Leave your Tulum adventure cooled by sea breezes after an encounter with ancient Mayan ruins. Easily accessible from Cancun, Tulum, on the Yucatan Peninsula's Caribbean shore, is one of the regions' most popular historic attractions. For years, this archaeological site could only be reached by boat. Now a road links picturesque beaches guarded by tumbling boulders and the mossy rocks of the Tulum complex to civilization.
While smaller and less impressive than other ruins like Chichen Itza, Tulum's appeal has a lot to do about setting. Cliff-top ruins are silhouetted by a multi-blued sea, while the quick changing clouds above the Caribbean take the day from haze to storm to rainbows in a blink. Explore the ruins themselves in an hour or two before heading down for a nap on the creamy beaches tucked into the rocks.
Equipped with a boat, sail on to more remote sands to enjoy this piece of paradise without the visiting crowds. The caverns of Grand Cenote lure snorkellers, a hop & skiff away from Tulum, while scuba divers can book a guide and air with local operators to do some cavern diving.
Often, visitors reach Tulum on day-trips from other regional destinations. Those based in Tulum and ruined on the ruins can take a guided tour of the Biosfera Sian Ka'an for flora, fauna, fowl and fishing.
Tulum is located about 80 miles south of Cancun.
