Tulum and Area


Tulum comprises three areas: Tulum Ruinas (the ruins of what was once an important Mayan city), Tulum Publeo (the village), and Tulum Zona Hotelera (the beach-front bungalows south of the ruins). Most people visit the area to the see the ruins, commonly referred as Tulum.

Meaning "wall" in Mayan, Tulum was named by explorers in the early 20th century. Local Maya residents, however, referred to the great city as "Zama" which means dawn.

Tulum thrived as a commercial center between 900 - 1540 A.D. as the once dominant cities of the interior declined. The city was a popular stop-over for Mayans traveling from Guatemala and Honduras to visit the shrine of the fertility goddess Ixchel on Cozumel.

Tulum is the only enclosed (three walls and cliff-side) Mayan port city. Its status as a protective fortress is apparent in its construction. The walls average 20 feet thick and stand about 15 feet in height. El Castillo (the castle) which served as a watchtower, is the tallest building and overlooks the Caribbean.

Within the walls of Tulum housed the ruling class in palaces. The city also had government and ceremonial buildings visited by residents that lived outside the enclosure. Most of the people living in Tulum Publeo are descedents of this once great city.

Visitors to Tulum can learn about the history of this important Mayan city. Everyone will no doubt enjoy the spectacular cliff-side setting which alone is reason to visit. As well, below the cliff is a small, heavenly white-sand beach ideal for swimming. As Tulum recieves approximately one million visitors each year, it is best to come early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowd and mid-day sun.

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