Photos

Tulum Beach

Today Tulum is one of the most visited of all Mayan ruins and it is the only major Mayan ruin to be found along the coastline on the Riviera Maya.

For centuries, this archeological site has stood on a high 12-meter (39 ft) cliff overlooking the sapphire blue water of Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. In its time, Tulum served as a point of defense against invasions from both the land and the sea. There is a lovely small white powdery limestone beach right in front of the famous Tulum ruins where the ships dedicated to trade would have docked. At the present time, this beach is the most visited area of the archaeological site attracting swimmers, divers, and snorkelers. Coral reefs in the area are vibrant and alive.

The Tulum area is rich with lush vegetation and a variety of animal life. From May to August, sea turtles come to the beach every night after sunset to dig holes and lay their eggs. During the day, you might find an iguana sunbathing right beside you. The iguanas seem comfortable and unafraid around people and are usually harmless unless you bother them.

Tulum is a place of immense beauty. It is easy to understand why the ancient Mayans chose this site to live.

For a better view of the ruins at Tulum, see my earlier post. Tulum