Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for the Mayan city of Cobá, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The ruins sit atop 12 metre high cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea.
Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Mayans; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive for 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers resulted in high fatalities here, disrupting society and eventually causing the city to be abandoned. One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum is a very popular site for tourists. In fact it’s the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico, after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza.
The ruins are north of the modern town of Tulum, 15 Km from the BIWA Hotel where we were staying. We rented bikes and cycled! Despite the 32 degree heat it was an easy journey and we'd brought our cossies to have a refreshing swim at the Mayan beach down the 12 metre cliffs (accessed via a rickety wooden staircase which may itself be >500 years old!).
Amanda took some great photos of the ruins and beach which make it look as though we were the only two people there! We weren't! As the opening paras (thanks Wikipedia) say, this is the third most visited archaeological site in Mexico - a statement we can verify based on the huge number of American and French Tour Groups there the day we visited!!
David's not too keen on Tourist droves, so after a couple of hours of Mayan Ruins and ignorant Yanks & Frogs we hopped back on our bikes and pedalled up the coast in search of a quiet beach bar for a couple of chilled cervezas!
