and video equipment, tripods, and special equipment is only allowed with prior authorization from INAH”
3. Not allowed to bring large packaged foods and duffle bags – Small backpacks or handbags only
4. Wear a mask at all times – But also, there is no one policing this rule once you are inside.

1. Go in the morning! – The opening hours are 8am – 5pm. We can’t stress this enough, and come early to avoid the long queue!
2. No shade to avoid the heat – We recommend bringing an umbrella, a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water!
3. Pay with pocket change in pesos – Prepare the right amount of money in pesos to save time.
4. Only buy tickets from the official booth – It is only located at the end of the long road (right before the entry of the site).
5. Avoid Sundays! – It is always crowded on that day because the locals can go there for free.
6. Parking – There are plenty of parking spaces in the morning, but fewer in the afternoons. It cost 120 pesos to park for an unlimited time.
7. Bug sprays – Because we are surrounded by nature, you want to avoid bug bites.
8. Wear a comfortable outfit – You will be under the sun all of the time and walking a thousand steps. So wear sports attire and running shoes.

The opening time of the ruins is 8am – 5pm. It is best to go there at least 30 minutes earlier before it opens to avoid the long queue.

That is great if you are currently staying in this city. That means you have plenty of options to visit the ruins. If you plan to use public transportation, you can use the Colectivo (which costs around 30 pesos per person), or the taxi (which costs about 200 – 700 pesos depending on where you live). You can also go there on foot, bicycle or car pretty easily.

Use Colectivo as the cheapest way to travel. From Playa del Carmen, the Colectivo station is located near Chedraui in the south of Playa del Carmen. It takes about an hour to get to Tulum, including waiting for other passengers. From Cancun, it is more comfortable to use the Ado Bus (it takes about two hours to get to Tulum). However, transportation hassles can be avoided if the hotel that you are staying at offers a tour guide service to the ruins. If not, you can always find many tours throughout Riviera Maya.

• Go Alone: For an Unlimited tour time

Pros: You are free to visit the temple and the Castillo at any time. Explore the ruins and the beach “playa ruinas” for an unlimited time.

Cons: You know less about the ruins, which takes away some of the immersion.

• Go with a tour guide: To Be Knowledgeable about the ruins (Recommended)

Pros: Offers convenience, as it covers transportation and an experienced tour guide. Their package usually offers 2 to 3 hours, half of the time spent by the guide explaining the ruins and the temple. The remainder of the time is for you to freely explore. You can also find some tours offering a combo of the main activities to do in Tulum if you don’t have a lot of time.

Cons: More expensive, limited visit time and you must follow their schedule.

This section will cover our personal journey to the Tulum Archaeological Site without giving out spoilers. Note: This is what people that go with tour guides usually experience.

We joined a group tour in Tulum and we all met at the empty parking lot at 7:30am. Once everyone was there, we took a ten minute walk to the official ticket booth, and we were greeted by a short queue! Afterward, we were given our tickets and went through the small hole entrance of the stone wall. Once we arrived on the other side, the sun flashed through our eyes for a short moment, and we were surprised by the magnificent scenery. We saw a vast green land where the old stone ruins rested in peace. Our informative tour guide begins to entertain us with the history of every temple. After an hour of learning, we are free to explore the site. We were dying to dip our toes in the sea to wash the heat away, but unfortunately, the beach was closed that day because of maintenance.

We didn’t stay a long time due to the heat. After we left, we went to Starbucks near the parking lot and grabbed some brunch. All in all, that’s a must during your vacation in Tulum!