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The Ruins at TulumAbout 80 miles from Cancún, high above the water, lies the post-Classic Mayan ruins of Tulum. Perched with a view of the Caribbean, this walled city fortress holds palace as well as fortress building ruins, set above a sandy beach. With the fascinating Maya stucco buildings and stone relief set near a sandy, deserted beach with no commercial development in sight, the ruins and their beach are a popular spot with vacationers from Cancún. History of TulumThe great Mayan Empire, with its big cities and regional domination, had begun to wane by A.D. 900. As population shrank and power declined, the cities were abandoned and remaining Maya moved into smaller city-states like Tulum. There were less than 1000 people living here, probably. most probably lived outside the walls. Interior parts were reserved for important citizens like priests and government. By 1200, Tulum was important and bustling, mainly due to its prominent location on the Caribbean Sea. It was an important port town and controlled the seas around it, even after the Spanish arrived. Trade routes ran from Honduras to the Yucatan, all overseen by Maya. These Mayans worshipped multiple gods, as did the Maya everywhere, but the main god here at Tulum was the god of diving. Some know it as the bee god, though. Buildings of TulumThe site was mainly a religious site, with the people living outside the walls. In fact, the walls were probabl built after the temples and palaces, for protection. Tulum means "wall". The Maya probably didn't call this site Tulum, but rather Aáma, which means morning or dawn. Since Tulum is set on the east coast of the mainland, sunrises are spectacular over the water from the site. The main building ruin is the Temple of the Frescoes, with paintings from the 1200s on the walls depicting gods and goddesses. There are representations of the rain god Chaac as well as goddess of weaving, moon, and medicine, Ixchel. There's also Castillo, which means castle. It's made of stone, and is part temple, part fortress. TipsYou can take a bus from Cancún, since there are many each day running all day. Try to take an early bus, since the trip to Tulum is popular one, and the later in the day you go, the more crowded it gets at the ruins. They're open every day, and admission is $4. There's a video camera fee of $4 too. If you have driven to Tulum, parking is a small fee. There's a shuttle from the visitor's center to the entrance to the ruins, and if you want a ride that's a small fee as well. The walk to the entrance takes only about 5 minutes. You can wander Tulum on you own, or hire a private guide. Look for a stand near the pathway to the ruins, for they have a designated place from which they are supposed to wait for cutomers. These guides are good: they're licensed and they do a good job, offering mamy details on architecture or culture you would't otherwise come up with or notice yourself. You can hire on in English, French, or Spanish. If you drive to Tulum, the ruins are off Highway 307, just before you get to the town of Tulum. In the village, there are hotels and other traveller resources. The Tulum Archaeological Site has Art & Craft booths where you can buy souvenirs of your trip, as well as a bookstore. There's a museum and restaurant, too. |
•Mexico Ancient Ruins &Culture |
